TOXIC MOLD

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO TACKLE MOLD + MAKE CHANGEIN YOUR COMMUNITY

A HOW-TO GUIDE

MOLD +

HEALTH

At Community Action Works, webelieve that environmental threatsare big, but the power of well-organized community groups isbigger. That’s why we work side byside with everyday people toconfront those who are pollutingand harming the health of ourcommunities.

Poor indoor air quality is a commonthreat to our health. As people spend the majority of their timeinside buildings, these buildingsshould be safe and healthy placesto breathe. In particular, schoolsshould be a priority becausechildren are more susceptible totoxic exposure.

The Centers for Disease Controland Prevention state that inhalingor touching mold can cause manyhealth effects - or none at all - assome people are more sensitive toit. Exposure can lead to stuffynose, wheezing, red/itchy eyes orskin. In extreme cases, it is linkedto severe respiratory problems.

Those with compromised immunesystems are at even greater risk,as exposure to toxic black moldcan cause lifelong effects likememory loss, insomnia, anxiety,depression, or confusion.

Over ⅕ of asthma cases can belinked to mold or too muchmoisture in the home.

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The Gerena Community School inSpringfield, MA was plagued withmold, leaks, and flooding for years ina tunnel that connected two belovedneighborhoods in the community.The conditions became so poor thatthe basement was condemned.

Soon after, the school nurse's officeswere filled with students withasthma. In the heart of a majorityLatinx neighborhood and thepoorest district in the state, childrenwere showing up to a mold-infestedschool. It was environmentalinjustice.

The North End Coalition, a group ofconcerned parents and communityleaders, formed to fight against thisinjustice. Yet, city and state officialsfailed to take action to protect thesestudents.

In 2016, North End activists cametogether with Community ActionWorks to strategize a plan to win.They brought together city and stateofficials in public hearings topressure them to take action.

Finally, years after their hard workbegan, they won! The state and the city came to anagreement to dedicate millions ofdollars to fix the leaking roof andthe sloping tunnels, and halt thewater leaking into the school once and for all.

At least 45 million buildings in the U.S. have unhealthy levels of mold, including in

schools, which put students at risk forasthma + other respiratory diseases.

STUDENTS

AT RISK

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Otherwise, it is best to call aprofessional for help in removingmold.

When calling a professional service,be sure to ask about theirexperience to ensure that they canproperly tackle the problem, andask for references to check theiraccountability.

Always take precautions to limityour exposure to the mold as muchas possible. This includes wearingan N-95 mask, gloves, goggles, andmaintaining thorough ventilationwhen exposing yourself to themold area.

Mold in your home, school orworkplace can be dangerous, butyou can easily detect mold andremove it.

There are many types of mold,and none of them can growwithout moisture.

DETECTION

+ REMOVAL

Steps for removing mold dependon the severity of the problem. If the mold area is less than 10square feet and you areinterested in removing ityourself, follow the guidelines ofthe Centers for Disease Controlfor removal.

You can easily detect mold inyour home, as it can usually be seen or smelled.

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Controlling moisture is the keyto preventing mold growth.

If water leaks into your home, actquickly to clean up the spill anddry completely.

If you see condensation in yourhome (often found aroundwindows, walls or pipes) dry thearea and quickly fix the problem.

Keep indoor humidity low byusing air conditioners or de-humidifiers.

Maintain thorough ventilation +air movement in your home.

Always prevent futureproblems to protect your health.

PREVENT

MOLD AT

HOME

You have the power to protectyourself, and your community,from mold by using preventativemeasures.

At Community Action Works, webelieve that when you and yourneighbors know how to makechange, you can build the powerto transform our world.

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Call your town healthinspector.

If there is still noresponse,

call legal aid.

KNOW YOUR

RIGHTS

Every person deserves to breathesafe and clear air - whether thatbe in your home, schools, offices,etc.

This right is protected by federallaw. Legally, homes must beweather-tight and water-tight.

Bathrooms must be ventilated bywindow, air shaft, or ventilationfan that vents to the outside of thebuilding.This allows for proper air flow tominimize mold growth throughoutyour home or building.

ACT TO

PROTECT

THEM

If you are a tenant and findmold in your building, youshould report it immediately toyour landlord/building owner.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR LANDLORD OR BUILDING OWNER DOESN’T HELP

Pull together acommunity group to

confront those who areharming your health.

Useful materials can befound on the next page!

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Use the sample petition and fact sheet provided as a model to helporganize your community and form your mission around the mold issue.

Visit communityactionworks.org for more resources.

SAMPLE

MATERIALS

Sample Petition

Draft Fact Sheet

1. Community Action Works, 'About Us,' Community Action Works, n.d.,https://communityactionworks.org/about-us/, (accessed June 8, 2020).

2. 'Indoor Air Quality in Connecticut Schools,' The Connecticut Academyof Science and Engineering, n.d., http://www.ctcase.org/reports/iaq_sum.html, (accessed June 12, 2020).

3. National Center for Environmental Health, 'Mold - GeneralInformation,' CDC, Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of Health &Human Services, 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm, (accessedJune 8, 2020).

4. Amen Clinics. 'Toxic Mold Syndrome and How it Affects The Brain,'Amen Clinics,  2017, https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/toxic-mold-syndrome-it-was-like-i-lost-my-personality, (accessed June 8, 2020).

5. Dawson, C. 'Vermont renters often stuck in unsafe homes, report finds,'Vermont Digger, 2018, https://vtdigger.org/2018/01/11/vermont-renters-often-stuck-unsafe-homes-report-finds/, (accessed June 13, 2020).

6. 'Mold Statistics and Facts - 2020 Update,' Real Time Laboratories, Inc.,2020, https://realtimelab.com/mold-statistics/, (accessed July 2, 2020).

7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 'A Brief Guide to Mold,Moisture, and Your Home,' Environmental Protection Agency,Washington, D.C., Environmental Protection Agency, 2012,https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/moldguide12.pdf, (accessed June 8, 2020).

8. Ibid.

9. Zuidema, C. 'Mold in Rental Housing: Town Health Officer Training,'Vermont Department of Health, 2012, https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/Env_THOPresentationMold_in_rental_housing_080812.pdf, (accessed June 18, 2020).

10. See note 1 above.

NOTES