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Monday Morning Mold August 29, 2005
Mold in the Media
August 29, 2005
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Mold Stories
-- Heavy Rains in Southern California Contribute to Indoor Mold Problems (San Bernardino Sun, CA - Aug 27, 2005)
-- Moldy Drywall Results in Police Investigation (The Casper Star Tribune, WY - Aug 25, 2005)
-- Aflatoxin Levels Could Be High in East (High Plains Journal, KS - Aug 26, 2005)
-- Toxic burden for poor, minorities -- and EPA looks set to ease remedy efforts (Seattle Post Intelligencer - Aug 25, 2005)
-- Don’t become a home repair victim -- Mold Remediation Scams (Nashville City Paper, TN - Aug 25, 2005)
-- Tenants in Spring Valley complex for seniors, disabled claim bias (The Journal News.com, NY - Aug 24, 2005)
-- Mold Education: North Carolina State University Mold Remediation Guidelines
-- School Mold: School District Files Lawsuit Over Mold Problem (KSBW Channel.com, CA - Aug 27, 2005)
-- Court Mold: Mold plagues Beacon courthouse (Poughkeepsie Journal, NY - Aug 27, 2005)
-- Court Mold: Mercer County, NJ Judges Moved Because of Mold (The Trentonian, NJ - Aug 24, 2005)
-- Court Mold: "Black Mold" in Nassau County, Courthouse (News Leader, FL - Aug 24, 2005)
-- Mold & Medicine: FDA approves Singulair for perennial allergic rhinitis [includes mold allergies] (Xagena.it, Italy - Aug 27, 2005)
-- Mold & Technology: Mold-Resistant Styrofoam Construction (Voice of America - Aug 25, 2005)
-- Mold & Technology: Standing Up to Mother Nature - The Use of Urethane and PVC in Building Products (Cayman Net News, Cayman Islands - Aug 25, 2005)
-- Mold Seminar October 6-9, Florida: Professional Conference to Consider Total Indoor Environment - Air Cleaners, Mold, Insurance and Law Among Topics on Agenda During IAQA-AmIAQ-IESO 2005 'Unification Conference' in Orlando (Market Wire - Aug 24, 2005)
Hot tips on mold? Please let me know. Send information to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
, Cynthia Coulter Mulvihihll, Esq Hyde Mulvihill APC 216 W. Foothill Boulevard Monrovia CA 91016.
Heavy Rains in Southern California Contribute to Indoor Mold Problems (San Bernardino Sun, CA - Aug 27, 2005)
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SILVER LAKES - When John Kinsella woke up one morning gasping for air, he had no idea that a leak in a bathroom shower was about to turn his life around. "I had never been sick in my life,' said the 55-year- old building contractor and former Army helicopter pilot. "I didn't know what was wrong. But I knew it was serious.'
And serious it was. A laboratory report revealed the shower stall in the three-bedroom home contained toxic black stachybotrys mold, which medical studies link to fatal pulmonary disorders. "Lab tests showed 40,000 parts of mold spores per cubic meter of air, or 40 times the outside air count for all molds,' said certified mold inspector Joe Crotinger, co-owner of Oak Hills-based California Water & Mold Specialists. "This level has the definite potential to be a health threat to anyone.'
Moldy Drywall Results in Police Investigation (The Casper Star Tribune, WY - Aug 25, 2005)
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) -- Two trash bags labeled "toxic waste" that were left outside Cheyenne offices contained moldy drywall, the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department said.
Sheri LaPratt, administrative office manager for city- county health, said Tuesday that tests came up negative for anthrax, plague and ricin. Additional tests might still be conducted to determine if the mold was hazardous.
Aflatoxin Levels Could Be High in East (High Plains Journal, KS - Aug 26, 2005)
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OMAHA (DTN) -- Eastern Corn Belt farmers, who have battled excessive heat and record drought, may encounter yet another challenge this year from elevated levels of aflatoxins.
Aflatoxins are a group of chemicals produced by certain mold fungi, according to a bulletin from Iowa State University. These fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, can be recognized by gray- green or yellow-green molds on corn kernels in the field or in storage, said a publication that can be found at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Public ations/PM1800.pdf.
