Old, But Dangerous Problem Lurks In Homes

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Old, But Dangerous Problem Lurks In Homes

WYFF - Greenville,SC*

October 31, 2007

http://www.wyff4.com/news/14472941/detail.html#

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- It's a problem that likely began when man first

took up permanent shelter.

Even in biblical times, mold in a house was known to be a serious

problem.

But in recent years, mold has become a recognized health threat and

an expensive problem for homeowners to detect and fix.

Join WYFF News 4's Tim Waller for a Target 4 investigation on

Thursday at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Tim will introduce you to two families who are connected by a house

on Whitten Street in Greenville.

His reports will show you how one family was driven from the house

by the mold inside and the other family has had to resort to legal

action to get their money back after they bought it in foreclosure.

Tim also talks to Steve Hendrix, a mold inspection specialist who

has some tips on what to look for and what to do if you find it.

And the biblical reference?

That comes from a scripture passage Hendrix notes on the digital

signature he attaches to his e-mails.

The Old Testament book of Leviticus (14:33-48), offers instructions

on what to do if a house develops a mold problem.

Leviticus, the third book of the Old Testament, primarily consists

of laws and Jewish religious ritual.

The verses that concern mold are almost a how-to manual for what

today is known as remediation.

The owner of the house must go and tell the priest, 'I have seen

something that looks like mildew in my house,' the scripture says.

According to the scripture, a priest (in biblical times, priests

also served as public officials) was to order a house to be emptied

before it was inspected for mold.

The priest was to examine the mildew on the walls for color and

texture. If the mold was too widespread or of a certain type, he

would order the house to be sealed up for a week and then re-

inspected.

If that inspection showed that the mold had spread, the priest was

to order that the contaminated portion of the walls be torn out and

the material disposed outside of town.

If after the walls were rebuilt, the mold reoccurred, the priest was

to order that the house be torn down.

That may be the fate of the house on Whitten Street, the owner says,

because it would cost as much to fix it as it is worth.

" You Found It, " a Target 4 Investigation, Thursday on WYFF News 4 at

5 p.m. and 11 p.m.