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The Brussels Post, 1981-08-26, Page 4groans were emitted from the audience as they learned what they are up against. Following the meeting, during which many horror stores were told about indi- vidual situations with the foam, many in attendance swarmed around the treasur- er's table offering a donation of at least $5. Mr. Turnbull explained the money would be used for phone calls, sending letters -and other costs incurred. He stated a financial report would be presented at a future meeting. There. were a number of items requiring the signatur- es of those supporting HUF- HUFFI.. First, a petition used by the Toronto group was signed which will in turn be presented to the govern- ment. The Perth group com- piled a list of signatures which will be used as a members' list. At the beginning of the meeting, it was mentioned that both MP Bill Jarvis and MPP Hugh Edighoffer are supporting the organization. Both men have provided the group with literature, both men had prior commitments and could not attend. impressive array of speakers. Bill Bremner of Downsview is a director with the provin- dal organization of HUFFI. Harold B. Stevens, a chemi- cal analyst for HUFFI and. Ace Wilcey of Kitchener HUFFI were also present. Advocating that the home- owner who has to remove UFFI from their honie should not have to pay for the expense, Mr. Bremner des- cribed HUFFI as a pressure group. Mr. Bremner said he did- n't like the "alarmist" state- ment made by the National Research Council that whe- ther or not a home was tested today, a week from today or a year from now, somewhere along the line there will be a problem with the foam. No homes in Perth County to date have been tested for gas emissions, Statments like that, Mr. Bremner said, just reduce the property value. Mr. Turnbull later said that the group could talk all night about the medical problems, but the main issue is houses can't be sold. "There is a stigma attach- ed to the house," said Mr. Turnbull. Mr. Bremner warned against tearing a house apart to remove the foam, because if it is not done properly, traces of the foam would remain. Besides the health issue, which affects some and not others,. Mr. Bremner said wood can rot from the 'foammortar can crumble ef)Schneider Blue Ribbon Bologna Schneiders Octoberfest Sausage lb 1.69 1 lb. pkg. 1.89 Boneless Dinner 'Hamby Breaded F I S h Portions the piece ,b 2.19 ib.1 99 „„ussels. Meat Matke Thornpson's 887-6294 POOL SALE! August 28- September 12 • 3POOL0miv inyll. T nNe rC. L1 4U gauge gal, steel walls •Bullnose coping •Return fittings • Main drain •Sand filter with pump "Vacuum kit •Main- tenance kit *6' diving board 63 step ladder 'Installation includes concrete and pool pad bottom 'skimmer' pool kits and all inv en!. 61 0 0/ 0 tory including patio . fur- off niture, games, chemicals and accessories. Beat inflation! Order now for fall installation. • 234,.MainSt.J1001S;400(011i,.. 527-0104 A4 - THE BRUSSELS. AUGUST 26, 1981. Resale value worript, foam users EY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE In a show of hands, approximately 200 people voted Robert Ostler as the chairman of the Perth County Homeowners with Urea. For- maldehyde Foam Insulation organization (HUFFI). From St. Marys, Mr. Ost- ler has been the driving force in initiating a Perth County group. Mr. Ostler was elect- ed at a meeting, attended by persons from across the county and some from Huron County. Other executive elected include Robert Turnbull as vice-chairman, Phil Brown as treasurer and Jean Paul as, secretary. All are from Strat- ford. The local men organizing the meeting brought in an Residents of Perth County had the opportunity to register as members of the Perth County Homeowners with Urea Form- aldehyde Foam Insulation organization Mon- day. Robert Ostler of St. Marys started the meetings. after discovering his house was insulated with the urea formaldehyde foam insultation (UFFI) What started as a meeting for citizens in St. Marys snowballed into a county-wide concern. "I felt the people of St. Marys weren't aware of the trouble (with the foam)," said Mr. Ostler. Mr. Ostler attended meetings in London where Health and Welfare Canada presented advisory information on UFFI. Mr. Ostler called these findings "hideous". The federal government placed a perman- ent ban on UFFI this spring. Mr. Ostler said the homeowner organiza- tions (HUFFI) sprouting up across Canada aren't meant to get anybody. They would like to see the federal government provide financial assistance for removing the banned foam from Canadian homes. A conservative figure of homes affected in Canada is 100,000, according to Mr. Ostler. He said the government already provides financial aid for those affected by national disasters such as flooding. "This is a quiet, insidious thing," Mr. Ostler said of the UFFI. He couldn't say what the effects of the UFFI are, but said there have been reports of respiratory problems and nausea. "It's a non-stable product," said