Toxic burden for poor, minorities -- and EPA looks set to ease remedy efforts (Seattle Post Intelligencer - Aug 25, 2005)
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"I'm tired of being a dumping ground." Debbie Carlin ticks off the reasons why she often feels bombarded by environmental hazards. The noxious fumes wafting from a nearby paint company were bad enough. They plagued Carlin's South Park neighborhood for years -- until the firm moved.
There also is the Duwamish River, a Superfund cleanup site, which flows a short walk from her house. Her dog can't swim there safely. Most fish are too tainted to eat.
Don’t become a home repair victim -- Mold Remediation Scams (Nashville City Paper, TN - Aug 25, 2005)
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A lady recently called with the concerns about mold in her crawl space. She “My pest control company told me that I had mold in my crawl space, and they offered to fix the problem so that it would never come back for $700,†she said.
This lady nearly had to learn the building science industry to understand the variety of solutions and approaches to her mold problem. She really did her homework. She researched which companies provided services, compared the warranties and prices. After inviting a number of self-proclaimed “certified mold experts†to identify the problem(s) and propose solutions, she gathered information and proposals from nearly a half dozen companies ranging from $700 to well over $14,000.
Tenants in Spring Valley complex for seniors, disabled claim bias (The Journal News.com, NY - Aug 24, 2005)
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Residents of a subsidized housing complex for the elderly and disabled have filed complaints with the Rockland County Human Rights Commission alleging that lingering problems were ignored because of discrimination.
The 15 complainants say their problems have long been disregarded by Arco Management, which runs the 144-unit Lakeview Village property on Memorial Park Drive.
Mold Education: North Carolina State University Mold Remediation Guidelines
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Concern about indoor exposure to mold has been increasing as the public becomes aware that exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects and symptoms, including allergic reactions. This document presents guidelines for the remediation/cleanup of mold and moisture problems in facilities at NC State University including measures designed to protect the health of building occupants and remediators.
Mold can be found almost anywhere; it can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. There is mold that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods, and insulation. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed. It is impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. However, mold growth can be controlled indoors by controlling moisture indoors.
School Mold: School District Files Lawsuit Over Mold Problem (KSBW Channel.com, CA - Aug 27, 2005)
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WATSONVILLE, Calif. -- School district officials have filed a lawsuit against a contractor in connection with mold problems at Pajaro Valley High School. Mold was discovered in unfinished classroom buildings in March 2004, and the cleanup -- as well as construction delays -- have cost the Pajaro Valley district about $1.5 million, Associate Superintendent Terry McHenry said.
The school opened last week, but construction isn't expected to be completed for several months. The district filed suit after the contractor and architect refused to accept responsibility for the mold and the insurance company rejected district damage claims.
Court Mold: Mold plagues Beacon courthouse (Poughkeepsie Journal, NY - Aug 27, 2005)
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BEACON — City workers responded to mold in Beacon's court building Friday, one day after court officers complained about the problem. Workers used bleach and water to clean the mold, city officials said. The building remained open Friday.
The Poughkeepsie Journal learned about the cleanup from police Chief Richard Sassi, who is concerned the building has a chronic mold problem caused by moisture from the air conditioning system.
Court Mold: Mercer County, NJ Judges Moved Because of Mold (The Trentonian, NJ - Aug 24, 2005)
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TRENTON -- Two Mercer County judges were relocated to different courtrooms yesterday after a county health officer found a moldy situation on some of the wood inside, officials said. Andrew Mair, the county administrator, said judges Darlene Pereksta and Maria Sypek were forced to conduct court proceedings in alternative rooms yesterday after a random search of their courtrooms revealed mold formations on some unfinished woodwork.
Although Mair said the mold was found "scattered throughout" the century-old rooms, rumors circulating throughout the courtroom yesterday pointing at the woodwork on some chairs and inside one of the jury boxes where the main mold concerns formulated.
Court Mold: "Black Mold" in Nassau County, Courthouse (News Leader, FL - Aug 24, 2005)
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Black mold is growing inside the Nassau County Courthouse in Fernandina Beach, and commissioners learned Monday it might take more than $100,000 to fix. The courtroom and other areas on the second floor of the 113-year-old building on Centre Street in Fernandina Beach have been closed for several days because of traces of black mold.
