Re: irradiation to kill mold spores?

[Guest guest]

This may be a silly question, but wasn't the US Postal service using

radiation of mail to kill Anthrax spores? Just wondering if that technology

could somehow be adapted to eradicating mold spores from personal items and

perhaps even in the treatment of entire home environments?...hum..CHaughton

----- Original Message -----

From: < >

< >

Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 4:40 AM

Subject: [] Digest Number 1191

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------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are 15 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Don't Go In the Building

From: " billhicks_98 " <billhicks_98@...>

2. Mold problem returns at Vintage Bay condominium

From: bherk@...

3. Dr. Harriet Burge Joins Leading Indoor Air Quality Lab

From: bherk@...

4. Seventh Duplin resident infected with blastomycosis

From: bherk@...

5. Wilmington Residents - Pay Attention - You have a mold problem

From: bherk@...

6. Pender County - Same mold story? Pender looks into health worries

From: bherk@...

7. New reports of mold spreading among workers at New Hanover County's

administrative annex building

From: bherk@...

8. Inspectors say Pender needs to clean up

From: bherk@...

9. Mold-resistant materials offer builders alternative to gypsum

From: " marc herskowitz " <bherk@...>

10. You can purchase Fungi now

From: " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2C@...>

11. RE: federal class action against ALL manufactured homes

From: Beverly Craft <enviromom2000@...>

12. Re: RE: federal class action against ALL manufactured homes

From: " westoo " <westoo@...>

13. QUERY: ALCOHOLISM and ILLNESS

From: " aliaas6 " <aliaas@...>

14. QUERY: Mold & Hormones

From: Stinkypouf@...

15. I Have Mold

From: " hometo1cool715 " <hometo1cool715@...>

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 15:03:50 -0000

From: " billhicks_98 " <billhicks_98@...>

Subject: Don't Go In the Building

http://www.globalxings.com/

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 19:32:58 -0500

From: bherk@...

Subject: Mold problem returns at Vintage Bay condominium

http://www.marconews.com/02/03/marco/d726369a.htm

Mold problem returns at Vintage Bay condominium

Tuesday, March 26, 2002

By I.M. STACKEL, imstackel@...

and VICTOR A. HILL, vahill@...

One-third of Carl and Mery Held's $195,000, three-bedroom condominium at

Vintage Bay is useless.

A chronic mold problem that wasn't properly eradicated last year has crept

into the couple's master bedroom. The air quality is intolerable, and last

year Mery Held, 63, took to wearing a dust mask to minimize her wheezing and

coughing.

After minor attempts to remove the mold, she was finally able to take off

the mask.

Now the mold - and the mask - are back, and Marco Island city officials plan

to notify the state Department of Health of the problem.

" We're not sleeping there anymore, " said Carl Held, 79. " We moved to another

room. "

They now sleep in their guest bedroom, where the mold was first found in

April 2001.

City inspector Winston visited the Held household Friday to assess the

problem. He believes water is entering behind the condo's walls from a

different source than the one that seemed to feed last year's mold growth.

Other residents could be victims of the mold as well, though no one else has

stepped forward with a complaint.

Last year, the couple reported the problem to Vintage Bay Development Corp.

owner Avi Baron. The San Marco Road complex has had its share of problems,

including numerous code enforcement violations.

Baron hired someone to fix the first leak, but at the time experts called it

a structural Band-Aid.

He blames the Helds for their latest situation. In a March 20 letter, Baron

said he inspected the condo March 19. He urged the Helds to use their air

conditioner to prevent more mold problems and not open their sliding glass

doors.

" As you can see, opening the sliding doors without the air conditioner will

cause humidity to be sucked in from the outside conditions and the closest

and most neutral place for the mildew to grow is behind your armoire, which

is 12 inches from the sliding door, " Baron wrote.

He attached a quote from Apollo Environmental Inc. to remove the mold,

estimated at $3,700.

