Home mold a mushrooming problem

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Home mold a mushrooming problem

http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?

newsid=15536315 & BRD=2287 & PAG=461 & dept_id=512588 & rfi=6

By DEE DIXON

The Enterprise 11/08/2005

It's a tiny, nasty fungus that spreads silently within the damp

walls.

The sweltering Southeast Texas heat provides just the right

incubation mix that helps it grow.

Undetected or unaddressed, authorities say it can cause serious

respiratory problems, even death.

No wonder it's a four-letter word - mold.

It's become such a concern lately that the Federal Emergency

Management Agency issued a news release during the weekend

specifically warning of high levels of mold in Port Arthur.

And while officials wouldn't pin it down that closely on Monday, one

federal spokesman noted that Orange, Jefferson and the coastal

portions of Galveston counties seem to be the worst off.

For several weeks, FEMA customer relations representatives have been

fielding questions and complaints about mold in homes and apartments

throughout Southeast Texas.

FEMA urges children, pregnant women and elderly people to stay away

from mold.

Other advice staffers offer is not to stay in homes or apartments

with heavy water damage, to wipe or wash hands frequently and make

a " clean zone " to play, eat and sleep.

Long-term exposure to mold can lead to health complications

including respiratory problems, wheezing, asthma attacks, nasal and

sinus congestion, eye irritation, nose or throat irritation,

headaches, skin irritations, memory loss and aches and pains.

" Mold infections are difficult to get rid of, especially if you get

a lung infection, " said Dr. Cecil Walkes, Jefferson County Health

Authority.

A review of FEMA customer relations reports show numerous complaints

about mold in people's homes, said spokesman Hurst from

Austin.

Among them:

On Oct. 25, a FEMA field worker met a Galveston family of eight

living in a home seriously infested with mold and mildew. The home

was declared unsafe and the family was sent to the University of

Texas Medical Branch for evaluation.

On Oct. 26, a Tyler County family had two children showing signs of

having difficulties because of mold.

On Oct. 27, two Hardin County families reported their children were

having asthmatic complications because their homes were damaged by

mold.

Representatives also distributed information packets about mold

removal in Vidor, West Orange and San Jacinto County during the last

week in October.

The lead customer relations person, who covers all

of Southeast Texas, said a significant number of mold complaints

have come from Orange, Jefferson, Newton, Jasper, Tyler, Hardin,

Liberty and Galveston counties.

" Generally they don't try to diagnose or draw a conclusion, " Hurst

said. " If the family says, 'We are sick with mold,' they take the

family's word. "

Anyone who has mold in their home and wants assistance from FEMA

needs to register first. The deadline to register has been extended

to Jan. 11, Hurst said.

FEMA will help with temporary rental assistance - regardless of

whether a person has insurance - until the mold has been cleaned up.

People can receive rental stipends for as long as 18 months. They

need to show proof they have paid rent while they are on the

assistance program.

" Temporary housing assistance is for rent in their temporary home

until their primary residence is rendered livable or they find a new

place, " Hurst said.

The health and welfare office in Port Arthur was closed shortly

after Hurricane Rita because of mold discovered in the one-story

office building.

" You could smell it when you walked into the building, " Walkes

said. " I considered it prudent to get all the workers out and

prevent patients from coming into that area until it's (mold-

contaminated material) removed.

The office was temporarily relocated to the Mid-County office.

" Once mold gets into a building, it will spread throughout the

building and get into the A/C, " Walkes explained.

He advises anyone who suspects his or her home has mold to contact

the city health department.

The Hardin County health clinic has received dozens of

calls from area residents concerned about the health impacts of

mold. Staff there have advised people to contact a local mold

remediation company and to visit their physician.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests people keep

the humidity levels between 40 to 60 percent and properly ventilate

shower, laundry and cooking areas. One sign of excessive humidity is

foggy windows and condensation around window and door seals.

FEMA posts its " Mold and Mildew: Cleaning Up Your Flood-damaged

Home " pamphlet on its Web site at www.fema.gov/pdf/reg-

x/mold_mildew.pdf

The agency suggests any area with over 25 square feet of mold damage

be cleaned by a professional.

Mold located on hard, non-porous surfaces can be cleaned with a

bleach solution of 1 cup of bleach to a gallon of water, according

to the Centers for Disease and Prevention Web site.

It is not feasible to just kill the mold with cleaning products

because it can still cause allergic reactions in some people.

Instead, the source of the mold must be removed, according to the

EPA Web site.

Common mold hiding places include the back of dry wall, wallpaper,

above ceiling tiles, underneath carpets, around pipes, behind

furniture and inside ductwork.

The Environmental Protection Agency urges extreme caution when

investigating potential mold because if disturbed, it " can lead to a

massive release of spores, " according to its Web site. Instead,

residents should consider hiring a mold removal professional.

ddixon@...

(409) 833-3311, ext. 418