Bakersfield, Calif.—The Central California Chapter of the Carpet and Fabricare Institute will be sponsoring a symposium on mold and mold remediation in Bakersfield, Calif., on July 23. The symposium will target those in the community that are at risk from this newest phenomenon in the toxic wars. Mold and mold remediation has been a hot topic in the world of cleaning and restoration for a number of years but it is just now coming to the attention of the general public, the business community and the ancillary industries, noted a spokesman for the Institute. “Public awareness has been heightened by the media reports of the many health effects attributed to ‘toxic’ mold.

These ailments range from asthma and flu-like symptoms to unknown illnesses and, in rare cases, death. “But the real driver behind all the recent attention has been the growing number of multi-million dollar lawsuits and the big name players involved,” he explained. “Mold-related legislation has already been passed or proposed in more than a dozen states and the federal government is working on its own legislation. Insurance companies are rapidly making major changes in their handling of mold claims, from limiting losses and eliminating coverage to removing themselves for states where losses and lawsuits have been significant.” This microscopic menace, noted the spokesman, that has been compared to the asbestos crisis of the 1980s, has taken on a life of its own and has put many individuals and firms at risk—health and financial.

The Institute is attempting to educate those on the periphery of the mold issue as well as those who find themselves already involved in the controversy, as to the “real” dangers and cautions of mold, mold control and mold abatement. The symposium will feature experts involved in the front lines of the mold issue. Presentations and panel discussions will cover a broad range of mold-related topics such as the causes of mold; remediation methods and tools; litigation and legislation; insurance trends and key coverage changes; legal liabilities and, finally, a discussion about finding reasonable solutions to the mold issue.

The one-day symposium is designed to benefit a variety of people including remediation professionals; industrial hygenists; home inspectors, building and facility managers; insurance agents and adjusters, school and government building administrators as well as real estate sellers, managers and developers. Local television news anchor and personality, Rusty Shoop will open the conference with two investigative reports. An industrial hygienist and a toxic mold expert will discuss toxins, testing and remediation from a scientific point of view. A corporate spokesman from State Farm Insurance will talk about mold and its implications on the insurance industry and the effect that litigation is having on policies.

Kevin Davis of the law firm, Callahan & Blaine will discuss his firm’s focus on construction defects, toxic torts and mold contamination as it relates to today’s litigious environment. Governmental regulatory agencies will be represented as well as remediation professionals. A final hour of Q&A with an expert panel will wrap up the day. A distributor of testing and remediation equipment will set up a display to allow attendees to examine the latest tools of the trade. The symposium will be held at the Beale Library Auditorium in Bakersfield, Calif., from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23. The registration fee before July 10 is $30, afterwards the fee will be $40. For more information, call 661/328-0320. —Louis Iannaco