Doctor discusses dangers of mold to people

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http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/sections/archive/topstoryjmp/2-19-02/News1.

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Doctor discusses dangers of mold to people

BY CRISELDA VALDEZ

And Angeles Negrete Lares

THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

It was not Sunday, but the parking lot at Christ the King Catholic Church

was packed as more than 200 people gathered in church's community center for

a come-to-Jesus meeting on mold problems at two local schools.

Parents, teachers and community members gathered to hear mold expert Dr.

address molds and how they can affect humans.

, a Houston-based physician, was asked by Cameron County

Commissioners Court last Tuesday to address questions and make the

presentation. County officials said they invited in an effort to

address residents' concerns.

, the medical director of the Center for Immune, Environmental and

Toxic Disorders in Houston, specializes in the study of how toxins affect

the body and the immune system. is not being paid for his time and

is providing the information as a public service. The county is paying the

expenses incurred in his trip.

County Judge Gilbert Hinojosa spoke during Monday's meeting and said the

county had undertaken the job of bringing a mold expert after it was

determined that the issue was one of public health.

It comes in the wake of closure of Aiken Elementary and Besteiro Middle

schools due to recurring mold problems.

Earlier in the day county officials had taken to the Father ph

O'Brien Clinic in Port Isabel, which also was recently closed because of a

mold problem.

Gomez, who attended Monday's public meeting and whose granddaughters

attend Aiken, asked the doctor what kind of mold was at the schools.

said he could not say because he had not examined it.

Hinojosa, however, said had verified that the mold at the clinic

and at the schools was the same.

" He did not see the schools and did not see copies of the reports (of

testing done at the schools), so we don't want to involve him in the legal

matters, but we wanted to bring him to talk to parents about the cause of

the mold and how it affects the population, " Hinojosa said.

Hundreds of teachers and families are suing those involved in construction

of the two schools.

gave an hour-long presentation with visual aids to accent the major

points.

He gave a brief history of mold, when its first effects were documented and

how it has affected thousands across the globe.

" Molds can multiply very fast, " said. " When they do, they release

mycotoxins. "

Mycotoxins are what harm humans, he said.

said the mycotoxins affect the immune system first, then attack the

nervous system and then the respiratory and gastrointestinal system.

" They can cause cancer of the kidneys, cancer of the esophagus and

leukemia, " he said.

Symptoms can vary but include fatigue, short-term memory loss, numbness,

anxiety and depression, headaches, mood swings, nosebleeds, coughing,

shortness of breath and soreness of the throat, among other symptoms,

said.

did not mention the schools during his presentation, but parents

had many questions regarding the two schools when the doctor concluded his

presentation.

" How do you know when the mold is gone from a building you know had mold, " a

parent in the audience asked.

told the crowd that an environmental engineering firm could

determine that.

Rocha, whose daughter is in her second year at Besteiro, said she was

glad the doctor came.

" With Doctor 's visit and presentation we now know that our daughter

shows the same symptoms that are related to exposure to the mold. My

daughter's nose bleeds and she has headaches. "

Rocha said she now knows that the mold and lack of prompt attention from

BISD caused the girl's problems.

" Doctor came to open our eyes to the fact that the problem is more

serious than we thought, " she said.

The meeting lasted about an hour and a half, although stayed to

answer individual questions afterward. He said he was willing to stay

longer, even though Christ the Kink pastor Rev. Alfonso Guevara closed the

meeting.

" The people of this area needs more information than this; we are talking

about some 300 people came to this meeting and I could have stayed here

another hour answering the people, " the doctor said. " This is not a simple

problem. "

Guevara said a second meeting would be held at 6 p.m. today to discuss ways

to raise money to contract to come and examine the children.

The doctor expressed dissatisfaction with the tone of the meeting.

" This is a half-political meeting, with political overtones, " he said.

He complained of constant interruptions from organizers and repeated

questions regarding the fees he charges for services.

Although the meeting was open to the public, Zavaletta was denied

entry. Zavaletta, a plaintiff's lawyer, represents hundreds of teachers and

students in a lawsuit against the those involved with the construction of

Aiken Elementary and Besteiro Middle Schools, which have been closed because

of recurring mold problems.

" I was told it had been decided that there would be no one there having to

do with any litigation, " Zavaletta said. " I respect their decision, but I am

sure the people who attend will benefit from what Dr. has to say. "

The Brownsville Herald

1135 E. Van Buren

Brownsville, TX 78520

956-542-4301