Can mold make you sick? - Local family's illnesses may have been caused by mold

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Can mold make you sick? - Local family's illnesses may have been

caused by mold in their home

Lahontan Valley News - Fallon,NV

VIKTORIA PEARSON, vpearson@...

http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/article/20070408/News/104080040

How much can one mother take is a question Bodenhorn of

Fallon continues to ask herself each day while she sits in her 2-

year-old daughter 's hospital room at Renown Regional

Medical Center in Reno.

Bodenhorn was told in February that she needed to leave her home and

all the family's possessions behind because of a mold problem caused

by a water leak.

Prior to the discovery, all three of the Bodenhorn children were ill

with no explanation, she said.

" We had to leave everything we owned behind, including our clothes

and find a place to stay, " she said. " I had to get a hold of Boddie

and tell him what was going on without it affecting his mission. "

Bodenhorn's husband, Lucas Bodenhorn (Boddie), is currently serving

in the Middle East with the U. S. Navy.

NAS Fallon assisted Bodenhorn with temporary housing in officer's

quarters until another house could be rented, she said.

" The military has been great to us, " said Bodenhorn. " I worried

every day about what we were going to do. "

After learning of the potential dangers, Bodenhorn began taking the

children to doctors, she said. The house she rented was tested by a

company in Reno for mold to determine the air quality and what types

of spores were present.

The dangers of mold

According to a report completed by Wise Consulting & Training, the

home contained airborne spores of penicillium/aspergillus,

stachybotrys and several others. There were also solid samples taken

of the black-colored mold stachybotrys, nicknamed " toxic mold " by

numerous Web sites on mold. There were also solid samples of

penicillium/aspergillus and scopulariopsis present.

Tom Wise, owner of Wise Consulting & Training, said mold only needs

a few things to grow: an organic food source, water, moderate

temperatures and oxygen.

" We can't age date mold specifically because mold can grow rapidly

under perfect conditions, " he said. " Some can see the effects of

long-term mold from deterioration of wood or other surfaces. "

Some penicillium/aspergillus molds have potential to be microtoxins,

and stachybotrys is referred to as black toxic mold, he said.

However, there were no culturable samples available.

Dr. Cvijanovich, a specialist from Children's Hospital &

Research Center of Oakland, Calif., said mold can affect the health

of some people but may not affect others at all. Young children

could have the most severe reactions from mold spores because of

their immune system and growth.

" Respiratory illnesses are most common, " she said.

Although Ed Baker, of Reno, the landlord of the home on Candee Lane,

said the water leak was from a washing machine, mold spores were

found under the sink in the kitchen. Mold was also found in other

areas of the house including behind the wall in the master bath and

master closet where the washing machine plumbing attachments were

located. Baker said the home is 10 years old, and he and owns

several other rental properties.

" Don't know much about it, and I am precluded from going to the

property, " said Baker. " It's being taken care of by the insurance

company. "

Baker declined to give any more information.

Servpro of Reno was hired by the insurance company to assess the

damage and cost to repair.

Conklin, owner of Servpro, said the mold was pretty bad. He

said the mold appears to be caused by leaking water pipes.

" I've been sick from it, so I know it can make a person sick, " he

said.

Conklin said the children's illnesses and 's

hospitalization could be related

" It is from that, I'm sure, " he replied. " You can get very sick from

it. I have technicians that can't go into any mold jobs because they

get sick. "

Buetow, production manager for Servpro, who was initially

called to the home, said because of the odor and the amount of mold,

he told the Bodenhorns they should leave because of health issues.

He has 13 years experience with Servpro.

" Everything I told (Bodenhorn) was because of her little

girl, " he said. " In my professional opinion, more than likely, yes,

the little girl is sick because of the amount (of mold) and

location, since she crawled around on the floor. "

Infants and the elderly are most affected by mold because of their

weak immune systems.

Seeking recovery

Everything the family owned has to be replaced or decontaminated

before they can use it.

" Sometimes it's easier and safer to replace everything, " said

Buetow.

is currently in the pediatrics wing at Renown Regional

Medical Center because of respiratory issues, said Bodenhorn. She

has been by her daughter's side in the hospital for about three

weeks. was transferred to Renown Regional Medical Center

after a week at Banner Churchill Community Hospital with little

improvement.

" She is on a feeding tube because the doctors cannot get her to

eat, " she said. " We're hoping her daddy will be able to come home

and that we can come home soon. "

Bodenhorn said doctors cannot say when will be able to

return home.

" We can go home as soon as she starts eating again, " said Bodenhorn.