Carl Held said he has no intention of paying the bill because he contends

the condo's poor construction is to blame.

Kallotte, an environmental specialist with the state Department of

Health, said there's only one way to effectively eradicate mold: to first

find the moisture source that feeds it, then scrub out the mold with a

bleach solution.

" You don't want to just kill it, which will do no good. You want to remove

it, " Kallotte said. " The only way to do that is by scrubbing. If the water's

stopped, and the mold is excised, it will be removed. "

Despite the fact that Kallotte recognized the Held situation as problematic

last year, there isn't much he or his agency can do, he said.

" I work in a function that is purely advisory, " Kallotte said. " My authority

never begins, and it stops at informing and advising. "

The Helds' neighbor, Dave Pattison, is the Building A representative and has

been trying to get their situation remedied.

It was raised at a recent condominium association meeting, and Cardinal

Management Group, which now manages Vintage Bay, called in Firewater

Restoration Services to fix the problem.

The molds must be identified by a certified industrial hygienist and " a

protocol has to be written. That's the starting point, " Firewater

Restoration President said.

That information is included in Apollo Environmental's quote.

Like Kallotte, most other government entities are powerless over a situation

such as the one the Helds find themselves in. It may be a health risk, but

it doesn't fall under the safety and welfare jurisdiction afforded to Marco

Chief Code Compliance Officer Goodspeed or city Fire Marshal

Burback.

However, if there are structural problems at Vintage Bay, city officials can

step in.

They've done so before.

Seven months ago, after Goodspeed and Burback testified before the city Code

Enforcement Board, Baron was slammed with fines and penalties for repeat

violations that endangered the safety, lives and welfare of the 66 condo

owners and their families at the 3-year-old residential complex.

What differentiated the August ruling from a similar 1999 board finding was

that Goodspeed and Burback built their case proving that Baron as an

individual - as opposed to his development company - was the responsible

party for all violations. Baron was unable to shift responsibility to the

condo association members, who repeatedly testified they were never given a

say in the property's operation or maintenance.

The safety and health risks for which Baron was fined included an

excessively rusty and nonoperational fire sprinkler system, disassembled

fire pump and malfunctioning elevator emergency phones.

The city fined him a record $70,000. Earlier last year, Baron was cited by

the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation for

overcharging residents on monthly assessments.

Collier County court records show that as of October, almost 30 lawsuits had

been filed against the local developer in the past decade.

Carl Held isn't sure of his plans. What he is certain of is that after three

weeks of frustration over the latest mold problem and a resurgence of

respiratory problems for him and his wife, he's staying put and fighting.

" I'm not going anywhere, " he said.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 19:36:07 -0500

From: bherk@...

Subject: Dr. Harriet Burge Joins Leading Indoor Air Quality Lab

Tuesday March 26, 8:34 am Eastern Time

Press Release

SOURCE: Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Inc.

IAQ Pioneer, Dr. Harriet Burge Joins Leading Indoor Air Quality Lab

SAN BRUNO, Calif., March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental Microbiology

Laboratory, Inc. (EMLab) and Dr. Harriet Burge jointly announced today the

appointment of Dr. Burge to EMLab's indoor air quality analysis team. Dr.

Burge is recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities in Indoor Air

Quality and aerobiology. EMLab is a leading commercial laboratory

specializing in the analysis of indoor air and surface samples for fungi,

including mold, yeasts and macrofungi, and also bacteria.

As EMLab's Director of Aerobiology, a new position, Dr. Burge will be

involved in sampling and interpretation protocol development, internal

training, quality systems and aerobiology-related projects. Dr. Burge will

also serve as the Chair of EMLab's Scientific Advisory Board. Her activity

will be part time for a transitional period.

Concurrently, Dr. Burge will continue her work and association with the

Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), where she is currently Associate

Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. Burge is

also Director of the Environmental Microbiology Laboratory at HSPH, in

addition to several non-academic affiliations.

