MANVILLE: Flooding led to his illness, resident tells council

Mold spores take his breath, he says

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   Longtime Lost Valley resident Bob Kaminski has been affected by Hurricane Irene just like many others in Manville. Not only has Mr. Kaminski faced the flooding in his home, but now is facing a disease he feels is coming with it.
   Mr. Kaminski has lived on Liberty Street for many years and had been through major flooding many times. He is constantly talking with residents and at the Borough Council meetings trying to get help. Mr. Kaminski had a part in the flood study and has been trying for years to have something done.
   On Monday night at the Borough Council meeting, Mr. Kaminski told mayor and council he’s feeling the effects physically, too.
   After Hurricane Floyd in 1999, he was diagnosed with mold spores in his lungs, he said. He was doing a lot of international traveling with the disaster team of AT&T, going to help with mudslides in Mexico and hurricanes in the Caribbean.
   He removed four prescription medicine bottles and two inhalers from his pockets, and slammed them on the table in front of the council.
   Visibly shaken, Mr. Kaminski said his doctor strongly believes he has mold spores in his lungs again.
   ”I am once again being treated for mold spores. I am going for a bronchoscopy. I am going into an oxygen tent,” he said.
   There was complete silence in the room and Mr. Kaminski had everyone’s full attention.
   Mr. Kaminski told the council his next step is to go to an environmental doctor, if needed.
   ”It will all depend what that bronchoscopy shows,” he said. “No one is going to be happy if that comes out positive. I cannot live in my area, period. I have been here every month asking something be done for these homes.”
Mr. Kaminski said he was down to 78% of capacity and should be on a breather. He said in August, he was running a soccer ball field. Currently Mr. Kaminski can’t even go up and down steps with having trouble.
   ”I hope I made this extremely as clear as possible,” he said. “Mold spore is an airborne disease. There are so many pumps down there it is almost on the verge of pestilence. If these homes are in foreclosure, it is the bank who is the owner.”
   ”I can’t live in the valley anymore with this. It can’t go on. This has become an environmental time bomb that is starting to explode,” said Mr. Kaminski.