HUD-funded apartment complex confronted after denying documented mold issues, health concerns скачать в хорошем качестве

HUD-funded apartment complex confronted after denying documented mold issues, health concerns

CHARLOTTE, NC – FOX 46 is working to get results for a mother who says her child’s health has been seriously affected by hazardous conditions found in her north Charlotte apartment. Jessica Smith’s 1-year old son tested positive for some of the highest levels of mycotoxins that a laboratory has ever seen, just months after a FOX 46 Charlotte investigation uncovered mold and water damage in Smith’s apartment. Mycotoxins come from mold. FOX 46 Charlotte’s investigation into Northcross Townhomes, where Smith and her 1-year-old son Lynden Mitchell live, sparked a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD conducted an inspection at Northcross, and the complex didn’t pass. Little Lynden Mitchell was born with a wide range of health issues that affect his immune system. Mitchell is prone to respiratory infections, which prompted one of his doctors with Carolinas HealthCare System to write a letter requesting the apartment to be “tested for mold” and if found, “removed promptly.” Smith asked FOX 46 Charlotte to investigate why, according to her, management had not fixed water damage issues at the apartment. She sent videos of water pouring from her ceiling in a number of different areas and photos of what appeared to be mold on the walls. In a recording sent from Smith, Northcross property manager, Charmon Durham, said there was “no mold found.” When Smith later complained about what appeared to be mold on the walls and types of testing, Durham said, “You don’t live in the walls, you live in the actual apartment.” Smith’s apartment was tested by Page Inspections Plus Inc. on Oct. 23, 2017, and “moderate” levels of the mold cladosporium were found – a common cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Six different types of molds were found during that test in the apartment, ranging from rare to moderate levels. However, the tests were done after maintenance said it treated the mold with bleach. Bleach does not completely kill mold when it’s located on drywall or wood. Fast-forward to May and mold is, once again, back in the apartment. Page Inspections found “very heavy” levels of cladosporium and “moderate” levels of acremonium. This prompted FOX 46 Charlotte to reach out to Great Plains Laboratories, which tests for mycotoxins in the body produced from mold. Smith’s son tested off the charts for mycotoxins: Roridin E and Verracarin A. He also tested highly positive for Ochratoxin A. “There’s little doubt in my mind that these chemicals that he has are coming from the water damage to the house,” Great Plains’ Dr. William Shaw said. “It’s just extremely serious. If it were my child, I’d want them out today.” Dr. Shaw said out of roughly 10,000 people that his lab has tested for mycotoxins, Mitchell’s case is one of the most severe he’s ever seen. “The ones that were elevated are among the most toxic types of mold…associated with environmental damage, with areas that have gotten wet and were not cleaned up adequately or in time. This individual has very severe exposure to these mycotoxins, which are harmful to the brain, harmful to the development, harmful to the immune system, harmful to the gastrointestinal tract. So, they’re very toxic chemicals to all the body’s symptoms and this individual has a really serious amount that, unless it is treated, is very likely to have a negative impact on him growing up. This is one of the worst-case scenarios when a child is exposed to these because you’re not only making him sick, you’re impairing his development as a human being.” Smith also tested highly positive for Ochratoxin A, which can come from “water-damaged buildings,” but she did not test positive for the other mycotoxins that her son did. “Young children frequently go through a process of development where certain proteins and enzymes don’t become active until the child is older,” Dr. Shaw said. “That could be one factor.” FOX 46 Charlotte reached out to North Cross Townhomes, F&W Management — which runs Northcross– and its attorney, Janelle Lyons, with Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog. Northcross’ manager, Charmon Durham, called 911 on FOX 46 Charlotte when we showed up to ask questions, but CMPD said we had every right to be at Northcross as we were a guest of Smith. Lyons sent FOX 46 Charlotte this statement prior to the apartment testing positive for mold, again, on May 1 and the results arriving on May 4: Northcross Townhomes community provides housing to individuals and families living below the poverty line with the assistance of HUD subsidies...as you may know from reading about congressional cuts to HUD programs over the last decade, we (as well as many other landlords offering these services around the country) face significant challenges in continuing to provide these free and low cost housing options for Charlotte residents. Northcross receives $698,000 from HUD each year.