6/28/02

Washington, DC - Like the ubiquitous fungi blamed for an insurance crisis in Texas, the issue of toxic-building mold has grown in the nation's capital. A bill introduced in the House on Thursday is the first national legislation of its kind dealing with the issue of toxic mold and, if passed, would require the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish guidelines addressing mold inspection, testing and remediation - a largely unregulated industry. States could then use the guidelines to certify mold inspectors. No standards on mold There are currently no professional standards governing building mold inspections, industrial hygiene, risk assessment or remediation, said Joel Segal, legislative assistant for health care and Social Security for Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich. "There's a lack of standards on (safe mold) exposure (levels).

September 12, 2002 - Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) has introduced H.R. 5040: The United States Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act ("The Melina Bill").  H.R. 5040 has the potential to put to rest the confusion over whether exposure to mold growth in residential, public and commercial buildings causes serious medical conditions such as bleeding lungs, digestive problems, hair loss, nausea, loss of memory, reduced cognitive skills, and death.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports a causal link between the presence of the toxic mold and rare and unique medical conditions has not been proven.  Mold growth is also alleged to have destroyed millions of dollars in real estate and forced homeowners to the curb.