Families fear the return of irritating black mold,Army says it hasn’t heard prob

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Families fear the return of irritating black mold

Army says it hasn't heard problem is back

By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes,Washington,DC*

European edition, Thursday, March 20, 2008

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104 & article=53456

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — It's almost spring, and for many people that

means time for some spring cleaning.

Spring in Germany means lots of moisture, which not only brings

beautiful flowers, but also helps nasty black mold to form.

Outdoors, molds live in the soil and plants. Indoors, molds will

often grow in damp or wet areas, including basement walls, bathroom

tiles and sinks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency,

mold can lead to a variety of health problems, such as headaches,

breathing difficulties, skin irritation and aggravation of asthma

symptoms.

Last year, the Army had to eradicate mold problems at the off-post

military housing area in Kaltenbrunn after an inspection found mold

growing in bathrooms and attics of at least 10 homes.

Now, some soldiers and family members living in the housing area say

the mold has returned, although the Army says it's unaware of any

problems.

Staff Sgt. Frederick Rowell of the 2nd Cavalry (Stryker) Regiment

blames the mold problems for the allergies experienced by his family.

When he first complained to the Army about the mold last summer,

workers did remediation work that involved covering up the mold

rather than solving the problem, Rowell said.

" I think the contractors did an excellent job on some houses, but at

my house there was mold in the concrete and they just covered it

up, " he said.

The 29-year-old Pensacola, Fla., native — who said he suffers from

traumatic brain injury sustained in a roadside bomb blast — said he

raised the issue with the Vilseck Warrior Transition Unit last

month. A week later the Army found him a house at the new off-post

military housing area at Netzaberg, he said.

Earlier this month, Grafenwöhr Director of Public Works Tom Hays

said that he was not aware of mold problems in the housing area.

" The safety and health of our soldiers and their families are a

priority and we immediately addressed the mold issue when it was

brought to our attention, " he said in an e-mail. Rowell's house did

not have visible mold in it when it was inspected last summer, Hays

said, but workers replaced a shower and " recaulked joints. "

A family has not been moved into the house since Rowell left.

Garrison housing officials have not received any recent complaints

about mold at Kaltenbrunn but any reports will be investigated

promptly, Hays said.

A few other residents at Kaltenbrunn said they had not seen

significant mold problems in their houses.

Arlene Mennig, 35, a 2nd Cav spouse, said she's had no mold problems

since moving to St. Lorenz Street in Kaltenbrunn in August 2006,

although many of her neighbors have.

Staff Sgt. Ciulla, 28, of Boston, Mass., who moved into a

house in St. Lorenz Street in January, said he was told to watch out

for mold when he moved in.

" Every time I take a shower I make sure I open a window, " he said.

But another Kaltenbrunn resident, 2nd Cav spouse Amy Daily, 30, said

workers sealed her attic with plastic (to protect her family from

contaminated timber) and removed mold from the house last year. In

recent months, however, leaks have reappeared.

There are also drafts through the house's windows and a broken

kitchen cabinet, she said.

" I'm not one to complain and I'm happy to have a roof over my head,

but the housing quality here is just disappointing, " she said.

Seth Robson / S & S

Mold grows around a fixture in a downstairs bathroom of a home in

the military housing area of Kaltenbrunn near Grafenwöhr Training

Area in this file photo.

Seth Robson / S & S

Some residents of the military housing unit in Kaltenbrunn, Germany,

say the mold that was growing in the homes last year has returned.

Tips for preventing mold in your house

There are many ways to control moisture and help prevent mold from

growing in your home:

Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the

outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive

excavation and waterproofing. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs

and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow.

Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawl spaces to prevent moisture

from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawl spaces are well-

ventilated.

Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the

outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer to the

outside.

Turn off certain appliances, such as humidifiers or space heaters,

if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.

Use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that

the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological

pollutants.

Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses.

Open doors between rooms (especially doors to closets which may be

colder than the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries

heat to the cold surfaces. Increase air circulation by using fans

and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat

circulation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air and

can expel excessive moisture from the home.

Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can

absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to

grow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency