EH&E Health Experts Available to Media On Toxic Mold Contamination/Remediation.

Business Editors/Environmental/Health and Legal Writers

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 25, 2002

Recent articles in Time, Business Week, USA Weekly, and segments on several TV stations around the country have focused on the growing concern over the health and insurance implications of mold contamination. The public is looking for answers and guidance as to how they can put this "newly recognized" hazard into perspective.

Environmental Health & Engineering (EH&E), a national leader in mold assessment and remediation management, is working on more than $150 million of mold projects around the country. EH&E is making its health and engineering staff available to provide credible, responsible, and expert background information on mold contamination related issues for print, on-camera, or on-air coverage. We can also quickly gather a panel of experts from EPA, the Harvard School of Public Health and other leading institutions to provide the latest data and viewpoints.

John McCarthy, Sc.D., C.I. H., EH&E president, commented: "The public's awareness of toxic mold is increasing with recent media coverage of multi-million dollar jury awards in Texas and Delaware. Policy decisions with far reaching public health and economic implications are being made with little understanding of this complex problem. Although mold can cause many indoor air quality problems, it is essential that a technically accurate perspective be presented to ensure protection of the public's well being."

EH&E's McCarthy has been involved with more than 2,500 indoor air quality related assessments in a variety of institutional, commercial, and industrial buildings. John Spengler, Ph.D., a principal at EH&E, has spoken and written widely on toxic indoor air related issues. EH&E's Director of Aerobiology, Harriet Burge, Ph.D., is well known as a leading expert on mold. Both Spengler and Burge are professors at Harvard's School of Public Health.

Some notable recent news regarding mold include:

-- State Farm General Insurance has stopped writing homeowners insurance in California because of mold and many other insurance companies have added mold exclusions to policies.

-- Rep. Conyers (D-MI) has introduced a bill, H.R. 5040: The United States Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act, in June 2002.

-- At least 11 state legislatures have pending toxic mold-related bills introduced this year.

-- A newly constructed courthouse in Florida was closed because of mold contamination. The county filed suit against the contractor and was awarded $11.5-million jury verdict.

-- A Texas jury awarded a married couple a $32-million judgement against their insurance company for failing to act promptly on their claims of a mold problem.

-- A California courthouse is the subject of a lawsuit brought by a district court judge and 100 other employees for injuries allegedly caused by Stachybotrys resulting from defects in the air-conditioning system.

-- As a result of flooding in Texas last year, mold-damage claims will account for nearly $500 million in additional costs for insurance companies.

Mold grows in moist or wet indoor environments. Mold often results from leaky roofs, moisture condensation, small water leaks, and flooding. For example, recent flooding in the Southwest resulted in a significant increase in mold growth and reported health problems. The health effects of mold can range from minor irritation to mild to severe allergic reactions and, potentially, to toxicity. Initial indicators of a possible mold problem include musty odors, signs of water damage, or an increase in allergic symptoms among building users.

Newton-based Environmental Health & Engineering's expertise in air quality and mold remediation management, health impact assessments, and building engineering is being recognized by the facilities management industry as an essential element in assisting with their normal and emergency building operations. EH&E's staff is associated with the Harvard School of Public Health. EH&E, founded in 1988, is the prime contractor for the US Environmental Protection Agency for indoor environmental research. EH&E also manages the Environmental, Health and Safety offices for Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard Institutes of Medicine, both in Boston, Massachusetts.