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 […]
by Virginia Watson Pleasantville, NJ – At a special public forum recently, Leeds Avenue School teachers described to Pleasantville school board members and a large contingent of concerned parents what often seemed like a scene out of a low-budget horror movie. Spontaneous nosebleeds. A green, furry growth rapidly overwhelming objects left on desks. Immune systems […]
11/3/02 Sacramento, CA – Mold hasn’t caused problems for lenders in California. They see it as a headache for insurers that lenders can mostly leave alone. That could change if insurance gets scarce, too expensive or even disappears. Suddenly the house or office building that’s the collateral for the loan would be exposed to uninsured […]
12/3/2 Sacramento, CA – State Farm General, the California arm of the nation’s largest home insurer, plans to suspend writing homeowner policies for new customers in the state as of May 1. The decision, conveyed Friday to State Farm agents in California, was perhaps the first major salvo in insurers’ efforts to recover losses resulting […]
1/11/03 Ft. Worth, TX – Mold has been the subject of much discussion lately within the insurance industry, as well as by others affected in their own right, such as lawyers, environmental consultants and consumer groups. And it seems like every time the subject comes up, it doesn’t take long for someone to chime in […]
7/20/02 Dallas-TX – On the heels of threats from the state, Farmers Insurance Co. backed away Friday from new homeowners policy restrictions tied to water and mold claims. The conciliatory move by the state’s second-largest home insurer came as the state allowed insurance companies to begin selling homeowners insurance policies commonly used in other states, […]
What’s the best way to get rid of mold? The insurance industry has an answer: Exclude it 8/09/02 Los Angeles, CA – State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance, the largest home insurer, has eliminated coverage for mold in 33 states, including South Carolina. Even if the mold is the result of storm damage covered by a […]
7/19/02 The Texas Department of Insurance has launched an investigation to determine if new homeowner policy restrictions by Farmers Insurance Co. violate state law. At issue is the decision by the second-largest company in Texas to stop selling new policies for homes that have had a water damage claim during the past three years, and […]
Are you sick and suspect it might be from mold? Determining if mold exposure is making you ill is not easy. Mold illness is little understood. Many people suffering from mold illness struggle to receive a proper diagnosis.
Introduction Fungi evolved over millions of years ago (Sherwood-Pike, 1985) and references to mold in buildings suggest that molds have always been present in human environments. At present, there is growing public concern about the potential health effects of mold in homes and structures that has been heightened by growing illness and bizarre weather conditions, […]
Zionsville, IN – State regulators planned to look into complaints about mold problems in upscale houses constructed by one of central Indiana’s largest homebuilders. The state attorney general’s office has received nine complaints from residents in the Brittany Chase subdivision in Boone County, a development of about 125 homes. Nearly 100 of the homes in […]
By Sam Watson, Press Education Writer : Johnson City Press 11/12/03 Johnson City, TN – Sullivan East High School’s mold-inspired stay at Bristol Motor Speedway has increased awareness about the need for mold testing and moisture control in other area school districts, as well as public education and awareness. “I’m getting more educated on this, […]
8/8/02 Honolulu, HI – The university says it is taking steps to solve the problem The Star Bulletin John Perez says in the seven years he has worked in the University of Hawaii’s Webster Hall, he suspected there was something in the air there that started health problems. In the late 1990s he raised questions […]
2/12/02 Warren, OH – A torrential downpour Tuesday morning flooded the basement of the county Health Department, delaying the start of work to clean up toxic mold. Crews managed to scrub down equipment in the basement before quitting Tuesday. ”Today, we are just going to set up because we can’t run our sweepers in all this […]
Fairfield, CN –A school mold problem that got out of hand in Fairfield is resulting in some cash for the town. The town will get $1.2 million in an agreement with its insurance company over water leaks at McKinley Elementary School, which led to its shutdown and demolition because of mold contamination. Storm water that […]
08/04/02 Corpus Christi, TX – “Mold? Local company will purchase your mold-damaged property.” Such ads, popping up around town, are a sign of the real estate times in Corpus Christi. As local homeowners grow weary of wrangling with insurers over mold repair claims, some are desperate enough to unload their fungus-filled homes for half of […]
They say the fungus causes health problems. Insurance companies say covering mold claims would make rates rise again since they couldn’t make much profits. 8/20/02 Temple Terrace, FL – Staffers for Florida Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher came to the Tampa Bay area Monday to hear homeowners and insurance officials complain about a burgeoning problem with toxic […]
3/12/03 Atlanta, GA – The Atlanta City Council will meet Monday night in regular session to discuss items including a mold problem and delay in improvements at the airport. City Manager Mike Ahrens said the city has a contract with the Texas Department of Transportation to make some improvements at the Atlanta Hall-Miller Airport, but […]
