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hard to sleep in a strange bed, but benadryl helps. However, three days were enough to make us pack up and head home again to the embrace of The Mold. At this point, the worst had been cleaned up, but there was still much left to be done. Eventually the clean-up was complete, and my symptoms had disappeared.

However, the dangers of mold can be much greater than what we experienced.

First, the cost can be astronomical.

State Farm has been collecting loss and expense data related to mold claims since November, 2001. State Farm has paid an aggregate amount, nationally, of $446 million from November 2001 through June 2002 ALONE, in specific response to mold problems arising out of covered claims under homeowners' policies. Since then, claims have increased.

In Texas alone, insurers paid $1.2 billion in mold claims in 2002. Louisiana has eliminated ALL mold coverage, while North Carolina has put a $5,000 cap on mold-related payouts.

Second, the health hazards can be extreme. Health costs only adds to the already high bill.

People who are sensitive to mold can suffer from asthma, anaphylactic shock, and a host of other allergic reactions. Mold also can infect the skin and the eyes, as well as the entire respiratory system.

Additional symptoms that have been reported include flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, depression, and chronic fatique. Mold exposure can also produce disorientation, tremors, damage to the intestines, kidney and liver problems, ruptures in the blood vessels of the lungs, infertility, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and even a decreased attention span.

Toxic molds can suppress the immune system and increase susceptibility to cancer. Penicillium has even been shown to be carcinogenic (cancer-producing) in laboratory animals!

To sum it up, a home with mold can be a severely toxic one. So if mold is discovered in a home, it needs to be dealt with immediately. Additionally, families need to limit the exposure of both themselves and their pets (as their pets can also suffer or carry the mold back into the family unit).

Mold needs to be taken seriously by anyone who encounters it.

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