Mom in a national fight against hidden threat

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Mom in a national fight against hidden threat

Published Friday, May 18, 2007 1:35:23 PM Central Time

By Kayla Bunge

kbunge@...

Monroe Times - Monroe,WI

http://www.themonroetimes.com/o0518pmo.htm

DARLINGTON -- Jade Black was only 13 when her life was turned upside

down.

Nausea, diarrhea, sinusitis, coughing, sharp abdominal pain, vision

problems, heart palpitations, nosebleeds, rashes, bruises, fatigue,

migraines -- they all plagued her in 2004.

Her medical file is about 4 inches thick now, but " it took some

time " before her doctors could tell her what was wrong, Jade's

mother, Jeanne Black, said.

They did breathing tests and blood work and finally determined Jade

was suffering from severe mold-induced asthma.

They put her on medications that cost $400 a month. Nothing worked.

They ordered that Jade be removed from the environment responsible

for her illness -- school.

Jeanne and Black pulled their daughter out of Darlington

Elementary/Middle School immediately and kept her home for a few

weeks, practically quarantined.

The school building was only 10 years old then, and it was

built " too airtight, " Jeanne said. The school's ventilation system

was poor, only allowing about 10 percent fresh air into the

building. Such an environment lends itself well to moisture problems

and mold growth.

Testing by the Blacks and by the school district's insurance company

revealed high levels of aspergillus, one of the most common types of

mold.

The mold can produce mycotoxins, which in turn can cause health

problems of varying degrees.

The Blacks transferred Jade to the Belmont school district, where

she's just finishing her sophomore year in high school -- a healthy,

16-year-old girl no longer on medications.

Since the Blacks' encounter with mold in the Darlington school, many

other parents have complained and asked to take their children out

of school, per doctors' orders. Thirteen children either have

transferred or are now home-schooled as a result of the unhealthy

school environment.

" There are no regulations in Wisconsin, " Jeanne said. " There are no

regulations federally. "

Jeanne and her family headed to the Capitol to affect change in the

name of indoor air quality.

They met with their representatives and helped to draft Senate Bill

325, the Wisconsin Indoor Environmental Quality in Schools Act,

which passed in that house 32-1. The bill is still stuck in the

Assembly, after it was tabled during the last legislative session

when representatives " ran out of time, " Jeanne said.

Jeanne also joined with two non-profit groups that champion healthy

schools: the Healthy Schools Network and the Center for School Mold

Help. Through those groups, she not only has been able to share her

family's story but learned more about the problem and what needs to

be done to fix it.

" My e-mail is swamped, " she said. " And I get calls from all over the

country. "

Everyone always wants to know what they can do to help the cause,

Jeanne added.

Unfortunately, the Blacks' work is at somewhat of a standstill. The

legislation they supported still languishes in the Assembly. And the

school district hasn't said much.

" If we could put the liability aside, " Jeanne said, " and we could

work on this, that would be wonderful. "

Every school district approaches the situation differently, Jeanne

said. Some are very proactive. Appleton tore down its 27-year-old

building and replaced it with a new one after moisture problems and

mold growth were found. New Richmond passed one of the biggest

referendums in the state to rebuild and repair its unhealthy

schools.

But until she sees that legislation approved or until the Darlington

school district changes its practices, Jeanne's goal is to educate

people.

Gov. Jim Doyle last year proclaimed the month of May as Toxic Injury

Awareness and Education Month. Jeanne has worn a white ribbon on her

lapel all month in honor of her daughter and to draw attention to

the issue.

She said after all she's been through, between severe illness,

transferring schools and speaking in front of legislators,

Jade's " very strong. "

" She's learned a lot, " Jeanne said, " to stand up if there's

something she thinks needs to be changed. "

The Blacks still are cautious. Before Jade goes to a new place --

friends' houses, shopping malls, grocery stores -- they call ahead.

And even if they determine it's OK, Jade can tell immediately when

the environment isn't healthy.

" We're very cautious still, " Jeanne said