Read
Mold Legal Guide
as an
in depth introduction to both sides of the key mold legal issues and of the
essential claims and defenses in mold lawsuits.
Mold Problems in the Desert
Also read:
Desert Mold Skin Disease
Q. How
can mold possibly be a serious health threat in dry,
desert-like areas such as Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque,
Las Vegas, southern Utah, southern California, and west
Texas? [March 15, 2004].
A. Mold
can be a big problem in desert-like climates for the
following reasons. First, one of the most deadly molds
Coccidioidomycosis,
discussed below, and also known as
Valley
Fever lives only in desert areas of southwestern
states like New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, southern Utah,
southern California, and west Texas. Second, many people cool their
homes or other buildings with swamp coolers [evaporative
cooling] which causes high indoor humidity to drive mold
growth big-time through out the house. In addition, it
is common for leaks to develop in water flow to the
rooftop coolers, causing water intrusion in attics,
ceilings, and walls, allowing mold to grow very well.
Third, the extreme heat of the desert sun deteriorates
roofs and siding more quickly than normal, allowing roof
leaks and siding water entry points to drive mold
growth. Fourth, just like anywhere else in the world,
plumbing leaks and air conditioning condensation line
leaks will cause mold problems.
Coccidioidomycosis is a nasty
tongue-twister of a name, often contracted to 'coccy', for the
disease caused by Coccidioides immitis. This fungus
thrives in dry, saline soils, and is endemic in desert areas of
the Southwestern U.S., where the disease is often called 'valley
fever,' and Mexico (though it is strangely absent from the
deserts of Africa and Asia). The process of infection, progress
of the disease, and clinical symptoms, are very similar to those
of histoplasmosis, though the fungus is not intracellular, and
forms spherical structures containing spores. In culture, the
same fungus produces chains of alternate thallic-arthric
conidia, and has no known teleomorph. Millions of people in the
U.S. Southwest have contracted the disease. Fortunately, as in
histoplasmosis, most cases are benign, and healing is
spontaneous. A few become systemic, and are usually fatal if
untreated or misdiagnosed. The disseminated form of this disease
is more common among males than females, and among people with
darkly pigmented skin.
The year 2001 has seen an interesting outbreak of this disease
in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah. Ten people who had
been working at a 'dig' developed acute respiratory coccoidioidomycosis within two weeks of exposure. All were
treated with fluconazole, with an average hospital stay of 1.5
days, and released apparently none the worse for their
experience. New regulations for digs at Dinosaur call for
watering down of the soil before digging, and use of approved
respirators (N95).
For more information and to learn more about this
event, please visit the web site:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5045a1.htm
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