Mr. Ostler, Another problem is the resale value of the houses affected. Mr. Ostler said he has heard a real estate board around London wouldn't list houses insulated with the urea formalde- hyde foam. ' "We (HUFFI) have lost the ability of turning our assets (house) into cash," said Mr. Ostler. Mr. Ostler said the history of the problem product began in the United States and Europe during the mid-fifties. It was first used in Canada in 1969, after being approved by the Canadian Mortgage' and Housing Corporation (CMHC). In 1970, CMHC found UFFI unacceptable because it shrank. But in 1977, the CMHC re-accepted UFFI as a safe product. The problem of shrinkage was apparently solved. Also in 1977, the Canadian Home Improve- ment Program (CHIP) approved urea formaldehyde foam. In 1978, Dr. R. Viau. Consumer and Corporate Affairs chemical director, warned against its use. In 1979, testing with rats showed a link to cancer with a low emission of gas from UFFI. An acceptable level is .05 parts per million. Some homes have a level of 2.6 part's per million. In November of 1979, the television program Marketplace 'raised concerns on UFFI. In the same month, the state of Massachusetts banned the sale of UFFI and ordered it removed from public. buildings. During 1980, many developments took place. Saskatchewan investigated the prob- lem, the United States issued warnings on the product, and Health and Welfare Canada set. up a special committee. In November, the U.S. Consumer Products Corporation reported cancer links were a threat to human. On Dec. 17 Health and Welfare Canada put a temporary ban on UFFI. On April 23 of this year, following a final report from the committee set up, by Health and Welfare Canada, UFFI is permanently banned in Canada. Mr. Ostler aid HUFFI believes health tests should be conducted in all homes with UFFI. He also says proper equipment should be used. In answer to a question, Mr. Ostler said not all foam insulation is urea formaldehyde foam insulation. He said he has not heard anthing from companies that install insulation. Mr. Ostler said HUFFI is going through the proper channels to solve the problem. He added "squeaking wheels" get oiled faster than a wheel that makes no noise. "I'm optimistic," said Mr. Ostler. and electrical wiring can be damaged. Emphasizing the need for action, Mr. Ostler said he was "sold down the river" by a government he trusted. "I'm angry, . . :this is a serious situation," said Mr. Ostler. He said the sooner the issue is put to the govern- ment the better it would be. To his words, "we need action" the crowd in atten- dance applauded. There was applause throughout the evening, when speakers gave their thoughts on what to do, but With th. e federal ban on urea formalde- hyde foam insulation homeowners have already begun to rip the material out of their homes. Before everyone gets on the band wagon a word of caution from Ed Harrison, Director of Public Health Ins •pection in Huron County. He recommends that no one panic and that test results should be available in the near future for homeowners tb base decisions on. Both federal and provincial governments are making inquires and holding review boards to determine the toxicity of the material and, if there is a problem, where that leaves homeowners who've used the insula- tion. The ministry of health is now conducting a board of review in Toronto until mid-Septem- ber. Both industry and government will be presenting material. The ministry supplied forms to the local health units to be filled out and returned. As a result, some testing has been done by- the government in homes near the Toronto area. Mr. Harrison pointed out that no results have been published yet. Huron county homeowners have filled out over 40 forms which have been sent in to the minist :ry and Mr. Harrison had several more on his desk to be sent in. Basic information on health background and length of time the 'insulation has been installed and by whom is being recorded. "The main thing to remember is not to panic" stressed Mr. Harrison. "If it is decided that it is definitely a health hazard there will be a set of guidelines. Homeowners tearing out the material now without these guidelines may be risking their compensation if there is any.awarded." Several firms in Southwestern Ontario have set up programs where, for a fee, they will test a 'home for the presence of formaldehyde gas. According to press releases from these firms,.formaldehyde gas is released in;small, amounts from even relatively stable instills- , tion of the product. The Federal governm initially conside :red 0.1 ppm (parts million) as the maximum level to which home occupants could be exposed without harmful effects to health. The 0.1 ppm limit is now considered high and no definite threshold limit has been set by the government. Standards set in other countries, including the Soviet Union, .go as low as 0.01 ppm. Perth owners organize Foam insulation in your house? Call the Huron health unit his De sel int th Sa Br a Br hot we Dr Bil $1 en Iv we an of M