We've been to hell and back

[Guest guest]

: (could have sworn I posted this, but can't find it anywhere!)

: http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/webextra/mold/mold030302.html

:

: March 3, 2002

: Toxic mold: 'We've been to hell and back'

: Often-ignored fungus can make people sick, ravage homes and drain bank

: accounts

:

: By Kathleen O'Dell

: News-Leader

:

: Her 2-year-old son was spiking 105-degree fevers, suffering seizures and

: respiratory infections that no doctor could identify. Everyone else was

: suffering, too - asthma, migraines, hair loss, skin rashes and memory

loss.

:

: Jane never imagined that the source of her family's ills was growing in

the

: walls and vents of their 3-year-old $190,000 Springfield-area home, or

that

: it would force them out for four months and require them to destroy

infested

: furniture, clothes and family keepsakes.

:

: Last spring an environmental inspector found a host of molds inside the

: walls of the home. Among them was the highly toxic black mold -

Stachybotrys

: chartarum atra - linked to everything from bleeding in the lungs to brain

: damage.

:

: After spending at least $40,000 for cleanup, medical bills and rebuilding

a

: household, family members are healing physically. The rest will take a

: while, Jane said.

:

: " We've been to hell and back. "

:

: Across the nation, toxic mold is breeding in our homes, schools and

offices.

: It's making us sick. And, as we try to clean it up or kill it off,

draining

: our pockets.

:

: There isn't necessarily more mold today than in earlier eras, though

experts

: say we invite trouble with neglected water leaks and airtight,

: energy-efficient buildings.

:

: Yet recent high-profile, national cases - including a $32 million

insurance

: settlement in Texas - and a growing link between molds and illness, have

: made people more vigilant.

:

: And more apt to sue. No super-size claims have surfaced in the Ozarks yet,

: but at least a dozen Springfield-area homeowners and renters who asked not

: to be identified are pursuing claims and lawsuits with their insurers,

: landlords and builders. They want to remain anonymous to protect their

: privacy and their property values.

:

: Carthage School District officials are negotiating with a Neosho general

: contractor after mold that irritated faculty and students temporarily

closed

: a school in late 2000. The problem was traced to plumbing in the heating

and

: air-conditioning system.

:

: " I've had some that are like an onion - as you keep peeling back the

layers,

: it gets more extensive, " said Wayne Middleton, who tests molds at MMET

: Laboratories in Ozark.

:

: The mold phenomenon feels familiar to Ollis, of Ollis & Co.

: Insurers: " It's the 'new asbestos,' " Ollis said, referring to the storm of

: concern and cleanup that ensued after the construction fiber was linked to

: cancers 20 years ago.

:

: This time around, insurance, real estate, construction and even medical

: professionals are scrambling to learn how not-so-benign mold will shape

: their industries.

:

: Real estate agents are pressing home buyers to get mold inspections. And,

: effective this year, insurance companies such as State Farm are trying to

: cut losses with stiffer mold exclusions. The fungus has also given rise to

a

: new strain of entrepreneurs - mold busters, if you will - who treat it as

a

: customer service and a major revenue enhancer.

:

: A legitimate inspection just to find mold can cost $150 or more, and $30

to

: $80 for each sample taken and tested. Trained mold busters wearing moon

: suits, respirators and chemical applicators say it can cost $500 to

$20,000

: to treat a problem.

:

: Solutions aren't always that extensive. Kickapoo High School installed two

: $600 air purifiers in October for a gray-green seasonal mold in the

library

: and books. Staff routinely replace blackened ceiling tiles from

condensation

: on pipes. Teachers have expressed concerns about an abundance of

allergylike

: symptoms, but administrators say they've had no illness.

:

: They did not conduct an environmental study, however, said Schreiner,

: administrative services principal. " If we did, I don't know where we'd

find

: the money to do it. "

:

: Inspectors and cleanup firms estimate they see three to five mold-related

: cases every week - a strange turn for longtime home inspector Dale

Mangrum,

: with AmeriSpec in Springfield: " I've been seeing mold and calling it 'wood

: damage' or 'moisture damage,' never really knowing the full effect until

: recently. I can recall several years ago being in crawl spaces and the

stuff

: was everywhere. It's a wonder we're not all brain-dead. "

:

: Who foots the bill?

:

: Once the mold-besieged consumer satisfies " Who you gonna call?' the bigger

: dilemma is " Who's gonna pay? "

:

: Two national cases put a fine point on the problem: One was a $32 million

: insurance settlement last year for mold damage in a 22-room Texas mansion.

: Then there was the $1 million jury award in 2001 to a Delaware woman who

: claimed her moldy apartment made her sick.

:

: The Carthage School District confirmed it is negotiating with a Neosho

: building contractor over its nearly $200,000 mold cleanup.

:

: And Tonia Ellers of Springfield is seeking compensation from her former

: landlord, CK Properties, for mold she said overtook her apartment and

ruined

: furniture, spring and summer wardrobes and keepsakes. She's since moved

out.

