Residents Blame Health Issues on Mold

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Residents Blame Health Issues on Mold

By Geyer

Signal Staff Writer

The Signal* Sun, 22 Jul 2007 1:59 AM PDT

Santa Clarita, CA

http://www.the-signal.com/?

module=displaystory & story_id=49731 & format=html

Sunday July 22, 2007

Reder has a disease that typically only occurs in those

twice her age. Three years ago, a CT scan found nodules on the 24-

year-old's throat. The doctors performed exploratory surgery and,

when complications arose, the tissue buildup in her throat prevented

the doctors from intubating.

now uses a trachea tube to breathe.

Next door, Albert " Mack " McDougal could soon be tested for cancer of

the larynx after he lost his voice for five months earlier this

year.

After hearing of their problems, Larson across the street is

concerned about a common denominator: They all have mold growing in

their homes.

Two of the families that live on Saddleback Ridge Road in Canyon

Country have filed a lawsuit against the builder of their houses,

Ryland Homes, because of what they consider to be persistent mold

problems. The two houses, both built eight years ago, were rebuilt

in 2005 to fix the mold problems.

Reder was diagnosed in 2004 with Wegener's granulomatosis, a disease

thought to be autoimmune in nature. The Reders know they don't have

proof that mold exposure caused the disease, but 's mother,

Sheri, said she has no doubt that the mold, at the very least,

exacerbated the problem.

McDougal was no stranger to health problems. He had been disabled

from a car accident and suffered from recurrent infections before

the mold problems began.

But McDougal's house is ruining his health, according to his

physician.

" Albert McDougal is currently suffering the effects of mold exposure

from his home, " Dr. Mark Horng said in a letter provided to The

Signal by McDougal's attorney. " I have advised Mr. McDougal it is my

medical opinion that he should immediately evacuate the home with

his family so that we can medically treat the effects from his

exposure to that mold. "

Horng could not be reached for comment last week.

Although there is little question that mold exposure can trigger an

allergic reaction, there is some debate in the medical community as

to whether mold exposure can cause more serious health problems.

That debate leaves residents wondering just how worried they should

be.

" You'd have more of a chance of ketchup causing cancer than mold

causing cancer, " said Cyrus Rangan, director of toxic epidemiology

for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. " It has

really become more of a legal problem than it is a medical problem. "

Although mold is known to cause allergic reactions such as

respiratory problems and sinus issues, that's about where it ends,

he said.

For years, people have been claiming that neurological problems and

immunologically related problems like bone marrow issues, cancer and

liver problems are related to exposure to mold, but Rangan says

these claims are unfounded.

He said people first began to connect mold exposure to health

problems when they observed farms where large numbers of cows and

horses who ate moldy hay began bleeding from their lungs. In some

cases, the animals' immune systems would shut down. He said these

are the kinds of side effects people imagine when it comes to mold.

" But it's an entirely different kind of route of exposure. With the

animals, we're talking about them eating it over a long period of

time, " he said. " Unless you're licking the mold off the walls, I

really can't see a reason why you're going to be getting really

severe medical problems, other than respiratory or sinus problems. "

He said those with asthma and allergies are likely to experience

more of a reaction to the mold.

Cancer patients and those with HIV are likely to suffer from more

problems as well.

" But what they're going to be experiencing more is infection with

the actual mold, " Rangan said. " So it's as if they had a bacterial

infection, but it's a fungus infection. "

He said that one thing to consider when mold is present in a home is

that mold may be a red herring for other problems that might be

going on.

He said the conditions that allow mold to grow - such as excess

moisture and the presence of organic material - also allow for other

things like cockroaches, viruses and bacteria as well.

Rangan admitted that although he doesn't see proof that mold can

cause things like cancer, he doesn't know of any proof that says

there isn't a link.

" The most important thing a doctor can do is to look at the symptoms

you have, " he said. " In the end, it's not confirmatory. "

McDougal's neighbor Larson, who recently discovered patches of mold

growing in her house, said it is the unknown that is so frightening.

" I'm concerned. I don't have proof that anything's related, " she

said. " I just think it's weird that since we've lived there, both my

kids, the doctor said, have an allergy. "

She said she has suffered from headaches, eye irritation, a sore

throat and fatigue.

" The smell drives me crazy and it gives me headaches. Nobody wants

to commit to anything. They don't want to say, 'yes, it's because of

that,' " she said. " It could be attributed to maybe a bug or a virus,

but it could be because of the mold