Is toxic mold the next asbestos? Like asbestos, mold has been found to cause medical conditions ranging from flu-like symptoms to liver damage. In addition, toxic mold is predicted to generate more litigation than asbestos. Some industry insiders estimate that insurance premiums will increase by as much as 40% over the next few years to offset the rise in mold claims. Mold is an ever-present fact of life and can be found outside and inside all types of residential and commercial structures. There are literally hundreds of different strains of mold that have been growing in buildings for a long time. Mold can begin to grow quickly, often within 24 to 48 hours. US Representative John Conyers (D-MI) introduced a bill during the last Congress that would develop standards for preventing, detecting, and treating mold. The proposed legislation also included a national toxic mold hazard insurance program. It is assumed that a similar bill will be introduced during this congressional session. With growing public awareness and federal legislation proposed that will mandate clean up standards, the importance of recognizing and removing mold has never been more significant. To date, however, mold identification and/or remediation guidelines have yet to be established. One state might be setting the groundwork for nationwide standards. Last October, California Governor Gray Davis signed Senate Bill 732, the Toxic Mold Protection Act of 2001. The proposed law requires the California Department of Health Services to establish permissible mold-exposure limits and set standards on how to handle serious mold infestations. OSHA is developing a mold guideline that may include permissible exposure limits (PELs) for mold. The document may also describe the difference between the 167 varieties of mold and the various toxicity levels for each type. This is just the beginning in what is expected to be strict regulations and standards for controlling toxic mold.
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