Widely considered the leading expert in Indoor Air Quality, Dr. Burge

pioneered the field more than 30 years ago. She has served as a member of

three National Academy of Sciences committees for indoor air quality,

including as vice-chair of the Committee on the Health Effects of Indoor

Allergens. Dr. Burge is currently a member of the ASHRAE Standard 62

(Ventilation for Indoor Air Quality) Committee, serves on the Board of

Directors of the New England Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of

America, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology

and the American College of Allergy and Immunology. Previously, she chaired

the Bioaerosol Committee of the American Conference of Governmental

Industrial Hygienists, and was vice-chair of the Pan American Aerobiology

Association.

Additionally, Dr. Burge has published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers on

bioaerosols, fungi and respiratory health, and is the author of several

books relating to allergies and air quality. She is the keynote speaker or

featured participant at many IAQ trade association events and indoor air

quality- related symposia.

``Dave and Janet Gallup's lab is really the only lab where I would consider

accepting such a role,'' said Dr. Burge. ``We share the same commitment to

quality and scientific integrity, and I respect the organization and

analytical lab team they've developed. I look forward to being involved in

many interesting and challenging client projects at EMLab.''

``We are very excited about this association with our longtime friend and

close industry colleague, Harriet Burge,'' said Gallup, Environmental

Microbiology Lab's C.E.O. ``Harriet brings to our organization her

tremendous, industry-leading knowledge and experience in the fields of

aerobiology, bioaerosols, allergens, mold identification, scientific

research and lab operations ... unequalled in the IAQ industry. She also

shares our philosophy for high quality standards, and our drive to build and

maintain best-in-class analytical disciplines in the lab.''

About Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Inc.

Environmental Microbiology Laboratory is considered one of the leading

indoor air quality testing laboratories in North America. It specializes in

the analysis of molds, yeasts, and bacteria, including Legionella. EMLab has

over 30 years experience in mold testing and bioaerosol analysis, and helped

pioneer today's indoor air quality (IAQ) industry. Its database and

reference library are considered among the industry's largest and most

complete. The company has an industry-leading team of mycologists with

experience gained from thousands of IAQ projects.

With headquarters in the San Francisco bay area, and additional lab

operations near San Diego, California, Environmental Microbiology Laboratory

serves IAQ professionals throughout North America. Clients include

industrial hygienists, IAQ consultants, environmental specialists, mold

remediation and HVAC contractors, hospitals and medical professionals,

public health departments, building owners and commercial property managers,

engineering and construction firms, and the insurance, real estate and legal

professions.

Further information is available on Environmental Microbiology Laboratory's

website at www.emlab.com. The company may also be reached toll- free at

1-866-888-6653.

This release was issued through eReleases.com - Your Source for Affordable

PR. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com

SOURCE: Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Inc.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 19:40:57 -0500

From: bherk@...

Subject: Seventh Duplin resident infected with blastomycosis

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/news/stories/10387newsstorypage.html

Seventh Duplin resident infected

By Rouch

Staff Writer

March 26, 2002

A seventh Duplin County resident has been diagnosed with blastomycosis, just

as health officials there are planning a community forum to wrap up an

investigation into the disease.

County Health Director Harrelson said the diagnosis of the 33-year-old

man was made Sunday, just two days after 82-year-old Milton Deluca died in

an acute care center after battling the illness for more than a month.

Mr. Harrelson did not know Monday afternoon whether blastomycosis has been

listed as Mr. Deluca's official cause of death. If it is, his death will be

the second death from blastomycosis in two years in Duplin County. A

45-year-old man who lived between Warsaw and Kenansville died in May from

blastomycosis. Mr. Harrelson has said he doesn't believe that death was

connected to the outbreak.

Mr. Deluca lived within what health officials had initially considered the

target area for the cluster of fungal-borne illnesses - a one-mile radius

around Warsaw's Kenan High School. Four of the victims were students

at the school.