The county also closed off the judicial chambers, judicial breakroom and a second-floor restroom after air samples showed higher than normal spore counts of black mold on Aug. 12. Built in 1892, the historic courthouse is one of the oldest functioning courthouses in the state and was extensively renovated four years ago at a cost of about $4 million.
Mold & Medicine: FDA approves Singulair for perennial allergic rhinitis [includes mold allergies] (Xagena.it, Italy - Aug 27, 2005)
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Fda ( Food and Drug Administration ) has approved Singulair ( Montelukast ) for the relief of symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis ( PAR ), or indoor allergies, in adults and children six months of age and older.
A convenient once-a-day tablet, Singulair has been proven to help relieve a broad range of indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms for up to 24 hours. Singulair, which was approved for the treatment of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitus ( SAR ) in 2003, is different from most oral allergy medications, which block histamine, in that it blocks leukotrienes, an important contributor to allergy symptoms. Singulair is the only medication indicated for allergic rhinitis that specifically targets this particular underlying contributor to allergy symptoms.
Mold & Technology: Mold-Resistant Styrofoam Construction (Voice of America - Aug 25, 2005)
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This may look like an ordinary house in an average American neighborhood but it is really quite extraordinary - its outer shell is constructed with panels made from expanded polystyrene foam. Most people know it by its brand name, Styrofoam. It's the Styrofoam in these panels that keeps Architect Ed Bondurant and his wife cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Ed specifically designed his house to take advantage of this new technology. “A lot of people refer to this as a Styrofoam house but really I think it more aptly should be called structural insulated panels. They are structural, they form the structure of the house, they are the insulation for the house and they come shipped to the site in panels that go together somewhat like an erector set.â€
Mold & Technology: Standing Up to Mother Nature - The Use of Urethane and PVC in Building Products (Cayman Net News, Cayman Islands - Aug 25, 2005)
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If you live near the ocean increased humidity levels play a role in maintaining your waterfront home. And if you live in a coastal area, you also deal with the damaging effects of sea spray and salt air. Worst of all for homeowners living within range of water is the potential for mildew.
Waterfront residents who are interested in spending more time enjoying their leisure life and less time constantly maintaining their homes are turning to moisture-resistant urethane and PVC products. The durable millwork, board and trim pieces resist humidity, sea spray, salt air, mildew, warping and insects.
Mold Seminar October 6-9, Florida: Professional Conference to Consider Total Indoor Environment - Air Cleaners, Mold, Insurance and Law Among Topics on Agenda During IAQA-AmIAQ-IESO 2005 'Unification Conference' in Orlando (Market Wire - Aug 24, 2005)
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ROCKVILLE, MD -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 08/24/2005 -- While statistics suggest a growing number of consumers believe air cleaners improve the indoor air quality in their homes, some researchers have noted wide variations in the performance of air cleaners.
One of the leading international experts on indoor air quality will explain what makes an air cleaner effective in a presentation to be given Oct. 8 at the joint conference of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), the American Indoor Air Quality Council and the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization.
This is a cool site tracking "urban legends" -- ever hear about the cousin of a friend of a friend who bought back a Chihuahua from Mexico? Not true. Judge William Young's rebuke of Richard Reid, the "shoe-bomber."
True. Pit bull looses fight with porcupine? Big time true, and ow!
CSC, Inc. is an environmental consulting firm headquartered in Chatsworth CA with a staff of engineers, geologists, certified industrial hygienists and other technically-trained professionals has investigated and managed hundreds of sites. We have a full understanding of the requirements outlined in CERCLA, RCRA, NEPA, TSCA, AHERA and HUD, as well as other federal, state and local environmental regulations.
Moisture Control is the key for microbial management. Moisture in buildings can be in the form of water vapor or as a liquid. The presence of moisture on the surface of building materials or inside structural components is the primary factor in sustaining microbial growth, which may lead to exposure to microbial emissions of spores and their metabolites, such as particle-containing mycotoxins and microbial Volatile organic compounds (mVOCs).
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