Health Effects of Mold
July 2003
The National Academy of Sciences is conducting a review of scientific literature, “Damp Indoor Spaces and Health”, on the health effects of mold. The subsequent report, scheduled for release in late August, will provide a summary of current literature and findings, recommend further study where needed and recommend guidelines for public health intervention. This report will be instrumental in developing federal legislation regarding the toxic mold issue.

Both the states and federal government have been hesitant in moving forward with any mold legislation due to the fact that data has not been compiled in regard to acceptable exposure limits to mold. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has again introduced legislation on the mold issue, called The Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act (H.R. 1268); however, the bill has only a few cosponsors, and no hearings or other activity is scheduled. IREM has serious concerns about some provisions in the bill, particularly those concerning testing and remediation mandates without reparation for significant costs to property owners.

For the latest on mold related concerns, the American Industrial Hygiene Association has revised and provided NAR members its consumer education brochure, “The Facts About Mold”. The brochure is a primer on mold - its causes, its effects on people and property, and how to prevent and remove it.

To order a copy, go to:
http://www.realtor.org/prodser.nsf/OpenProd?OpenForm&IN=141-30-LN

Toxic Mold Bill Reintroduced
April 2003
Rep. John Conyers, (D-Michigan), reintroduced the “United States Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act of 2002”, a far-reaching bill prescribing research, inspection and remediation standards to address the myriad of issues stemming from toxic mold. H.R. 1268, the 2003 bill, is practically identical to H.R. 5040 from last Congress. That bill represented Congress' first crack at federal mold legislation.

The bill, in effect, would create a national toxic mold hazard insurance program much like the federal flood insurance program in order to address the burgeoning number of claims against policies for costs related to mold clean-up and health hazards.

Careful analysis of the bill's language reveals several areas of concern. In particular, Sections 201 through 206 addressing inspection requirements for residential properties, building code requirements and construction requirements.

H.R. 1268 does prescribe tax credits for toxic mold inspection and remediation. IREM will monitor this bill's progress to ensure that these provisions are not removed from the bill.

Mold News
April 2003
The National Association of REALTORS^® has recently published several articles on their website dealing with the issue of toxic mold and how it affects the real estate industry. In an effort to keep our members informed about developments in this area, we will reproducing these articles on the IREM website in the near future. The articles, "Mold in the Home: How it Affects REALTORS^®," "Frequently Asked Questions About Mold," and "Health Effects of Exposure to Mold: Review of the Scientific Literature: 1998-2002" are essential reading for anyone who is concerned about protecting their properties and themselves from the dangers posed by mold.

Toxic Mold Bill Likely to Return
January 2003
During the 107th Congressional Session, Rep. John Conyers, (D-Michigan), introduced H.R. 5040 the “United States Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act of 2002”, a far-reaching bill prescribing research, inspection and remediation standards to address the myriad of issues stemming from toxic mold. H.R. 5040 represented Congress' first crack at federal mold legislation and it will likely be introduced in the 108th Congressional Session.

The bill, in effect, would have created a national toxic mold hazard insurance program much like the federal flood insurance program in order to address the burgeoning number of claims against policies for costs related to mold clean-up and health hazards.

Careful analysis of the bill's language revealed several areas of concern. In particular, Sections 201 through 206 addressing inspection requirements for residential properties, building code requirements and construction requirements.

H.R. 5040 did prescribe tax credits for toxic mold inspection and remediation; a component that IREM will monitor to ensure its inclusion in any legislation introduced in the new year.

Also, in toxic mold news, medical opinion continues to weigh in on the lack of credible scientific data regarding adverse health effects from mold. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) stated these conclusions in an evidence-based statement on "Adverse Human Health Effects Associated With Molds in the Indoor Environment". A team led by Bryan D. Hardin, a former deputy director of NIOSH and Assistant Surgeon General, developed the peer-reviewed statement. While recognizing both the allergic and infectious effects of mold under certain conditions, the statement concludes: "Current scientific evidence does not support the proposition that human health has been adversely impacted by inhaled mycotoxins in home, school, or office environments."