"Protect Yourself, Educate Yourself"

Introduction: A Word from the Author

I have a love-hate relationship with mold. I absolutely hate that mold is causing physical and emotional suffering for so many people. But I love being in a position to be able to help them, through my work and now through this book. Over the years it has become my passion and personal mission to help as many people as I can who suffer from mold exposure. This book is for them.

I have worked in the environmental testing and indoor air quality industry since the early 1980s. I remember not having enough indoor environmental professionals to manage the growth of markets like asbestos and lead. Over the last ten years or so, however, due mainly to tightly built “energy efficient” buildings that cannot breathe, we have observed a frightening growth in mold complaints and mold lawsuits. Mold has literally overgrown this industry.

Mold is in the news (13, 14). Newsweek magazine and other major publications have run stories on mold and its effect on public health. There is widespread concern. People are talking about the potential health and economic impact of the “mold epidemic.” But what are the real risks and issues? How do average homeowners manage a typ­ical mold problem in their homes? And where can they turn for help?

Unfortunately, the information available to the general public regard­ing mold is incomplete, often contradictory, and sometimes contro­versial. Although several scientific guidance documents are available, there is no accepted national standard relating to mold (2). Those who live with mold are often left feeling frustrated and con­fused.

This is where I and this book come in. In my business as a profes­sional mold consultant, I am called on to visit homes, schools, office buildings, and apartment buildings daily. These places all have one thing in common: mold contamination. I talk to the people who have to look at it, live with it, smell it, and breathe it every day. And I see the suffering of those who have become ill from the exposure. They don’t know where to go for information or where to turn for help. Their builders, landlords, lawmakers, lawyers, friends, relatives, and doctors each tell them something different, ranging from “there is no problem, it’s all in your head” to “you have a major mold problem and should file a lawsuit.” Most of them really just want someone to acknowledge the problem, effectively clean up the mold, and ease their suffering.

For individuals who are trying desperately to get answers, to get oth­ers to understand their situation, or to ease the suffering of others they love, mold is not only a four-letter word but a MONSTER. For the people who can live seemingly unaffected by mold, for the doc­tors who have not been trained in the field of indoor air quality, and for the lawyers trying to avoid lawsuits, mold is simply a MYTH. Thus, the title of my book was chosen: Mold: Myth or Monster?

This book will help you sort through the dirty world of mold through the eyes of a guy who chooses to surround himself in it every day. From what it is and why it is invading your space to what to do about it, how to protect yourself, and how to learn more, Mold: Myth or Monster? will become your field guide as you tackle your particular mold situation.