Lingering Concerns Woman says mold from flood making her ill

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OTTAWA: Lingering Concerns

Woman says mold from flood making her ill

10/23/2007,

MyWebTimes.com - Ottawa,IL*

STEPHANIE SZUDA, stephanies@..., 815-431-4087

http://mywebtimes.com/ottnews/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=346860

Valinda Munson's kitchen sink faucet was covered with a plastic bag,

which had a yellow slip of paper attached reading, " biohazard

chlorinated. "

" This is the only water we can drink, " said Munson, holding a gallon

of water a friend prepared for her.

Munson said the aftermath of late August flooding is filling her

Ottawa home at 725 Christie St. with something just as damaging as

water -- mold.

She said can't drink the city water because the chlorine would have

a bad effect on the mold spores she said have developed in her lungs.

" It's left so much bacteria and mold, " she said. " I'm full of it. I

wouldn't be surprised if I wasn't full of cancer. But that's OK, as

long as my kids are OK. "

According to Professional Home Inspection, of Peru, initial

observations Wednesday showed moderate- to heavy- amounts of mold

growth on all visible walls of basement area, as well as stress

cracks in the foundation, likely due to oversaturated soil causing

excessive lateral pressure.

PHI owner Jim Zborowski said the mold is a result of the flooding

because of the amount and intensity of the growth.

" It would have been more mature had it been long term, " he said.

The company's work order for the cleaning -- a $6,599 out- of-pocket

expense for Munson -- stipulates separating the basement from the

rest of the home with plastic and operating an air scrubber for 24

hours before and after the cleaning.

All PHI personnel entering the basement are to be dressed in full

biohazard suits, complete with full-face respirator units with

appropriate filters. Exposed surfaces will be sanitized using a

nontoxic biocide approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Basement cracks will be filled with hydraulic cement, workers will

recaulk as needed and correct grading and downspout inspection.

The upstairs of the home will be dry fogged with a nontoxic biocide,

and post-treatment air tests will be done to allow comparisons of

spore counts from pre-treatment tests.

Munson said she was exposed to mold earlier in life, which makes her

more susceptible. She provided The Times with copies of information

on mold-related health conditions complete with notations about

recent medical services performed on her and her children.

Among the notes are indications Munson has had two EKGs since the

flood and has trouble breathing. She said her blood pressure has

been affected and her lungs, sinus, eyes and stomach feel like they

are burning or on fire.

Her 17-year-old son is asthmatic and her daughter is imuno-

compromised and has Down syndrome, pulmonary lung disease and

hyperthyroid, which make them more susceptible to the negative

effects of mold in the home.

In September, Munson attended a City Council meeting to ask for help

with a $30,000 flood repair bill. She said a surge of water rushed

down the street, slamming into her home causing cracks and breaking

windows. The cause, she said, was a long-standing failure of the

sanitary sewer system to drain properly exacerbated by heavy rains

that night.

She threatened legal action against the city in September and did so

again Monday. She believes the mold exposure to her and the family

members who helped her clean are a direct result of the August

flooding.

" I don't care what it costs. I'll sell my car, " Munson said. " The

insurance will not pay a dime. The city won't help. The city can't

keep doing this to people. We pay taxes. We have a right to be safe. "

Zborowski said Munson has contacted the Federal Emergency Management

Agency for help.