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Those interested in following or participating in meetings of the NYS Toxic Mold Task Force may find the meeting information below for April 22nd, to be held in Latham, NY.
We encourage all who can to look into attending this meeting, to provide input about your toxic school mold (or other toxic mold) experiences, and to educate the task force on the severity of the problems they must explore.
The next meeting of the NYS Toxic Mold Task Force will be held on Tuesday,
April 22, 2008 in Latham NY. Meeting details are posted on the NYS
Department of Health web site at:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/events/meetings/index.htm
(Please also see below for meeting details - SMH)
You are receiving this email because you have previously expressed an interest in the Task Force. Please direct any inquiries to Sarah Brazzell,
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.
notice by:
Gregg Recer, PhD
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New York State Department of Health
Center for Environmental Health
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Meeting Details:
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The New York State Toxic Mold Task Force will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the New York State Nurse's Association Headquarters office, 11 Cornell Rd, Latham NY.
The Task Force was created by Section 1384 of Chapter 356 of the Laws of 2005. The Task Force is charged with preparing a report to the governor and the legislature that assesses the current body of knowledge on toxic mold, provides the status of toxic mold in the state, and assesses the feasibility of any further actions to be taken by the legislature or state agencies. At this meeting, the Task Force will address health effects of mold exposure, mold assessment in buildings and mold exposure limits. The meeting is open to the public, and a 30-minute public comment period will be included on the meeting agenda for members of the public to address the Task Force. Individual public comments will be limited, depending on the number wishing to comment, but in any event no more than five minutes.
(SMH Note: 30 minutes for public testimony on an environmental health threat that is sickening millions? We are pleased to have this group meet, however, we are concerned that there is no interference with the accomplishment of these goals, and we feel strongly that scientific and public input should be extensively, fully, and impartially gathered .)
For further information and to register your attendance, please contact: Sarah Brazzell at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or (518) 402-7511.
* Meeting Agenda (PDF, 24KB, 1pg.) (SMH: Also, see below) http://www.health.state.ny.us/events/meetings/docs/2008-04-22_mold_task_force_agenda.pdf
NYS Toxic Mold Task Force
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
NYS Nurses Association Headquarters
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Draft Agenda
Objectives
•Understand health effects of mold exposure
• Understand strengths and limitations of mold sampling methods & interpretation
• Understand alternatives for setting mold exposure limits
•Begin discussion of Task Force report outline
8:00 AM Continental breakfast
8:30 Introductions
• Nancy Kim, PhD, Interim Director, Center for Environmental Health
• Thomas Mahar, Assistant Director, Division of Code Enforcement and
Administration, Department of State
8:45 Meeting Agenda
9:00 Health effects of mold exposures -- Epidemiology
• Ginger Chew, ScD
US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention; Columbia University
9:30 Health effects of mold exposures -- Clinical
• Meyer Kattan, MD
Columbia University Medical Center
10:00 Health effects of mold exposures – Clinical, Occupational
• Eckardt Johanning, MD, MSc
Occupational and Environmental Life Science,
Fungal Research Group Foudation, Inc.
10:30 Break
10:45 Discussion – Health effects of mold exposures
11:30 NYS Building codes relating to water and mold prevention
• Thomas Mahar, NYS Department of State
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 Mold sampling methods & interpretation
• John Haines, PhD, NYS Museum Emeritus Scientist
1:30 Mold sampling methods & interpretation
• Susan Anagnost, PhD, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
2:00 Alternatives for setting exposure limits
• Ginger Chew, PhD, US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention;
Columbia University
2:30 Break
2:45 Discussion – Mold sampling and exposure limits
3:30 Public Comment Period
4:00 Discussion -- Task Force Report outline
5:00 Adjourn
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Info on NYS Toxic Mold Task Force:
Spitzer Forms New York State Toxic Mold Task Force
http://www.newsli.com/2007/12/05/spitzer-forms-new-york-state-toxic-mold-task-force/
December 5, 2007
(Long Island N.Y.) Toxic molds have long been a public concern, especially on Long Island. Long Island’s increasing problems with mold can be blamed on dampness, especially in basements of older structures. Mold is a fuzzy growth on moist organic matter by several types of fungi. The quantity of mold fragments and spores needed to cause health problems varies from person to person. Besides inhalation, people can become exposed to mold through skin contact and eating moldy food.
Toxic molds can produce several toxic chemicals called mycotoxins that can damage your health. These chemicals are present on the spores and small mold fragments that are released into the air. In high concentrations, mold fragments, spores, and mycotoxins can trigger symptoms even in individuals who have no allergies.
Mold has been found throughout residential communities on Long Island and in tri-state area schools. Last week, an entire housing complex in the Long Island community of Westbury was shut down from a deadly and toxic mold infestation. Now, Gov. Eliot Spitzer has commissioned a task force to address the problem.
The Department of Health and the Department of State have announced that the New York State Toxic Mold Task Force has now been established. A task force is a newly formed, 14-member panel that will investigate related health issues. The first meeting of the Task Force was held on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the Boardroom of the New York State Nurse’s Association Headquarters office, 11 Cornell Rd, Latham.
