Mold Threat to Gulf Children Could Be Deadly

A massive proliferation of toxic mold in the Gulf region is causing a variety of dangerous medical conditions for hurricane survivors. “The results of mold spore tests, even in homes that are considered 'fully remediated,' are shockingly high," said Barbara Wiseman, International President of The Earth Organization (TEO). "There will be long-term negative health effects for residents, particularly children and people with lowered immune systems." But TEO is coordinating relief efforts of several groups, to make available a microorganism technology called Efficient (or Effective) Microorganisms (EM). Test results show that EM safely eliminates mold (and a number of other toxins) and is completely organic.

Celebrities like Bianca Jagger and Ed McMahon brought much media attention to the health dangers of toxic mold in homes with the twenty- million-dollar lawsuits they each filed, but this is not something the thousands of people in the Gulf Coast waiting for aid have the luxury of doing. Yet their children are in the same kind of danger as many in Cleveland were when an unusual outbreak of pulmonary hemorrhage led to the discovery of mold. Young infants coughed up blood, some dying, as the tiny vessels in their lungs became fragile and broke from breathing the microscopic toxin.

Another tragic case occurred in California in March 2005 after four year old Neveah Lair was found dead from respiratory failure right after the sheet rock in their apartment was cut open and released a high number of mold spores. Her death was attributed to pneumonia at the coroners but her mother filed a lawsuit against the apartment owners for the mold problem affecting many apartments and causing illness among tenants.

Their symptoms were not unlike those of many Gulf area residents: respiratory problems, coughing, irritated throat and nasal membranes, headaches, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, infant pulmonary hemorrhaging, serious asthma and allergy attacks requiring emergency room visits and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (a pneumonia-like disease caused by exposure to dusts, fungus, or molds leading to acute lung disease).

Many doctors are not trained to recognize toxic mold symptoms, and most media reports in the Gulf have vastly underestimated the problem. Already desperate hurricane victims may be in for a long haul of suffering and more deaths, if public awareness is not raised on the symptoms and their cause, and non-toxic solutions.

Currently, standard mold remediation procedure is carried out using chlorine bleach or other, even more toxic chemicals, creating potential long-term health risks to humans. Additionally, bleach residue often attracts an even more toxic form of mold within a few weeks, necessitating repeat applications.

In November, 2005, the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) sent a scientist to the New Orleans area to test the mold spore levels. Per the National Allergy Bureau of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology, mold is considered dangerously high when it reaches above 1300 mold spores/cubic meter inside of a building. In housing that had not been remediated the spore counts were around 650,000/cubic meter. In buildings that had been "fully remediated" with bleach and other toxic chemicals, it was down to 20,000/cubic meter (still dangerously high for long-term health consequences).

Outside, levels are considered hazardous above 13,000 /cubic meter. In the flooded areas outside air was testing out at 80,000. Air in areas nearby that had not been flooded were around 48,000, and in quite distant areas, around 20,000. So, just walking around in the general Gulf hurricane area is likely to be a health risk.

"When The Earth Organization came across the Effective Microorganism technology we were extremely pleased to see how effective it is with mold remediation," said Wiseman. "The benefits of using EM, which is inexpensive, totally organic and which poses no health risks whatsoever, will be of great value to the hurricane victims." Certified Mold Remediator Steve Kemp said, "When I tested a couple of houses that had been sprayed with EM I was surprised at the far superior results from other houses that had been remediated with bleach or other chemicals. This stuff definitely works."
For additional information about The Earth Organization, or to donate to TEO’s evironmental clean-up project in New Orleans, go to www.earthorganization.org. All internet-based donations over the next several weeks will go towards The Earth Organization’s relief efforts in the New Orleans area.

Contact: Barbara Wiseman
International President
The Earth Organization
presintearthorg@aol.com