ASM: Mould ate my house
Amidst all this dispassionate science, there’s nothing like a personal story to raise a round of applause.
Microbiologist Joan Bennett worked in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina slammed into the city last summer -- so she had a particular interest in the mould that invaded her home after the floodwaters subsided.
Her pictures were pretty graphic. Imagine the type of fungal growth experiment you find at the bottom of a severely neglected coffee cup or fruit bowl – and amplify that to the size of a living room.
Mould coated the ceiling. It extended its furry tentacles up the walls. A thick, lush variety upholstered the sofa. The carpet was a thriving Petri dish.
Bennett grew some of the moulds on a real Petri dish and found at least 20 different types. She says she is searching for a brand new one: “it would make me very happy if I could find Aspergillus Katrinansis,” she said.
Ruined furniture aside, some people think that these moulds are taking a toll on people’s health: moulds have been linked to allergies and sometimes worse.
Lots of rumours circulated about the bacteria and viruses that might run wild in the aftermath of Katrina, from cholera to hepatitis. But in the event, mould probably won.
Comments
Melinda Ballard's house has become an emblem of the mold invasion. There is as much mold here as anyone has ever seen. The place is Exhibit A for lawyers, a how-not-to guide for homeowners, a business handbook for contractors and an ongoing nightmare for insurers. As we walk in through an unlocked side door (''Who would be stupid enough to come in and steal anything?'' Ballard says) this dream home certainly looks like a nightmare: the House That Mold Ate.
Posted by: Scott Brison - planning information | December 12, 2006 01:00 PM
i am a choctaw indian, i live in oklahoma. my roof leaked, work crews came out to fixes it 3 or 4 times. but it stilled leaked but it still leaked. it is all stained over head, got in to the wslls also,and carpet. i an now being treated,by Dr. for a lung fungis. could all of this have from the mold. if you have informato. please respond to stevenroybarnes@hotmail.co
Posted by: steve barnes | April 12, 2007 05:29 PM