MI.-Health concerns over toxic mold increase in area

[Guest guest]

Published May 22, 2005

Health concerns over toxic mold increase in area

Mason library among problem sites that raise more questions

http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20050522/NEWS01/505220336/1001/news

By T.M. Shultz

Lansing State Journal

• Some insurance companies don't offer mold coverage. Others - such

as AAA Insurance - offer it but only pay under strict

circumstances. " Mold is a very tricky thing, " said Janice , AAA

customer service representative. " Our policy is to offer up to

$5,000 coverage for testing and removal. " But only for mold caused

by a " covered peril. " That means that whatever caused the mold has

to be something the homeowner's policy covers.

For more information

• The state Department of Community Health has a mold hotline at 335-

9436 and a fact sheet at

www.michigan.gov/documents/Molds_home_82409_7.pdf.

spends his days at the Ingham County Health Department

answering questions on topics including radon and pesticides.

But for the past year, the big issue has been mold.

, a toxicologist, says people are worrying more about the

fungus as contamination stories make headlines nationwide and now

with a public building in Mason found to have mold.

" That's probably the biggest single issue I get, " he said.

The Mason branch of the Capital Area District Library shut its doors

more than a week ago after a sickening odor caused watery eyes and

coughing in patrons and staff.

An expert found toxic mold in the basement - likely fed by a water

leak. The building is closed until it can be thoroughly checked and

cleaned.

Dick , who was there getting a library card when the building

was closed, said mold is worrisome - especially in places frequented

by children.

" I do think it's a threat to health, " said.

The problem is determining what's a health threat and what isn't.

and Dr. Dean Sienko - the state's acting chief medical

executive - say it still isn't clear how dangerous mold can be.

" All buildings have some mold, so the question becomes 'How much is

too much?' " said.

And the extent of mold's effect on health is debated.

" Mold has been blamed in Michigan for everything from neurological

damage to asthma, " said T.J. Bucholz, spokesman for the state

Department of Community Health.

Recommendations

Bucholz relies on recommendations by the American Academy of

Pediatrics.

The academy says some indoor molds can produce potent toxins that

can be absorbed by the intestinal lining, airways and skin.

Sienko said those most likely to be at risk from toxic molds include

children, older people and anyone with breathing problems.

For most people, he said, mold isn't a problem, but it can prompt

allergy-like symptoms in some.

Mold produces the worst toxins in places that get wet and stay wet,

said.

Something that gets wet occasionally but dries out in-between

probably won't produce toxic mold.

Still, the Health Department recommends that if you see mold

growing, you should get rid of it and see your doctor if you begin

to have health problems.

Most fear stems from a mold called Stachybotrys - often called black

mold although it can be different colors. That is the kind of mold

found in Mason's library.

But, said, many kinds of molds can produce toxins. And they

come in varying colors.

Calling the experts

Lansing folks often turn to experts such as Seth Norman.

Norman said his Walled Lake mold removal company does a job in the

Lansing area at least once a week.

He also owns one of only two mold-sniffing dogs in Michigan. His

black Labrador retriever, Radar, helps pinpoint mold without having

to tear down walls.

" It's a terrible problem, " Norman said.

Last year, it took his company 3 1/2 weeks to clean a Lansing

church, which he declined to name.

As far as testing to determine what type of mold you have,

said there are only three times when that probably should be done:

any time lawyers get involved, in large buildings where it might be

difficult to pinpoint, and in cleanups costing more than $5,000.

There are no state or federal laws regulating safe mold levels in

homes and buildings because there are no official mold standards

anywhere in the country, said.

Several states have studies under way to set standards for safe

exposure levels.

Once that happens, said, states likely will begin regulating

mold.

In Michigan, the Health Department and the state don't test for

mold - either for types of mold or its presence - said,

because it's too expensive and they don't have the necessary

laboratories.

Contact T.M. Shultz at 377-1061 or tshultz@....

[Guest guest]

" There are no state or federal laws regulating safe mold levels in homes and

buildings because there are no official mold standards anywhere in the country,

said.

Several states have studies under way to set standards for safe exposure levels.

Once that happens, said, states likely will begin regulating mold. "

See, this part really bugs me. If they can set standards, you can bet those

standards will later be used to absolve property owners and government agencies

of responsibility for the serious health problems they create for the sensitive

people who get sick from those buildings despite the so-called " healthful "

standards that will be set.

We're the very ones who most need protection and also the ones who scare the

bejeezus out of them legally and financially. That's a good thing, that scaring

them stuff. This whole standards thing is nothing more than a smokescreen that

will allow them to shift responsibility back to us and our " very rare "

sensitivities. They'll be able to say " so sorry, but we're within standards " ,

and that'll be that. Liability for negligence goes right out the window and

we'll be stuck with this for good. Whoever they're about to " help " , it sure

ain't us. You can take that to the bank!...er, I mean, SSDI.

We're far better off to push hard for a better understanding of these pathogens

and appropriate testing and effective treatment for their effects before we go

screaming " there ought to be a law " . As long as there IS no specific law, these

exposure cases have to be tried " at equity " - which means the court only has to

be fair and try to make right any wrongs that are done. This is what we need and

want. Once there IS a law, then we're legally tied to the letter of a mandate

that be reinterpreted to suit those who wish to legislate from the bench, as

well as specific language that cannot begin to see what we will be up against

indidually or in the future. (I still feel this is all ultimately going to come

to head over children's rights to be educated in the public system and

taxpayers' rights to equal access to the government they pay for, law or no.)

But in the meantime - these nasty little fungus monsters can and will mutate to

cause illness in ways nobody understands yet. It would be tantamount to trying

to legislate a standard for flu exposure. Flu is something that A)you can't see

easily (like the mycotoxins trapped in our bodies). We can only guess who's

going to get it next. (No bookmaker in Vegas would take those odds! Dare you

gamble with our very lives like that?) And C)If you DO get hit with the flu,

it's hard to prove which kind you got. (Gee - was it stachy, which would

doubtless be " illegal " under the new standards, or is it D)Something that just

mutated into existence last month and makes stachy look like a walk in the

park?) Attempting to legislate a whole life form is a whole lot more like

" playing God " than most of the things that phrase gets applied to.

I certainly don't mean to slam the legislators who are trying to help, but they

need help us in the right directions: Give us a hand with SSDI and Worker's

Comp. Stay on top of the prosecution of dishonest long term disability carriers.

Make sure they recognize us as being as sick as we are, and don't let our

claims languish in some " lost " file somewhere. Why should we be denied medical

tests and treatments anyone with suspected HIV/AIDS or cancer or MS gets without

question. Get on those health insurance carriers, too. Make sure we are

guaranteed access to the schools and courts we paid for. The ADA, SSDI, and WC

don't do spit for those suffering from " unrecognized " illness, by the way. How

about a hand with that? How about staying on the FDA and the poisonous stuff

that is allowed into the food chain? Now There's a place where some rigorous

standards are well-founded and will be much appreciated. These are the things

that will help us most.

Sorry for ranting, but thanks for letting me blow off some steam. I think I need

another nap now.

Serena

www.freeboards.net/index.php?mforum=sickgovernmentb

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