But like the sixth victim - a 36-year-old man diagnosed earlier this month -

the latest victim lives more than a mile away from that target area, a fact

that further stymies the efforts of health officials to pinpoint the origin

of the outbreaks.

So far, officials from the state and county health departments have

investigated two construction sites at the school, a 4-acre pond near the

school, a Warsaw cemetery and a stretch of roadside dirt scraped around the

time victims began contracting the illness - around December and January. So

far, those investigations have been inconclusive.

Blastomycosis is caused by inhaling spores of a mold species known as

blastomyces dermatitidis, which is commonly found in moist, decaying plant

matter throughout the Southeast. Once contracted, blastomycosis is not

contagious. Symptoms can range from joint pain and skin legions to severe

respiratory infections. Diagnosis of blastomycosis is frequently delayed

because physicians sometimes mistake respiratory symptoms for bacterial

pneumonia.

Mr. Harrelson said even in light of this latest case, the county plans to

wrap up its investigation into the illnesses in two to three weeks. Because

officials believe the latest victim has been suffering from undiagnosed

blastomycosis since January, they do not believe his case represents a new

outbreak.

" We believe he fits within the original window of exposure and that this is

not a re-exposure, " he said.

But he also said there is no way of knowing whether there have been more

cases of blastomycosis than the seven the county knows of, because victims

of the illness are not required to notify the health department.

Mr. Harrelson said when the investigation is concluded, the county Health

Department will hold a community forum similar to the one held in February

to educate the public. He said the final forum would feature state health

officials who have interviewed patients, and maps showing the disbursement

of the cases and suspected exposure sites.

Rouch: 343-2315

victoria.rouch@...

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Message: 5

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 19:52:39 -0500

From: bherk@...

Subject: Wilmington Residents - Pay Attention - You have a mold problem

Looking in the archives, you folks in the Wilmington area seem to have

several major contaminated sites - Trask Middle School, Southport Nursing

Home, New Hanover County Courthouse, etc. Was there massive flooding in

this area or what?? Another story to follow. There's a LOT in your

newspaper archives.

New Hanover courthouse's mold levels found normal

By Amy E. Turnbull

Staff Writer

March 16, 2002

The results are in from the Raleigh environmental firm that tested the New

Hanover County courthouse for mold last month. The report says the air in

the building is no moldier than the air outside the building.

While it says that in a well-maintained building, inside air should have

less mold than the air outside, the report adds that " the Judicial Building

does not have a widespread internal source or reservoir of mold growth. "

The building was inspected last month, and the report submitted by ATC

Associates after a Wilmington lawyer threatened to sue to have parts of the

building condemned if the county didn't address the mold problem, which a

handful of people said was making them sick.

Despite the county's hiring environmental testers to inspect the building,

lawyer Shipman filed suit against the county, its commissioners, its

manager and the health director, seeking thousands of dollars in

compensation for seven women who regularly work in the courthouse. An eighth

woman is a plaintiff in the suit but is not asking for money.

ATC also tested the building's heating and air conditioning system to see if

it were contaminated with mold as a result of construction under way to make

an addition to the building. The report says there was no such

contamination.

The report concludes with a list of recommendations for the county to ensure

that mold doesn't become a problem in the Judicial Building. At the top of

the list is fixing leaks in the roof and addressing other water problems

that cause mold.

Other suggestions are to remove all mold and fungus already in the building,

to use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered vacuum on the

carpeting and upholstery, and to treat parts of the building with fungicide.

County spokesman Mark Boyer said county's administration annex building at

Fifth Avenue and Chestnut Street will also be tested for toxins. That

building leaked severely in the past, he said, and even though it was

repaired, the county is going to test it to make sure no problems crop up.

Mr. Shipman could not be reached for comment late Friday.

Amy Turnbull: 343-2389

amy.turnbull@...