8/8/02 Coatesville, PA – Reports of mold in the Coatesville Area Ninth and Tenth Grade Center have prompted the administration to hire an engineering firm to inspect the building, said Superintendent James T. Scarnati. A full report of findings along with short-term and long-term solutions is to be presented in time for the December board […]
6/8/02 Lubbock, TX – Owners of the Lubbock Park Towers Apartments had no other alternative but to file a lawsuit this week against six insurance companies for failing to pay for damages caused by black mold. This has become a very common event for insurance companies nationwide. “Many people feel they have insurance when they […]
5/22/03 Houston, TX – For the last two months, Bob and Kathy McCord have been suburban refugees. They were forced out of their four-bedroom house in Dallas because of toxic mold, which they say has been festering under the floors and walls since a water pipe burst this spring. “The mold got so bad,” said […]
4/12/03 Los Angeles, CA – Former “Tonight Show” sidekick Ed McMahon settled a lawsuit against the last of several defendants he sued for toxic mold that allegedly sickened him and his wife, killed his pet and made his Beverly Hills mansion unlivable. McMahon, 80, agreed to accept $230,000 to resolve the dispute, court documents revealed […]
Eugene, OR – On Saturday afternoon, what was supposed to be the dream house of the O’Hara family will be burned to the ground. Mark and Mary Jane O’Hara believe that the home, off Spencer Creek Road south of Eugene, Oregon, has become contaminated with toxic mold that made them and their two children sick. […]
Boston, MA – And so the story grows… Mold seems to be everywhere these days, and not just in buildings. The problem, which some have likened to the new asbestos, is generating quite a bit of press these days. While it may not have reached asbestos-like proportions, it is a cause of concern for builders, […]
8/16/02 Guest Commentary by Tamara Warren; Eureka, CA Madera, CA – Madera County will clean and remove mold in the government center, rather than spend $10,000 to study the problem. County Administrator Stell Manfredi said Wednesday that workers will concentrate on a women’s restroom in the east wing of the 91-year-old structure. Supervisors also want to […]
Two years ago we in the insurance industry were preparing for what was predicted to be an event of momentous import. The changes in our advanced technology were exposing our industry to significant damages and numerous coverage questions. Planes were going to fall from the skies, traffic lights would be inoperable, hospitals would lose power, […]
Meeker County, MN – The cool summer with below average heat units followed by an extremely wet fall have caused great concern for a quality corn harvest in the fall of 2009. The wet and cool conditions have made for extremely favorable conditions for mold development on corn in the field. The higher moisture corn […]
Many people still don’t fully understand the health hazards of mold exposure. The term ‘toxic mold’ is somewhat misleading. It suggests that certain molds are toxic. While molds and mold spores do make people sick, the dangerous culprits are the secondary metabolites (chemicals) made by molds that are toxins. The correct term is mycotoxins. Airborne […]
Molds can produce other secondary metabolites (See list in table below) such as antibiotics and mycotoxins. Antibiotics are isolated from mold (and some bacterial) cultures and some of their bacteriotoxic or bacteriostatic properties are exploited medicinally to combat infections. Mycotoxins are also products of secondary metabolism of molds. They are not essential to maintaining the […]
Definition of FUNGALBIONICS The term FUNGALBIONICS was created in an attempt to describe one of the most dynamic microbial chemical factories ever encountered in the history of scientific exploration. Fungi are masters at producing a wide array of biologically active substances which serve the producing fungus extremely well. These biological metabolites are anti-predatory and pro-territorial-protective and […]
Mycoplasma infection is respiratory illness caused by Mycoplasma pneumonia, a microscopic organism related to bacteria and fungi. It can be very dangerous. According to Dr. Bill Deagle, over 90% of all biological warfare research conducted in the United States is on mycoplasma, mycotoxins, and nano-bacteria. Anyone can get the disease, but it most often affects […]
Molds are microscopic fungi that live on plant or animal matter. No one knows how many species of fungi exist, but estimates are tens of thousands or more. Most are filamentous (threadlike) organisms and the production of spores is characteristic of fungi in general. These spores can be transported by air, water, or insects. Unlike […]
POTENTIAL SIGNS of a Mold Problem Black, brown, orange, pink, or green speckled walls or around any plumbing grout or tile. Musty, earthy, or urine scented odor. Deficient siding, siding that is not covering a building adequately, or certain types appear to be more prone to mold (i.e., Hardie Plank which may not be installed […]
Aspergillosis is a disease caused by Aspergillus, a common mold (a type of fungus) that lives indoors and outdoors. There are different types of aspergillosis. Some types are mild, but some of them are very serious.1 Types of Aspergillosis Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA): Aspergillus causes inflammation in the lungs and allergy symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, […]
