EPA Head Visits Madison To Discuss Mold, Asthma

April 26, 2002

WISC Channel3000.com

Thursday April 25 10:05 AM EDT

Another member of the president's cabinet visited Madison Wednesday to

promote the president's Clear Skies pollution control plan.

Christie Whitman says she doesn't yet know what that government action

should be as she talked about air quality and asthma.

Whitman toured a special respiratory research center, which is doing

extensive asthma research, at UW Hospital and Clinics.

Researchers and patients are teaming up to figure out what causes asthma.

It's a huge problem. Doctors told News 3 that asthma has soared in kids --

in those under age 5, it's skyrocketed 160 percent.

Researchers know at least one common mold alternaria that makes asthma much

worse and may trigger it. But Whitman told News 3 that coming up with

government standards for indoor mold is no easy task.

" We're still in the process of doing research to know where do you set a

standard, how do you set a standard, is any mold acceptable in the house, "

Whitman said. " We have to go through a pretty detailed process and we're

doing that now. We're also relying on the work that's being done, here. "

Nearly one in 15 children in the United States has asthma.

" When I run or when I do exercise, my lungs compress and air doesn't get

through it, and I wheeze, " said n, 17, who is participating in

the UW asthma study. " That's basically it, or, sometimes it just happens for

no reason. It's a drag -- there's nothing cool about asthma. "

Asthma is the leading chronic illness for kids and the biggest reason for

school absenteeism. Asthma kills nearly 300 children each year.

Whitman says she recognizes mold may be one major reason why, but she says

more research is needed before the government can even think about setting

up any health standards.

Protesters

Several local environmental groups protested Whitman's visit, including the

Wisconsin Environmental Decade andthe Wisconsin Public Interest Research

Group. Critics say that Bush's plan is too easy on polluters and goes

against the Clear Air Act.

Learn more about Bush's Clear Skies plan online.

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