My parents own a rental property on the lake in Michigan, which they built in the 1970s.  They now rent it to a man who has lived there for the past 10 months.  A few weeks ago, he noticed that there was mold in the room where the dryer is located.  My parents were instantly terrified because they immediately thought “black mold”.  They called a company to come out and take samples and test the air.  The renter wanted a copy of the report because he suddenly started having headaches, runny eyes, sore throat and hives.  He has a young son who stays with him on weekends that has Down’s syndrome.  He is now saying that this situation has made his son sick.  After hearing this, my parents sought an attorney as they think he will try to sue because of his son having asthmatic reactions and were told not to show the renter the report.  As there are currently no standards to be met as a “healthy” level, the renter has now called the board of health and the EPA to come out to evaluate the house.  My parents are concerned that the renter is unjustly blaming them for problems they are not responsible .-Aaron ,Ohio 

            If the renter does sue, he will get the report as a part of the discovery process.  As such, refusing to share the report at this time will be interpreted as having something to hide. (This may in itself increase the likelihood that he will sue.)  Defense attorneys on the other hand tend to recommend not sharing the report (this is typical of how many defense attorneys practice).  My experience is that non disclosure is not particularly wise.

            If the mold is around a dryer, it may have resulted from the condensation of the dryer vent exhaust.  Such condensation on drywall will result in mold growth and certainly has the potential for being black mold.

            Lake property is often at high risk of developing mustiness, if not visible mold growth.  This is due to the fact that such properties are subject to high humidities due to nearness to water and to shade due to being surrounded by trees.

            Many lake properties are only used seasonally.  In the winter and spring low temperature conditions cause relative humidities to rise above the critical 70% level that allows mold to develop.  As such, many such properties develop “mustiness” over a period of 10 or so years.

            The symptoms headaches, runny eyes, sore throat, and hives are not as a combination classic mold symptoms.  Headaches and sore throat can be associated with mold.  Runny eyes and hives are less likely.  Indeed hives have never to my knowledge has been associated with mold.

            Mold exposures can cause allergic reactions and asthma.  They have the potential to cause asthmatic attacks if one is sensitized to the particular mold types present.  The question about the son’s asthma is whether it was pre-existing (which based on him living somewhere most of the time is highly probable) or is due to exposure in his primary residence.

            Mold is only one of a variety of allergenic exposures that can cause asthma and asthmatic reactions.  Depending on where one lives, the asthma could be due to exposures to dust mites, pet danders, cockroach or mold.

July 8, 2003

 Indoor Environmental Quality (2000), Thad Godish Ph.D., C.I.H

Direct E-mail 00tjgodish@bsu.edu