:

: Company partner Cravens declined to discuss the matter except to

say

: " new management took over four months ago, and the new management never

: received a complaint from her until she moved out. Her complaint is now

: being investigated. "

:

: Ellers' memento of her apartment: a business card discovered under the bed

: on moving day that's overgrown with a thick carpet of greenish mold.

:

: State insurance officials doubt they'll see many million-dollar homeowner

: claims in Missouri because, unlike more ambiguous policies in Texas,

: policies in Missouri typically exclude mold abatement.

:

: Area attorneys speculated that could be the reason Ozarks law firms don't

: appear eager to take on cases.

:

: After the high-profile national cases, about a dozen insurance companies

: practicing in Missouri formally clarified their mold exclusions with

: policyholders, said Schulte, manager of property and casualty at the

: state Department of Insurance.

:

: State Farm went one step further. Effective with 2002 renewals nationwide,

: it will no longer cover mold-related claims that occur after a covered

loss

: such as water-main break or flood, said Springfield spokesman

.

: It will, however, continue to pay for water recovery and extraction, and

: will investigate mold claims.

:

: The company could not bear the prospect of continued losses: In Texas

alone,

: State Farm paid out $504,000 in mold-related claims in the first six

months

: of 2001, said.

:

: Heightened concerns in the industry have prompted meetings at the state

: insurance department to discuss whether mold exclusions are appropriate

and

: defensible. Among their considerations: Mold is plentiful outdoors and

will

: move indoors if it has moisture - a water leak or condensation - and a

food

: source such as wood or paper products - building materials.

:

: State Farm's echoes his industry's viewpoint: " Mold in and of

itself

: is uninsurable. Given the right environment, mold will grow. It's a

: certainty - it's not accidental. "

:

: A home under siege

:

: Jane's family might still be wondering why everyone in the house was sick

if

: her toddler hadn't developed unexplainable fevers, seizures and

respiratory

: infections that puzzled every child-health expert from Springfield to St.

: Louis.

:

: They did a spinal tap for meningitis, CAT scans, X-rays.

:

: " They tested him for leukemia three times, " she said. Everything always

came

: back normal.

:

: No one made the connection until, at a pediatrician's suggestion, they got

: an environmental test in their home last spring. While they waited for the

: test, Jane and her husband started pulling up bathroom carpet.

:

: " We discovered the weirdest-looking mold we've ever seen - like it had

: tentacles, black. " It trailed from the bathroom into the bedroom.

:

: Their search also led to a space inside the wall behind the tub and

: discovered a hole where a drainpipe had never been installed. They filled

: the tub, drained it, " and it poured out like Niagara Falls " - onto the

: ground beneath the house, Jane said.

:

: Days later, the environmental test revealed molds throughout their

bedroom,

: the closets, bathroom and heating and air-conditioning system.

:

: Inspectors also found 12 inches of " black gook " inside the airflow unit -

: " So the air quality was horrible in our house, " she said.

:

: After tests identified the molds as the toxic black mold, stachybotrys, as

: well as aspergillus, cladosporium and penicillium, the entire family moved

: out for nearly four months while experts cleaned.

:

: The family had to throw away everything " plush " in the home - upholstered

: furniture, drapes, clothes, towels, wicker baskets, even the daughters'

: dolls.

:

: " We had a big brown Dumpster in front of the house, and we had to fill it

up

: twice and haul it off, " she said. " It's very depressing when you throw

away

: things you've had since you were a child. It's like a death. "

:

: MMET Laboratories Wayne Middleton empathizes with victims: " It's almost as

: bad as a fire . "

:

: Jane estimates the cost of the mold cleanup, the repairs, replacing the

: heating/cooling system and family medical bills so far have topped

$40,000.

: They had to take out loans to cover it. Her husband, the family

breadwinner,

: is left with severe asthma that affects his ability to work.

:

: Their homeowner's insurance wouldn't take the claim. " They said it was a

: slow-seepage problem, not a flood or pipe that burst, " Jane explained.

:

: So they're pursuing a lawsuit with the home builder, saying building

defects

: caused the mold. There is no drainpipe below the master bathroom and

shower,

: so water has pooled beneath their home, she said.

:

: " To be honest with you, a lawsuit was not on my list of things to do, "

Jane

: said. " We just want our family healthy and I don't want my son to die. But

: we have to get some kind of recovery from this. "

:

: The mold connection

:

: An Albany, N.Y., physician and nationally recognized mold expert has told

: Jane he thinks the black mold spores made her family sick.

:

: But physicians and experts at the Centers for Disease Control debate

whether

: there is a direct link, just as they debate the link between exposure to

: other molds and health problems.

:

: Less toxic but more common molds such as aspergillus, cladosporium and

: penicillium are thought to trigger runny noses, burning eyes, asthma and

: skin rashes.

:

: Jane is convinced of the threat after her experience.

:

: " It's like the pioneer days of the mycotoxin molds, " she said.

:

: Mold tester Wayne Middleton recalls the experience of one client: " She can

: walk into a (moldy) room and almost immediately get a deadening sensation

in

: her mouth. " He saw a young homemaker touch a small area of mold in her

home

: and break out in hives.