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/news/stories/9784newsstorypage.html

Courthouse mold lawsuit filed

By Amy E. Turnbull

Staff Writer

March 9, 2002

A lawsuit filed late Friday calls the New Hanover County courthouse a " sick

building " and seeks to shut parts of it down and pay several clerks and

paralegals for health problems related to mold in the building.

Lawyer Shipman filed the lawsuit in New Hanover County Superior Court

against the county, its commissioners, its manager and the health director.

It was filed on behalf of Satorre, Sharon Lee, Theresa Pugh-McQueen,

Kim Ameri, Pamela Almeida, Randolph, Gloria Todd and Jackie .

Each of the women works in the courthouse as an employee of the Clerk of

Courts or the Register of Deeds, or is a private paralegal who regularly

spends time in the courthouse.

Mr. Shipman has been threatening to sue for several weeks. In the suit, he

says the county failed to appropriately address what a firm he hired to

inspect the building called " abnormally high levels of dangerous

mold/mycotoxins throughout the courthouse and its ventilation systems. "

The suit says that beginning in spring 2001, workers in the courthouse began

complaining of an odor on the first floor (the basement) and began having

headaches, bad tastes in their mouths, lethargy, drowsiness, dizziness,

congestion, swelling, itching or irritated eyes, noses and throats, dry

throats, coughing, shortness of breath, and " other non-specific respiratory

problems. "

Emergency workers tested the courthouse for carbon monoxide, the suit says,

but despite the workers' health complaints, nothing else was done.

Also last year, renovations forced the Register of Deeds Office to move from

the street-level second floor to the basement-level first floor, where mold

began to appear. The suit adds that no warning was ever issued to the

workers about the potential presence of mold or associated health hazards.

In November, a chemical was spilled in the air conditioning unit at the

courthouse, but again, no investigation was done, Mr. Shipman contends.

Within days after moving into the basement in December, employees of the

Register of Deeds office, as well as outsiders who regularly used the

office, began complaining of symptoms similar to those experienced in the

spring, and the Register's office was moved out of the building and the

renovated space was closed.

In early February, the lawsuit says, a registered environmental health

specialist hired by Mr. Shipman to inspect the building reported his

findings to the county. Mr. Shipman contendsno warning was issued to the

public or employees and none of the inspector's recommendations were

followed.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to close parts of the courthouse that

contain abnormally high levels of irritants, mold or fungi until the areas

are tested and repaired.

The suit also says County Health Director Rice failed in his duties by

not addressing the public health concerns of the building, and asks the

court to compel him to do so.

Lastly, the suit says County Manager O'Neal and the Board of

Commissioners were negligent in failing to maintain the building, to

investigate or fix the problems, to look into the women's symptoms, or to

warn workers and the public about conditions in the courthouse.

All of the plaintiffs except Ms. Randolph are asking for damages in excess

of $10,000 - the threshold for a case to be heard in Superior Court - plus

interest. Mr. Shipman also asked that the plaintiffs pay all legal fees,

costs and expenses.

County Attorney Wanda Copley had not received a copy of the lawsuit by late

Friday, and she didn't think Hal Kitchin, the lawyer hired by the county's

insurance company, had seen it, either.

Even so, Ms. Copley said, the county has done everything it can to ensure

that no one's health has been compromised.

" The county is not guilty of exposing employees to toxic mold, " she said.

After receiving the test results from Mr. Shipman's environmental expert,

the county recently hired its own expert to test the building. County

spokesman Mark Boyer said the county's tests showed that the air outside

contained more mold than the air inside the courthouse.

The vault at the courthouse had the highest level of mold, Mr. Boyer said,

but its level was less than half of what the inspector would call

" alarming. "

Once the renovated-then-vacated Register of Deeds office in the basement is

tested for other contaminants, the county will decide whether to move the

clerks back into the space, he said.

The county has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit.

Amy Turnbull: 343-2389

amy.turnbull@...

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Message: 6

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 19:58:37 -0500

From: bherk@...

