Norman woman fights for toxic mold standards

October 14, 2002

Larkin works to raise awareness

10/13/02

Tom Blakey

After her apartment ceiling collapsed last June, exposing a wooden framework

covered in mold, Larkin began contacting state and federal agencies

seeking help.

" I called the state health department, the Occupational Safety and Health

Association, the Department of Labor, the Department of Environmental

Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency, " Larkin said. " Nobody was

willing to do anything; they each said there was nothing on their books to

address the problem. "

However, Larkin says, Norman City Code, Section 10-203, Health Nuisances,

states " anything adversely affecting the public health needs to be removed

at the owner's expense or abated. "

Larkin said she has a " box of research " showing mold poses a health risk,

with supportive documentation from the state health department, Centers for

Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

Larkin has asked the city's Environmental Control Advisory Board to justify

why the city code is not being enforced. " It's obviously a health problem

that needs to be addressed. They say the code doesn't cover it; I say it

doesn't exclude it, therefore it includes and encompasses it, " she said.

The ECAB meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Municipal

Building A Conference Room, 201 W. Gray St.

Larkin has asked Dr. Shaughnessy, an internationally recognized

expert in indoor air quality, from the University of Tulsa's Indoor Air

Program, to speak at the meeting, along with an attorney, Steve Jung, who

specializes in landlord tenant issues.

Larkin considers the collapse of her apartment ceiling " a blessing in

disguise. "

" My daughter was born March 15. She began getting sick the day we came home

from the hospital, with respiratory problems and diarrhea. We weren't able

to go to the family Easter picnic, and the next day she was hospitalized

with respiratory arrest, " Larkin said.

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