Moms Against Mold - Mold in the Media

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Mold in the Media

Gradually, news stories about mold issues are coming to the media. These may involve legislation, schools, apartment complexes, or video coverage of notable cases. More stories with accurate presentation are needed because the general public knowledge about the dangers of mold is extremely limited and flawed.

Building Mold Dispute

Monday, 06 September 2010 07:13 | Written by Andrea |

The following news story makes me think of the Department of Motor Vehicles building we talked about recently on my blog. The issue here is a Social Security Administration office in Rapid City, South Dakota. According to the Rapid City Journal,

An air quality study of the building at 605 Main St., conducted after second-floor employees there expressed health concerns, found evidence of mold in the basement and frayed fiberglass insulation in the air ducts.

Workers from the Social Security Administration office in the building say their managers have not taken their concerns seriously. They have written a letter they plan to send to the state's Congressional delegation seeking help.

"Throughout the past two months the employees of the Rapid City Social Security office have voiced major concerns regarding the air quality in our building due to the chronic symptoms that arise when entering the building and dissipate upon leaving work," the letter says.

Katrina Health Concerns

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 12:46 | Written by Andrea |

Mold has played a significant role in the rise of respiratory illness in the city of New Orleans in the five years since the Katrina tragedy. According to Fox News and Robert Chugden, medical director for emergency services at West Jefferson Medical Center:

Chugden. . . saw an initial increase in respiratory illnesses, which he attributed to significantly higher mold and mold spore counts in the flooded areas. An ongoing study of children with asthma in post-Katrina New Orleans has found that nearly 80 percent — three times the national rate — were sensitive to mold. The next highest rate was 50 percent, found in seven other cities where similar studies have been conducted.

Louis Gossett Jr. and Toxic Mold

Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:56 | Written by Andrea |

Add Louis Gossett Jr.'s name to the growing list of celebrities with a toxic mold story. Not only was he given six months to live at one point, he also fought through kidney and pancreatic cancer. The actor writes about his triumph over death and mold in his newly released memoir, An Actor and a Gentleman.

An interview with 74-year-old Gossett is featured this month on the website Black Voices:

When did you discover you were ill?

About two years ago while I started writing the book. There was toxic mold in my home. My pets were dying and I didn't know why. They were affected first because they were closest to the ground. Then I started to get sick from just sitting on the couch and it prevented me from working. I stayed there long enough for it to really get to me. I was sick but the doctors didn't know what was wrong.

Read more...

Back to School

Wednesday, 25 August 2010 15:57 | Written by Andrea |

As summer vacation winds down, school mold problems have been reported in several states across the country. The following four news stories demonstrate the increasing awareness of the importance of air quality in schools.

Mold to Delay Opening of Elementary School

GILLETT, Wis. (AP) -- An elementary school in eastern Wisconsin will have its start date pushed back after mold was found throughout the building.

School was scheduled to start Sept. 1 for the Gillett School District in Oconto County. But mold has taken hold in nearly every room.

The district says it was apparently caused by the humid summer. It's mainly on the carpeting and isn't believed to be airborne.

It was discovered last week just before summer school ended. There haven't been any reports of illnesses.

Secondary school principal Jeremy Pach tells WLUK-TV the district is working with the Department of Public Instruction to determine a start date.

Brittany Murphy News Story

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 18:12 | Written by Andrea |

There are numerous celebrities who have dealt with mold issues. Erin Brockovich, Michael Jordan, and Bianca Jagger, to name a few. (See this website for more information.) Add Rachael Ray to the list, according to this New York Post article.

TMZ has reported that mold has been implicated in the deaths of actress Brittany Murphy and husband Simon Monjack. Both died of pneumonia. Both had anemia. There is a flurry of speculation surrounding this story. The Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner claims the deaths were not mold related. Simon's mother believes it's a possibility.

More Articles...

MomsAgainstMold.org

Mold in the Media

Building Mold Dispute

Katrina Health Concerns

Louis Gossett Jr. and Toxic Mold

Back to School

Brittany Murphy News Story