Subject: Pender County - Same mold story? Pender looks into health worries

(As if the mold weren't enough, these folks have perfumes and air fresheners

to contend with. Within 3 years, I'll be willing to bet that the employees

who aren't dead will wish they were - they'll have fibro, MCS, lupus,

heart/lung disease, asthma and be totally disabled.)

Barbara

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/news/stories/9615newsstorypage.html

Same mold story? Pender looks into health worries

By Sam

Staff Writer

March 6, 2002

BURGAW | State health inspectors took samples from three Pender County

buildings Monday, following up on several complaints of respiratory problems

from people who work in the buildings.

Two employees in the Holly Administration building and the

Agriculture buildings have missed significant time from work due to ailments

they suspect are caused by the air, said Jack Griffith, Pender County's

health director.

In the Department of Services building, problems stem from complaints of a

foul odor following a sewage back-up two weeks ago, which spilled fecal

matter into the halls, Dr. Griffith said.

The state officials spent most of the day in Burgaw before returning to

Raleigh. They expect to have a report early next week, said Ron Howell, one

of the inspectors.

Mr. Howell said they found a small amount of mold in the Agriculture

building on a ceiling tile.

Dr. Griffith had earlier made a precursory search of the buildings. He said

he believed the solution in the Holly and Agriculture would be a matter of

improving housekeeping.

" I suspect more than anything else, they're having an allergic reaction to

dust, " he said.

The Pender County complaints are similar to those made by employees at the

New Hanover County Judicial Building.

In the Holly Building, dust bunnies could be seen on the floor in the

office of one of the women who said she had terrible problems from the air.

Joyce Swicegood, the register of deeds, said she suffered allergic reactions

since she moved into the Holly building in November 1997.

Ms. Swicegood said her problems did not cause her to miss work and have

improved lately.

Allergens, which cause most people no trouble, can antagonize a small

minority, said Romie Herring, one of the inspectors

Mr. Howell said there did not appear to be any health risks associated with

the sewage odor in social services.

" Nothing jumped out there, " he said.

Dr. Griffith said cleaning with Clorox after the sewage spill eliminated any

danger.

The odor, combined with a long-running problem with backing-up toilets, was

having an affect on department morale, said Reta Shiver, of the county's

department of social services.

Tuesday afternoon, any odor was masked by a hodge-podge of perfumes and

sprays, which Ms. Shiver said were sprayed by department employees.

Sam : 343-2370

sam.scott@...

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Message: 7

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 20:01:06 -0500

From: bherk@...

Subject: New reports of mold spreading among workers at New Hanover County's

administrative annex building

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/news/stories/10272newsstorypage.html

New reports of mold spreading among workers at annex building

By Trista Talton

Staff Writer

March 22, 2002

Air quality tests will be conducted in New Hanover County's administrative

annex Monday, a little more than two weeks after some courthouse employees

sued the county, alleging that indoor mold was causing health problems.

The state Occupational Safety and Health Division recently received an

anonymous complaint about the annex at Fifth Avenue and Chestnut Street.

The complaint says some employees are experiencing adverse health effects,

including eye irritation, respiratory distress, asthmatic symptoms and

headaches.

The complaints are similar to those made by courthouse employees. The county

hired environmental testers, who determined the air in the courthouse is no

moldier than the air outside the building. Seven women who regularly work in

the courthouse hired lawyer Shipman to sue the county, seeking

thousands of dollars in compensation.

Sue , who works on the second floor of the administrative annex, said

problems there have persisted since the mid-1990s.

" This has been an ongoing problem for years. This is not because of the

problems at the courthouse, " she said.

She said the county has gone in from time to time to try to correct some

problems, but she thinks the building needs a new ventilation system.

Complaints to county leaders have gone unanswered, she said.

" We just get ignored, " Ms. said, adding that the attention given to

the courthouse has " hurt our feelings. "

She said mold was growing on ceiling tiles, which have been replaced.

