Guest guest Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Open Letter to IEQuality and Sickbuildings Dear Friends and Associates, As we all know, issues of the indoor environment, including but not limited to mold, have many aspects to it. We all try to do our best in understanding what is occurring, how to respond and how to help others. Through nobody's fault, we have recently begun experiencing a slight contention caused by the differing approach and focus of the Sickbuildings group and the IEQuality group. Although both groups are interested in the common goal of moving both the science and the public's understanding forward, the two groups are sometimes like oil and water. We are both struggling with the indoor environment but experiencing it from " different sides of the elephant. " IEQuality is composed largely of experts in building science, exposure and assessment of sick buildings whose traditional methods are successful for the majority of the population. Sickbuildings group, on the other hand, is composed largely of people who have been harmed by exposures in sick buildings but the traditional methods and resources have not yet been successful in helping to solve their problems. Some members of Sickbuildings are suffering greatly, on disability, and without other support. They are suddenly forced to seek technical information but have not been technically trained. They often lack the money, health and sufficient time to meet the immediate demands of stopping exposures from indoor sources. Sometimes those concerns overshadow the needs and respectful consideration of the experts they turn to for remedies. On the other hand, those that have the technical training and expertise are often limited by contracts, regulations and an insufficient body of science that precludes them from successfully helping the severely impacted individuals. Focusing on helping the hypersensitive individual and trying to maintain a business is not always profitable. Also, there is little training on how to assess and successfully assist the hypersensitive individual. Since this focus on the science and engineering are generally for the majority of the public, the impacted individuals are sometimes not adequately helped. Some members of IEQuality have been involved with Sickbuildings supplying better information and understanding of the issues and possibilities. Some members at Sickbuildings recently reached out to IEQuality because they saw it as a more likely " safe haven " for accurate information than they have received from the media and sales sources. Their experience has included the realization that the members of IEQuality are good people with the right intentions but they also lack the resources to help the hypersensitive. On the other hand, and despite severe disabilities, many from Sickbuildings are willing to be a valuable resource by sharing their experience and several are experts at finding the latest studies. It would behoove both groups to acknowledge that our common concern is united as to purpose but sometimes divided by methods and needs. Our request is that both groups remain respectfully mindful of the differences so all can continue to learn from each other and take advantage of new information and methods without unnecessarily disturbing the primary purpose of each. Carl Grimes, grimes@... KC ( Carstens), tigerpaw2c@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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