Ind. Committee Votes to Study Mold Issue

Members of the Indiana House Public Health Committee have scaled back a bill that would have directed state officials to recommend mold exposure limits and standards for the removal of mold. Instead, the revised measure calls for an informational study of the issue.

“Establishing health standards for unacceptable levels of mold and succinct procedures for eradicating mold is new territory,” said National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) Counsel Robert Hurns. “It is premature to rush to legislative judgement and craft state rules when existing scientific research regarding the health effects of mold is inconclusive. Recommending a study is a calm, measured response.”

NAII testified earlier this week before the Public Health Committee in opposition to the original version of House Bill 1253, which would have required the Indiana Department of Health to convene a task force to help the department develop recommendations for indoor mold exposure limits and mold identification guidelines.

“Science does not exist to create proven, sound mold exposure standards,” said Anne Doran, NAII local counsel. “And sensitivity to mold varies from individual to individual. In addition, there are more than 100,000 species of mold. These factors in combination with the lack of clear scientific knowledge on health effects of mold make it difficult to set exposure limits that are relevant for everyone.”

A state-by-state approach for developing mold standards would create a patchwork of unscientific, unsound regulations, Hurns added.

“Implementing state-specific standards with no rhyme or reason for their validity should not be supported,” Hurns said. “A person is not any less susceptible to mold if they are in Indiana versus California. Indiana lawmakers were wise to decide against setting a standard for mold when each individual’s reaction to mold is different.”