Mold grows as home danger

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http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/wdhlocal/312104151237329.shtml

Sun, Jan 20, 2002

Mold grows as home danger

By Gena Kittner

Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers

Central Wisconsin's tightly constructed homes and buildings are ideal

environments for mold to grow and endanger residents.

But many home-inspection services do not check for it because of the special

qualifications necessary.

" There are very few people who are certified to test for it, " said Dan

Hewitt, co-owner of Complete Home Inspections in Wisconsin Rapids, which

does not check for mold. The demand for testing is growing, though, as more

reports surface, he said.

Toxic mold has ruined plans to convert the former Manufacturers' Direct Mall

at Plover, near Interstate Highway 39 and Plover Road, into a teen dance

club, according to a lawsuit.

Mold also was found in one-third of the rooms at Madison's Chavez Elementary

School, which was closed in November. More rooms with mold were discovered

last week, and district officials don't know when they can reopen the

building.

Finding and eliminating mold is critical because of health risks. Gas

emitted from some types of mold can be cancer- and disease-causing, and many

people are allergic to mold and can have an upper respiratory or asthmatic

reaction, said Mark Chamberlain, with the Wisconsin Division of Health.

Randy Steltenpohl, who was leasing the Plover mall, suffered permanent

headaches, bronchitis, and other pulmonary and respiratory problems from

mold exposure, according to his lawsuit. The lawsuit says the mall's owner,

Rainbow Falls, failed to fix a leaky roof.

Spence Bunders, sales manager at Plover Design Homes in Plover, said tightly

built homes can cause mold problems but homeowners can take steps to prevent

them. Air-to-air heat exchangers can be attached to the furnace to take

stale, moldy air and mix it with fresh air from the outside, he said.

Another way to eliminate mold is by installing air filters in the furnace,

Bunders said. " These better filters will help trap mold and other

allergens. "