Healthy Indoors Magazine - USA Edition

20 | December 2021 Cover Story Continued from previous page hopes one of them might want to take this mis- sion on. Thankfully, State Represen tative Joe Miller and his staff answered the call. We're also grateful to have State Representative Allison Russo (PhD Public Health, George Washington University) as a Joint Spon- sor, as well as 13 other state representatives as co-spon- sors. The bill is currently being debated in the Ohio House Health Committee. I've been directly involved with the crafting and creation of HB 251, The Ohio Indoor Safe Air Act with State Representative Joe Miller, and his staff. We opted to focus this bill on transparency and knowledge, so we can empower Ohioans and their families with education and disclosures regarding their living environments. This is a good bill, it's a fair bill. We believe this legislation will be the important cornerstone to starting the conversation sur- rounding mold, water-damaged buildings, and indoor air quality in our State. Hopefully, HB 251 can be the flagship for other state legislative initiatives throughout the country. Throughout this legislative process, I've been consistently reminded of the fact that we all have an important voice in our representative democracy. I've learned the politi- cal process takes time and that there are many, many variables to navigate as you go through the process. But the system was arranged and intended that way, for thoughtful deliberation and compromise. The full video interview with Brandon Chappo will be posted on the Healthy Indoors Global Community. Sign up for free at https://global.healthyindoors.com/home. helpful as I've navigated my living environment since leaving the exposure home. I'm grateful for their care and expertise. Healthy Indoors: What are the top five things you'd look for in a future apartment or house now that you've had a mold experience? • Look at the vents for buildup of dust or mold • Check for water stains on the ceiling or any areas of bubbling drywall or paint in the home or unit you're walking through • Check the humidity levels to see if they're consistently below 60 percent relative humidity, preferably between 30-50 percent • Check the HVAC system and filter as well as under sinks for any signs of leaks or water-damage • Ask the property management or Realtor/seller for information on previous water-damage or signs of mold. This information is incredibly valuable for you before you sign a lease or purchase a home. Healthy Indoors: Why did you go the legislation route with your mold story? What have you learned from it? Did you have any input into Ohio HB 251? Chappo: After my diagnosis, I quickly found that tens of thou- sands of people belonged to support groups throughout social media who were experiencing the exact same physical symptoms from mold exposure. Mold-related illness and CIRS are so common. A history major in college, I immediately went about researching this issue to see if any legislation existed federally or in my state of Ohio to help protect the public. Much to my dismay, nothing existed in the Ohio Revised Code pertaining to mold. I know that successful legislation will go a long way in helping to correct the many issues surrounding indoor air quality and how it affects our public health. I decided to take my experience to the legislators in

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