MOLD

Tenants have been expressing concern about mold in the building again lately. I've posted plenty of information about mold over the years (all you have to do is scroll down through the blog to find it) - but here's a handy shortcut: here's a list of the molds you need to be worried about. 'Just so you know, mold is everywhere in our environment, and many of them are harmless - or even beneficial (we wouldn't have wine, yogurt, cheese or even penicillin if it weren't for mold, ok?) The molds listed below can cause a wide range of symptoms that can become BIG problems if left untreated, though:

• Stachybotrys
• Penicillium (not penicillin)
• Aspergillus
• Alternaria
• Cladosporium
• Helminthosporium
• Epicoccum
• Mucor

Get tested by an allergist for this group of molds. It's a start toward seeing how sensitive you are to them. Some people have said that they want to see a toxicologist about this, and that may be the way to go, but my hunch is that it's going to be very difficult to get an appointment with a toxicologist right off the bat, especially if you're working with Medicaid or Medicare - but if you see an allergist first, and get an allergy panel done, that's a step toward getting a REFERRAL. 

You can go online and find recommendations of local allergists using ZocDoc or a similar website, or ask your insurance carrier about who's in your networik. Here's on allergist who's pretty good:

Dr. Mary Lee Wong

Beth Israel Medical Center, Allergy and Immunology Department, Office 3F, 

10 Union Square East New York, NY 10003

212-420-4013     212-844-8108  

Of course, getting treated for mold poisoning is going to be fairly futile unless you're also able to get the mold cleaned out of your immediate environment, because of the issue of being constantly exposed to the mold. Look into getting your "apartment" tested for mold as a first step. Getting it cleaned out is going to be challenging because H.S.I. doesn't take this issue seriously. However, that may have to change dramatically in the near future because of this;

The New York City Council recently voted to pass the Asthma-Free Housing Act (Intro385C), a bill that allows renters to live safely in homes free of mold, pests, and indoor health hazards. Councilwoman Rosie Mendez (D-2) worked for ten years alongside advocates, including New York Lawyers for the Public Interest as part of the Coalition for Asthma Free Housing, to pass the bill that mandates landlords clean up dangerous asthma triggers inside city apartments. 

   

The Asthma-Free Housing Act (Intro 385C) requires New York City landlords to annually inspect and correct indoor allergen hazards, including mold, pests, and underlying symptoms that may cause hazardous conditions, such as water leaks and pest entryways (holes and cracks), in the homes of residents diagnosed with asthma, COPD, or lung cancer.