N.C. To Pay $3.5 Million To Clean Governor's Mansion

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Indoor Mold Affects Countless Homes

N.C. To Pay $3.5 Million To Clean Governor's Mansion

http://www.nbc17.com/health/5064032/detail.html

POSTED: 12:50 am EDT October 6, 2005

UPDATED: 12:28 pm EDT October 6, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Mold has driven Gov. Easley and his family out of their

home, but millions of others have experienced the same problem and even become

sick because of it.

Under the historic wallpaper of the governor's mansion, around the pipes and

inside the heat and air ducts, mold is growing.

Mold has already been cleared from the spaces where it grew around pipes and

inside ducts in the basement. The pipes and ducts, along with the entire heat

ventilation and air conditioning systems will be replaced.

The project is expected to take six months and cost $3.5 million in taxpayer

money.

" The systems are old, 30-plus years old. The system has allowed moisture to get

in unconditioned, " said Greg Driver, of the State Construction Office.

Mold was growing in the mansion five years ago. The cleanup back then caused

taxpayers $1 million. Now, it's back, and this time workers are fixing the root

of the problem by replacing the entire heat and air conditioning system.

" I am absolutely confident money is not being wasted on this project, " said

Britt Cobb, of the Department of Administration.

Millions of Americans are paying to fix mold problems in their own homes.

Mold spores are all around us in the air, but they thrive on moist or wet

surfaces, feeding off sheet rock and wood, as well as dirt.

Mold can make people sick, causing sneezing, runny noses, red eyes, skin rashes

and asthma attacks.

To prevent mold from growing in your home, you can waterproof it with effective

drainage systems. Check to make sure your heat and air conditioning systems are

controlling humidity, fix leaks and dry out and clean up thoroughly after a

flood.

The governor's mansion is not the only local building that has had to deal with

a severe mold problem.

North Carolina Central University had to shut down two newly renovated dorms in

the fall of 2004 because high levels of mold were detected. The university was

forced to house students in hotels.

Since then, the dorms have been cleaned up.

The state attorney general's office is suing four contractors to recover the $7

million spent to repair the damaged dorms.

If you have a mold problem where you live, determining who should clean it up

depends on several factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. A

little bit of mold in a shower can be dealt with using bleach and water.

If the mold problem covers more than a 10-square-foot area, chances are you will

not be able to handle the cleanup yourself. You should consult the Environmental

Protection Agency's guide. For a free copy, call 1-800-438-4318 or visit the EPA

Web site for more information.