Letter from Senator Carper/Delaware

[Guest guest]

I was surprised he wrote. This is from when Sharon went to

Washington. Any news in that department.

Dear Mrs. Delp:

Thank you for contacting my office to express your concern about

toxic mold and calling attention to a series of articles in the Wall

Street Journal highlighting this issue. I appreciate hearing your

thoughts on this matter.

As you know, people are exposed to mold on a daily basis. Most

exposures in the home occur through the inhalation of mold spores,

which are components of household dust. Many people are unaffected by

exposure to moderate amounts of mold. However, it can cause allergic

reactions in some people. Approximately 6-10 percent of the general

population, and 15-50 percent of persons who are genetically prone to

develop allergies, are allergic to mold, according to the National

Academy of Sciences.

That said, some types of mold produce toxic substances known as

mycotoxins, which can cause health problems when they are inhaled,

absorbed through the skin, or ingested. Mycotoxin production varies

depending on environmental conditions such as moisture level and

temperature. As a general matter, toxin-producing molds have higher

water requirements than most household molds, so they thrive indoors

under wet conditions. Although the health impacts of exposure to

mycotoxins in the home are not well studied, adverse health effects

have been observed in occupational settings and in animal studies.

Mold exposure may also lead to infections such as fungal pneumonia in

persons with compromised immune systems.

In an effort to address this issue, Representative Conyers

introduced the Melina Bill during the last Congress. This legislation

would mandate comprehensive research on mold growth, create programs

to educate the public about the dangers of toxic mold, and provide

assistance to victims. In addition, the Melina Bill would generate

guidelines for preventing indoor mold growth, establish standards for

removing mold when it does grow, provide grants for mold removal in

public buildings, authorize tax credits for inspection and/or

remediation of mold hazards, and create a national insurance program

to protect homeowners from catastrophic losses. Ultimately, the

Melina Bill would work to prevent and fight indoor mold growth

through good science and public awareness.

With that said, I certainly understand your concern about the health

effects caused by indoor mold. The Senate did not have an opportunity

to consider the legislation before the adjournment of the 109th

Congress. However, should legislation concerning this matter be

introduced in the Senate during the 110th Congress, I will be sure to

keep you views in mind.

Thank you again for contacting me about this important matter. Please

do not hesitate to contact me about this or other matters of

importance to you in the future.

With best personal regards, I am

Sincerely,

Tom Carper

United States Senator

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