Several employees on all three of the building's floors have experienced bad

headaches and rashes, she said.

" We've certainly got a lot of people with identical symptoms, Ms.

said.

The latest complaint states the suspected culprit behind the health problems

is mold and mildew in the ventilation system, according to a letter from the

state to the county.

" When employees are away from the work site the symptoms fade and then recur

on return to the work site, " the letter stated.

The state requires that a county handle an anonymous complaint by

investigating the building and making any necessary corrections.

County Manager O'Neal said the county has hired a company to conduct

an air quality test on Monday. This is not the first time an employee in the

building has made a complaint of this nature.

" There have been issues with that building from time to time, " Mr. O'Neal

said. " We've been in there in the very recent past. "

Trista Talton: 343-2070

trista.talton@...

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Message: 8

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 20:03:28 -0500

From: bherk@...

Subject: Inspectors say Pender needs to clean up

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/news/stories/10050newsstorypage.html

Inspectors say Pender needs to clean up

By Sam

Staff Writer

March 16, 2002

BURGAW | Pender County needs to do a little cleaning, state officials said

this week.

After allergy complaints from a few county employees, state inspectors

toured two Pender County buildings on March 5 looking for irritants in the

workplace.

On Thursday, the inspectors released a report saying that both buildings

need dusting and that one - the Agriculture Building - had limited mold that

should be removed.

Jack Griffith, the county's health director, said the results matched his

expectations.

" I don't see anything earth shattering there, " Dr. Griffith said, noting the

mold was mostly limited to a few ceiling tiles in a supply room that have

already been removed.

The Pender County complaints are similar to those made by employees at the

New Hanover County Judicial Building. Employees in both places have missed

work because of their allergies.

About 10 percent of people are allergic to mold, said Howell, one of

the inspectors, who were from the N.C. Department of Health and Human

Services.

" You need to get rid of it and clean it up, " he said.

Reducing moisture is the best way to prevent its growth, he said.

The county has fixed leaks in the Agriculture Building, which should help,

said County Manager Beach.

The county has also already cleaned the other site, the Holly

Administration building, which the report called " extremely dusty. "

On the day of inspection, " dust bunnies " could be seen near the office of

one of the women who said she had terrible problems caused by the air.

Next Friday, the air ducts of the Holly Building will also be cleaned, Mr.

Beach said.

The inspectors also checked the Department of Social Services where the

county has received complaints of odors related to backed-up toilets and a

sewage spill in a hallway and some offices.

The inspectors found no evidence of contamination, the report said.

Pender County Social Services Director Reta Shiver said an off-putting smell

persists, which employees mask with scents and sprays. She trusts the

finding that the smell is not dangerous, she said.

Mr. Beach said he contacted the state as soon as he learned of the employee

complaints.

Sam : 343-2370

sam.scott@...

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Message: 9

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 20:32:47 -0500

From: " marc herskowitz " <bherk@...>

Subject: Mold-resistant materials offer builders alternative to gypsum

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2002/03/25/focus4.html

March 22, 2002

Mold-resistant materials offer builders alternative to gypsum

By Nick Giardino

More and more property owners today are checking out whether mold is present

in their buildings. Some of these existing buildings may have developed a

mold problem over a period of time. This occurs when there is a constant

source of moisture in the building from a leak or from outside sources (e.g.

rain through roof). Mold, which is ubiquitous in our environment, then

begins to grow on building materials such as gypsum board, wood and

wallpaper.

Since mold has a definite odor, a simple walk through the building observing

any visual or signs of an odor, can determine the initial presence of mold.

Talking to the occupants, maintenance, HVAC personnel, builders and

engineers can add valuable information to the visual investigation. In

addition, there are two sophisticated sampling methods, air sampling and

surface (source sampling), which are used to confirm the detection of mold

contamination.