:

: The still-debated tie between mold and illness poses a dilemma for public

: health workers, said Gipson, with the Springfield-Greene County

Health

: Department.

:

: " There really are no (EPA) standards to determine at what point it is at a

: level that can cause health concerns, if at all. And so it depends on the

: individual and if they have allergies or if they are susceptible or

: immunosuppressed, because in most homes, airtight buildings, greenhouses,

: you will have mold growth. "

:

: Greg Gerken, who cleans up mold, asbestos and other hazards for Gerken

: Environmental, said he pays attention when the mold count is higher inside

: than outdoors.

:

: " Education is the key, " he added. " It's a health issue and something that

: should be taken care of, but people don't need to run out the door unless

: they have a health issue and are very sick. "

:

: An airtight problem

:

: Louise and Raney trace their allergy symptoms and headaches to

mold

: that developed after they bought and renovated a used mobile home near

: Norwood.

:

: They rebuilt the interior by themselves with " super-duper insulation, "

: Louise Raney said, Sheetrock and thermal-pane windows.

:

: " Living in a mobile home, we wanted to insulate it as much as we could, "

she

: said. In retrospect, the house was too " tight. " Only three windows open,

and

: they have no cross-ventilation.

:

: A year ago, she traced a strong musty odor to a closet in the master

: bedroom. Deep within, a trail of thick, black mold was growing down a wall

: and under the carpet. It had overtaken family photos and shoes stored in

the

: closet. It ruined books on shelves against the wall. A greenish mold

coated

: blankets tucked in the mattress and box springs.

:

: The Raneys never had the mold tested, but they cleaned everything with a

: stout solution of bleach and water: blankets, mattress, carpets, walls.

Then

: they dried everything thoroughly, installed a dehumidifier and air

purifier.

:

: After all this time, the Raneys hoped they had eliminated the problem. But

: recently Louise noticed dark splotches beneath her new cream-colored

: wallpaper.

:

: " Removing the wallpaper wouldn't be a problem if I thought I could get rid

: of it, " she said.

:

: " The only thing I think we can do is burn it and go. "

:

: Fight, or flight?

:

: Jane and her family now face the same dilemma. They hoped it would be over

: when the house was cleaned, but some health problems linger. Recently, a

: re-test on the house revealed mold in the garage - they'll have to

: investigate further.

:

: Do we stay and fight it, or give up? she asked.

:

: " We don't know what we're going to do with the house, " Jane said at last.

: " Who would want it?

:

: " I would never impose this burden on another family. I wouldn't wish it on

: my worst enemy.

:

: " It's a house from hell. "

:

: Photo:

: Wayne Middleton checks molds at MMET Laboratories. Bob Linder /

News-Leader

:

: Today's related stories

:

: .Inspections can allay fungus fears

: They're not required by the state, but many lenders, real estate agents

: insist upon them.

:

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/webextra/mold/moldrealestate030302.htm

: l

:

: .Instant industry is turning mold to gold for many

: Officials say detection, cleanup firms offer genuine service - but no one

: regulates them.

: http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/webextra/mold/molddetect030302.html

:

: Tips for fending off mold

:

: After the deluge

:

: . If your basement or main floor has flooded, get it as dry as possible

: before mold and mildew can get established. Drill holes in drywall or

remove

: lower sections of it to let the inner wall and insulation dry out.

:

: . Remove everything - furniture, pictures, lamps - from the room.

:

: . If necessary, pump the basement dry and clean out all debris. In case of

: floods, wait until flood waters have receded before attempting to pump out

: the basement area.

:

: . Remove and clean soiled curtains, clothes, linens, and any other items

: that can be laundered.

:

: . Remove all accumulated residue from corners, edges of floors and under

and

: around fixtures.

:

: When in doubt, toss it out

:

: .Discard carpets, rugs, furniture, and any other items with absorbent

: material that are not thoroughly dried within 24 hours.

:

: . If the area contains elements that cannot be cleaned properly - like

dark,

: wet ceiling tiles - those items should be removed. The same goes for

things

: that are too damaged, crumbling, or are disposable.

:

: . Double-bag or double-wrap any materials you discard.

:

: Cleaning the area

:

: . Any surface that shows a sign of mold or discoloration should be cleaned

: with a household bleach and water solution - 1 cup of bleach mixed in 1

: gallon of water.

:

: . You can add a little dish soap to the mix to cut dirt and oil on the

wall

: that can hold mold.

:

: . Floors, walls and any other surfaces that were soaked should be

: disinfected. Apply the bleach-water mix to the surface with a sponge, let

it

: sit for 15 minutes, then thoroughly dry the surface.

:

: .Carefully check for signs of soiling in areas that may be hidden from

view,

: such as pipes, heating ducts and ceilings. Take caution around electrical

: equipment and fixtures.

:

: . After cleaning and drying the area thoroughly, immediately replace the

: furnace filter and vacuum cleaner bag.

: