News Story - EPA Head Visits Madison To Discuss Mold, Asthma

May 1, 2002

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EPA Head Visits Madison To Discuss Mold, Asthma

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WISC Channel3000.com

Thursday April 25 10:05 AM EDT

EPA Head Visits Madison To Discuss Mold, Asthma

Another member of the president's cabinet visited Madison Wednesday to promote the president's Clear Skies pollution control plan.

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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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