Guest guest Posted July 28, 2007 Report Share Posted July 28, 2007 I received this letter from Senator Carper in Feb. I can't remember what I wrote, I will look it up in my files. I guess I mentioned the Wall Street Journal article. I don't know if I posted this before, that was around when I was moving. I guess at least he answered so I guess I will send him July's links of stories and Aug. so he can see how many are affected. Sent: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 6:06 PM Subject: Letter from Senator Carper 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 Please do not respond to this email. To send another message please visit my website at http://carper.senate.gov/aemail.cfm and fill out the webform for a prompt response. Thank you.= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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