Realty World - Investors Realty
     103 W. Tulare Ave.
     Visalia, California

KMJ 580 "Real Talk"
Mold Fears - Real or Scam?

Over the last several years more and more people have become concerned about mold in our environment.  Mold spores are always present in the valley air.  The question becomes when is it dangerous?  The state of California enacted legislation that took effect on January 1, 2002 that required all sellers of residential property to provide a disclosure about mold in homes.

Most real estate agents are complying with this disclosure by providing an updated handbook entitled "Environmental Hazard and Earthquake Guide".  This booklet consists of over 60 pages of information about household hazards, including mold, lead based paint and other environmental risks.

Several local builders have recently been made painfully aware of the mold issue by class action lawsuits filed against them for potential mold problems.  As homes have become "tighter" to meet current energy standards, it has become more difficult to prevent moisture from accumulating in unwanted places.

Stephen Carpenter, an expert on these issues will be our guest (see below for information on Dr. Carpenter) to answer your questions regarding mold and as always we can help you with your real estate questions and needs.  The numbers to call on Saturday are 490-5858 or 1-800-776-5858.

To contact Brad call at (559) 732-4444 or email blueeyes@realestate-visalia.com

Link to kmj580.com

Listen to "Real Talk" Saturdays Noon until One PM on KMJ 580 FM

Resume for Dr. Carpenter

Here is some information about myself: 

I have a Ph.D. in biology with specialty in mycology from the Graduate School of the City University of
New York, received while I was a Fellow of the New York Botanical Garden. While there I
participated on numerous NYBG expeditions to South America funded by the National Science
Foundation to collect and identify tropical molds and fungi. I also hold a Masters degree in Mycology
from Cornell and a BS in Botany & Plant Pathology from Oregon State University. 

From 1980-87 I was a Post-Doctoral researcher at Oregon State University, working on fungal
recovery and mold colonization of volcanic deposits at the Mt. St. Helens devastation zone. I also
worked on fungal colonization studies of old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest. 

I currently own and operate Abbey Lane Laboratory, which specializes in mold identification and
contamination control. We offer home mold test-kits and on-site analysis of mold contamination. 
Abbey Lane Laboratory has done work for the US Navy, Lockheed, USDA-Agricultural Research
Service, and numerous private individuals. Our laboratory was begun in 1984 to fill a much needed gap
that Universities do not serve. 

We can be contacted at our voicemail messaging service at:

 (541)-929-5984 

email microbe@pioneer.net

or web page 
www.pioneer.net/~microbe/abbeylab.html 
 
Sincerely, 

Steven E. Carpenter, Ph.D. 
Abbey Lane Laboratory