A Loudoun jury recently awarded a family $4.75 million, for health issues resulting from mold in their home. The mold was caused by shoddy work by The Drees Company, charged with negligence and violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The company denied responsibility in court–the Drees company had been contracted to repair including leaky windows in the basement, but the leakage continued. Mold testing results found “unusual mold conditions.” in 2007 and the family moved out of their $900,000 house, leaving behind most of their possessions requesting only that the contractors fix the problem so they could move back in. Doctor Ritchie Shoemaker who specializes in illnesses caused by water-damaged buildings verified that mold and other microbes in the house had produced toxins responsible for the family illness. Though they’ve moved from the infested property into another residence, it is going to cost an estimated $400,000 in repairs to make it habitable, and they don’t know what they’re going to do with it.

Multiple chemical sensitivity is usually the result of a single exposure or a long-term chronic exposure to a highly toxic chemical. The sensitivity includes and mycotoxins, and aflatoxins. When people inhale, they ingest these poisons and the entire system can be affected. Over time or on extreme exposure, the system breaks down, cells and organs are damaged.

There is no exact pattern to what can be termed an idiopathic reaction and MCS is never identical in any two individuals. Not only are genetics and bodies unique, each individual’s immunological response is based on their unique immunological history of exposure, immunization and resistance.

The cost of insurance has gone up drastically in the past few years, thanks to natural disasters like tornadoes, floods, high winds, and assorted weather.

A number of factors have contributed to the rise of premiums especially in certain geographic areas like the plains states, and those states hard hit by coastal disruptions (like Hurricane Katrina.) Also because business costs have gone up significantly, costs have risen for insurers. Some locations, in fact, it is nearly impossible to find mold insurance.

There has been significant study of mold, but there are mold experts on both sides of the fence. Some experts work for insurers, and some experts work for property owners. In academia, public health agencies and government organizations everyone has an agenda, so whenever you are taking mold advice, look carefully not just at the source, but who’s paying them.

“Flooding can Lead to Toxic Mold”

This title recently seen on the above news site. It’s not really news in the sense that it is new. You should know by now that water intrusion leads to mold.

As we are well aware, “mold spores can lie dormant for years and then grow in between walls, causing some people to become sick. Mold can produce such symptoms as nasal congestion, coughs and upper respiratory infections.” So folks, let’s dry out where we can, and get ahead of it before the rainy season starts…

There’s a trend out there now, in the world of realty–that a substantial proportion of foreclosed homes have been the victim of “foreclosure” rage. Some of these enraged soon to be ex-home owners destroy their homes before the bank can get its hand on the property. Sometimes one of the weapons used on these foreclosed homes is mold. Of course, if the home is sitting unoccupied for a long time, and it’s in a humid location like Louisiana or Florida, Nature happens.

But sometimes it’s not nature.

If you’ve been watching all of the peanut recalls in the news, you may be surprised to know that some of them are due to mold.  Of course you’ve heard about the  salmonella outbreak (you’d have to be living under a bridge in Kentucky not to have heard about it.)

Peanuts are also subject to aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a specific mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus which has been connected to everything from stunted growth to liver cancer. (Aflatoxins produce acute necrosis, cirrhosis, and carcinoma of the liver–but it rarely occurs in developed countries.) The main point is this–when people in developed countries do get exposed to aflatoxin, it’s usually because they ate it in peanut butter. Roasting the peanuts does not usually kill it all. And as it sits in the jar, it just keeps growing. The problem is worst in organic peanut butter because the mold growth in peanuts is not tested or monitored once it has reached the store. Compared to grocery store peanut butter which is roasted and packaged in sterile–regulated–conditions, organic is probably the most fertile ground for aflatoxin production.

Jasmine Lakes – a development on Fox Hollow Lane in Port Richey — is full of people getting sick from mold.  

They say Jasmine Water Treatment, Aqua Source, the area wastewater treatment plant is partially responsible. 

Ask the Rodriguez family, where there’s mold on the walls, floors and ceiling.

Ask  the Demint family where there’s mold  on the walls, floors and ceiling.

The neighborhood has a doctor who’s a mold specialist, and they’re in the midst of organizing a lawsuit

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This segment outlines the 3 levels of health effects of mold exposure.

Experts featured on the series:

Mycologists
Barbara Sue Bolin — Aerotech Laboratories
Janice Jones — Aerotech Laboratories
Industrial hygienists
Daniel Bridge PhD CIH — Rimkus Consulting, TX
Geoffrey Clark — PE Service, TX
Stuart Salot PhD CIH — CTL Environmental Services, CA
Richard Krentz CIH — Sterling & Associates, CA
Kyle Dotson CIH, CSP, PE — Dotson Group, TX
Remediation experts
Bob Krell — IAQ Technologies, NY
John Lausevic — PGCC, CA,
Tom Sandoval — Marcor Environmental, CA

Toxicologists
Dr. Eckert Johanning — NY
Researchers
Vince Torres — University of Texas, TX
Bruce Ferguson — EnviroLogix, ME
Kathy Lauckner — University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Vincent Miller PhD — Aerotech Laboratories
David C. Straus, Ph.D. — Texas Tech University

According to the latest news, Mold is making children sick at Goddard High School. A lawsuit was filed against Goddard by parents, in November when a student deveioped a serious illness linked to toxic mold. So far, only three rooms and the outside of the building have been tested.

Paperwork from the Cincinnati Health Department say due to mold and moisture,
Kelly Heller needs to move out of her Crystal Apartment. Heller wants her security deposit back, plus January rent and repair cash.

The landlord is only offering Heller $990 for January’s rent and her security deposit, but nothing for repairs.

Hello small claims court?