The Task Force will be preparing a report to the governor and the legislature that assesses the current body of knowledge on toxic mold, provides the status of toxic mold in the state, and assesses the feasibility of any further actions to be taken by the legislature or state agencies, as required by the law.
---------------------------------
Department of Health Information for a Healthy New York
http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2007/2007-11-27_toxic_mold_task_force.htm
You are Here: Home Page > 2007 Press Releases > Toxic Mold Task Force Established
Toxic Mold Task Force Established
The Department of Health and the Department of State are pleased to announce that the New York State Toxic Mold Task Force has now been established and will be having its first meeting. We have designated Dr. Nancy Kim of the Health Department and Mr. Thomas Mahar of the Department of State to lead the Task Force. The Task Force members are:
Dr. Nancy Kim, Interim Director, Center for Environmental Health, New York State Department of Health
Mr. Thomas Mahar, Assistant Director, Division of Code Enforcement and Administration, New York State Department of State
Dr. Susan Anagnost, Associate Professor, DCMWPE, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Mr. Terry Brennan, President, Camroden Associates, Inc.
Dr. Ginger Chew, Assistant Professor, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Mr. Christopher D'Andrea, Research Scientist, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Mr. Robert Denz, Director of Environmental Health Services, Broome County Health Department
Ms. Melanie Desiderio, Assistant Director of Environmental Health, Erie County Department of Health
Mr. Eric Faisst, Public Health Director, Madison County Health Department
Dr. John Haines, Emeritus Scientist, New York State Museum
Dr. Meyer Kattan, Professor of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center
Dr. Joseph Laquatra, Hazel E Reed Human Ecology Extension, Professor in Family Policy, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University
Dr. James Melius, Administrator, NYS Laborers' Health and Safety Trust Fund.
Dr. Jianshun Zhang, Professor and Director, Energy and Indoor Environmental Systems, Syracuse University
The first meeting of the Task Force will be on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the Boardroom of the New York State Nurse's Association Headquarters office, 11 Cornell Rd, Latham.
The Toxic Mold Task Force was created in 2005 under Title 11-A of Public Health Law, Section 1384. The Task Force will be preparing a report to the governor and the legislature that assesses the current body of knowledge on toxic mold, provides the status of toxic mold in the state, and assesses the feasibility of any further actions to be taken by the legislature or state agencies, as required by the law.
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Another link on the SMH site with information about this Task Force:
The Legislature passed a law, effective Aug. 2, 2005, that called for the creation of a 14-member Toxic Mold Task Force to “assess, based on scientific evidence, the nature, scope and...
| N.Y. State To Form Mold Task Force |  |  |  |
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The NY State Task Force on Toxic Mold has been set up with appointments to the task force
by the governor. Watch a TV video news broadcast covering this story at this link below!
"Mold like this has been found throughout residential communities on Long Island and in tri-state area schools.
Now, Gov. Eliot Spitzer has commissioned a task force to address the problem. "(CBS)
Dec 4, 2007 7:51 pm US/Eastern
Watch video tv news broadcast and read this story at:
http://wcbstv.com/seenon/mold.task.force.2.602478.html
N.Y. State To Form Mold Task Force
Problems Throughout Tri-State Area Get Spitzer's Attention
Reporting, Andrew Kirtzman NEW YORK (CBS) ― It is a common site yet often dangerous to your health. Mold is suddenly the focus of medical experts. And now New York state is investigating what can be done to protect the public from its effects.
Barbara Skinner is a casualty in the battle against toxic mold. The Harlem resident says she had to move when the fungus spread through her apartment. Now she says it's spreading through another.
"The leaks keep coming, so if the leaks keep coming the mold keeps coming behind the walls," Skinner said.
She's not alone. Last week, an entire housing complex in the Long Island community of Westbury was shut down from a mold infestation. For some, the recent developments did a lot more than provide inconveniences.
"This ruined our first Christmas for her," said Barbara and Manny Delmas.
"And this is confusing because we renewed our lease for a year, and thought we would have the peace of mind of a home. We find out that we have no place to live as of the 31st," Manny added.
The problem has now caught the attention of the state government. A special panel formed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer convened in upstate New York to map strategy on Tuesday.
"All of us have become more aware of the potential health affects from mold, more aware of the problem," said panel co-chair Nancy Kim.
The public health officials who gathered upstate have documented a long list of ailments. They range from depression and asthma to memory loss.
Cheryl Borden went to recount her ordeal. Toxic mold forced her to flee her Long Island home in 2000.
"By the time I went to the doctor, they thought I had PCP -- the pneumonia AIDS patients die from -- and to this day I still have hundreds of spots on my lungs," said Borden.
Dr. Eckhardt Johanning said a recent study found mold to be as harmful to children as cigarette smoke.
"They found that the risk people have to develop new onsets of environmental asthma is similar to the risk you have if your parents smoke," said Johanning.
People are hoping they escaped the plague before it had the opportunity to inflict life-threatening damage.
The panel has invited members of the public to speak at each of its meetings.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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