Saud Anwar

SENATOR ANWAR LEADS SENATE TO IMPROVE TREATMENT, REMEDIATION AND AWARENESS OF MOLD IN RESIDENTIAL HOUSING

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) led the Senate’s passage of legislation seeking to improve treatment, remediation and awareness of mold in residential housing.

Senate Bill 959, “An Act Concerning Mold In Residential Housing,” if passed by the House and made law, would see the Department of Public Health develop standards to identify and assess mold in residential housing, standards for remediating mold, guidelines for limiting exposure to mold and a public awareness campaign with public service announcements raising awareness of mold, which can harm residential health with extended exposure. It would also create a working group to evaluate the connection between mold growing in buildings and use of polybutylene pipes, which would issue findings to the General Assembly by the end of the year.

“Mold can cause serious health complications, especially for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions – it’s a threat to public health and we need to take action,” said Sen. Anwar. “I’m proud to lead the Senate today in focusing on this important issue. By taking steps to improve mold treatment and remediation standards in residential housing, bolster public awareness of mold’s health issues and study the potential impact of certain pipes on mold’s presence and growth, we will take strong steps to protect and improve public health and respiratory health in our state.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to moldy environments can contribute to a variety of health impacts from conditions similar to allergies to more intense reactions among those predisposed to respiratory issues; in 2004, the Institute of Medicine found evidence to tie indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract, asthma and similar issues among those exposed in such environments. Early mold exposure can also potentially cause asthma in children; people with allergies, lung diseases, immune suppression conditions or chronic respiratory disease are at increased risk of difficulty breathing and infection from mold.

Polybutylene pipes were a form of pipes used in the manufacturing of water supply piping from 1978 to 1995. The pipes have previously been tied to leaks causing water leaks, damage and mold growth in certain circumstances.