Unfortunately, upon completion of our full mold investigation, there are

situations that a building is not inhabitable because of the severe nature

of the mold contamination. Oftentimes these conditions could have been

avoided. One example is a recent mold investigation at a nearby high school.

This high school had the outer brick and gypsum wall perimeter constructed

on a concrete slab that formed the entire shell of the building.

We cannot be certain how the gypsum board became completely contaminated

with mold, except that it had rained during the construction period and the

gypsum board had not been covered for protection.

Construction

The gypsum board mold contamination was of such a severe nature that it was

recommended to the school board, parents, architect and contractors that the

entire structure be torn down. This mold remediation cost the district

hundreds of thousands of dollars, which did not include the cost of

rebuilding the structure.

This catastrophic event may have been averted in a number of ways. One

preventative measure would be to ensure the gypsum board was covered and

isolated from the weather.

The contractor also could have had the gypsum board sampled as it was

delivered and as the project progressed. Lastly, substitute materials could

have been considered for use in the construction of the interior/exterior

framing wall instead of gypsum board.

There are a great many substitutes for gypsum board which are mold

resistant. The following is a limited list of building materials and their

relative advantages and disadvantages over gypsum board.

Glass-fiber reinforced concrete

Application: As a manufactured product it can be produced in long sections

of repetitive designs or as sculptural elements. Because of its low

shrinkage, it can be produced from forms taken directly from the building.

Advantages: Lightweight, easily installed, good shaping ability, crisp

detail possible, weather resistant, can be left uncoated.

Disadvantages: Non-loadbearing uses only, generally requires separate

anchorage system, large panels must be reinforced, and joints must be

properly detailed.

Precast concrete

Application: It is used for both flat wall surfaces and textured or

ornamental elements.

Advantages: Easily fabricated, takes shape well, minimal shrinkage of

material, can be load bearing or anchorage can be cast in,

expansion/contraction similar to stone.

Disadvantages: May be more moisture absorbent than stone, although coatings

may be applied, small air bubbles may disfigure units.

Fiber reinforced polymers

Application: Fiberglass, a non load-bearing material attached to a separate

structural frame, is frequently used as a replacement where a lightweight

element is needed or an inaccessible location makes frequent maintenance of

materials difficult.

Advantages: Lightweight, long spans available with a separate structural

frame, high ratio of strength to weight, good shaping ability to easily

install.

Disadvantages: Requires separate anchorage system, combustible (fire

retardants can be added); fragile to impact, high coefficient of expansion

and contraction requires frequently placed expansion joints; vapor

impermeability may require ventilation detail.

Epoxy concretes

Application: Epoxy is one of the most versatile of the new materials. It can

be used to bind together broken fragments of terra cotta; to build up or

infill missing sections of ornamental metal; or to cast missing elements of

wooden ornaments.

Advantages: Can be used for repair/replacement, lightweight, easily

installed, good casting ability; forms can be taken from building material;

can be sanded and carved.

Disadvantages: Materials are flammable and generate heat as they cure and

may be toxic when burned; material may be subject to ultraviolet

deterioration.

I advise any potential builder to give careful thought to the choice of

materials and to consider testing the materials for mold on delivery and

during construction. These simple precautions may save your project

unlimited delays and additional costs.

Nick Giardino is senior industrial hygienist with Raba-Kistner Consultants

Inc., a San engineering firm. E-mail him at: ngiardino@....

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Message: 10

Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 01:59:29 -0000

From: " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2C@...>

Subject: You can purchase Fungi now

http://www.dsmz.de/species

You can buy all kinds of fungi from this plant.

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Message: 11

Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 19:39:16 -0800 (PST)

From: Beverly Craft <enviromom2000@...>

Subject: RE: federal class action against ALL manufactured homes

Does anyone have information pertaining to the class

action lawsuit against ALL manufactured (mobile) home

companies (relating to toxic mold) that was recently

moved to federal court? Thought this would be of

interest to many...

Thanks!

Beverly

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