Opportunistic infections caused by Aspergillus sp and inhaled as mold conidia, leading to hyphal growth and invasion of blood vessels, hemorrhagic necrosis, infarction, and potential dissemination to other sites in patients. Aspergillus sp are among the most common environmental molds, found frequently in decaying vegetation (compost heaps), on insulating materials (in walls or ceilings around […]
Tibial dyschondroplasia (TDP) is a common and economically important bone deformation in growing broiler chickens and turkeys. The lesion appears in a cone of cartilage extending distally from the proximal tibiotarsalphysis. The most likely cause of this deformation is a toxin called fusarochromanone produced by Fusarium equiseti. When added to the diet of broiler chicks […]
Tallahassee, FL – Many concerned citizens who have been affected by hurricanes know the real problems with well sponsored organizations such as Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. Although both agencies look helpful and self-assuring from the outside, their inner intentions have been so often misunderstood, and no one knows better than a hurricane victim. Unfortunately, no […]
Silver Lakes, CA – There are still some ignorant people who laugh when opportunistic and misleading companies such as Clorox advertise people running out of their homes at the sight of mold in a shower. Although Clorox is only trying to profit from misleading information regarding mold, signs of a mold problem can start in the […]
Freeport, IL – JoAnn Black couldn’t understand why all the windows in her home were soaking wet in the dead of winter. She kept mopping them, and they would just return to the same dripping condition. “Everything was wet. We called the plumber. He found no plumbing leaks. We called our furnace man, and he […]
Ontario, Canada – Apprehension in the real estate, construction and insurance industry about hazardous materials such as asbestos and radon has given way to a relatively new risk – mold. Since the late ’90s, mold-related litigation and insurance claims have exploded in North America. Bruce Stewart, vice-president of Pinchin Environmental Ltd., sees the growth in his […]
Austin, TX – The United States CSPI (Center for Science Public Interest), due to growing public awareness and education over the severe health hazards mold poisoning, is suing Quorn Foods and Whole Foods Market over a dangerous food additive. The first evidence that Quorn causes severe vomiting and diarrhea came in 1977 from a clinical […]
Jackson, MS – Another very ill family states their north Jackson apartment is making them sick. They say a leaky pipe is to blame for soaking carpets, damaging their floors and fostering a serious threat to their health. In another hotly debated mold claim debated from tenant to landlord, Cheryl Hughes says she when she moved […]
Guest Commentary by Shiela Powell The development of IgG (antibodies) to the toxigenic molds such as Stachybotrys is actually to the toxins or chemicals that the body is reacting to, these chemicals commonly contained on the surface of indoor growing mold spores. The production of IgG to the Stachybotrys correlated with toxin exposure, and not […]
Dr. Wang and Groopman from the Environmental Health Sciences Department at Johns Hopkins, published a useful article on the effects of mold toxins on DNA published in Mutation Research — a leading cancer journal. They said clearly: Mycotoxins are toxic fungal metabolites which are structurally diverse, common contaminants of the ingredients of animal feed and […]
Denver, CO – A medical researcher from Denver, Colorado-based National Jewish Hospital has issued statements that directly contradict health claims made by cleaning-products giant Clorox Corporation. National Jewish Hospital promotes itself as the “Global Leader in Immunological Research.” Clorox Corp., with $4.1 billion in revenues, is the manufacturer of Clorox bleach and numerous other brands. […]
Makersfield, CA – Family members of 30-year-old Athena Rodman know that black mold from her home killed her. Rodman’s 6-year-old son, Anthony, was shocked to find her dead body in the living room of their apartment Saturday. This is the second reported death in Bakersfield from mycotoxin poisoning in the past three months. “It didn’t seem real […]
Seattle, WA – A preliminary environmental report was ordered after Arbor Heights Elementary students complained of mysterious headaches, colds and other mold-related symptoms showed evidence of mold in carpets, on wallboard and under portable classrooms at the school. Mold was discovered in at least three rooms and a “moldy stench” was found in the library, […]
Once one is tested and diagnosed with mycotoxicosis, one should begin to try to assess the extent of the fungal infection and how impaired, if any, one may be. This is exceptionally important as most physicians are inexperienced in dealing with this illness, and finding out as much as one can would possibly most helpful in […]
A progressive mycosis of skin, mucous membranes, lymph nodes, and internal organs caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Infections occur only in discrete foci in South and Central America, most often in men aged 20 to 50, especially coffee growers of Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. Although a relatively unusual opportunistic infection, paracoccidioidomycosis sometimes occurs in immunocompromised patients, […]
A mold commonly found in water-damaged homes and buildings. Chaetomium has a cotton-like texture and usually changes colors from white to grey to brown and eventually to black over time. Chaetomium mold is usually found in a damp or leaking roof, basement or stink and may be recognizable by its musty odor. Chaetomium mold causes […]
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