Marine, 27, required a lung transplant after contracting a serious lung infection after being exposed to mold in her rental property.
- Exposed to mold in her home, Marine developed hypersensitivity pneumonia.
- She had to have a lung transplant in February 2022.
- She is testifying today to raise awareness of the health risks of unsanitary housing.
Public Health France estimates that 14 to 20% of French housing has visible mold. Allergy, asthma, lung infection, these microorganisms can have significant repercussions on health. THE Marine’s testimony highlights these risks. The 27-year-old underwent a lung transplant after being exposed to mold in the accommodation she was renting.
Mold: she develops pneumoniahypersensitivity
In January 2020, Marine started having a high fever and shortness of breath. The examinations carried out reveal the presence of a fungus called Aspergillus in his lungs. The diagnosis is made: she suffers from hypersensitivity pneumonia.
The young woman explains to Figaro : “My pulmonologist knew that I did not work in construction or with birds, professions prone to this type of illness. He advised me to look at my home. I inspected the wall behind the headboard and it was contaminated with mold, moss and dripping.”
Tenant of social housing in the municipality of Rungisshe notices a crack in the exterior wall of the building, right near her room. Health professionals advise him to quickly leave this problematic apartment, because hypersensitivity pneumonia can develop into pulmonary fibrosis. A serious disorder that leads either to death or to a transplant.
Lung transplant: Marine still has health problems
His health is deteriorating. Doctors put him on the transplant waiting list in February 2022. Given his frequent blood type and small size, they tell him the wait could last two years. However, his breathing difficulties are getting worse. She is then placed on oxygen all day and classified as “super emergency”. After 3 weeks of waiting, she received a lung transplant on May 16, 2022. If the operation saved his life., eShe has after-effects: “today, I’m just walking again and it’s not a very confident gait. I fall a lot. I have major neuropathic problems, problems with my veins. My organs were very lacking in oxygen”she explains in a video of Konbini.
These attacks on other organs could also lead to her having to undergo a liver and kidney transplant.
Mold: she started legal proceedings
“A sample from my native lungs, following the lung transplant, confirmed the diagnosis, at a stage terminal”explains Marine. The patient therefore decided to file a complaint against her social landlord for “endangering the lives of others”. A medical assessment is currently being carried out. “Through expertise, we wish to establish a causal link between the mold and their state of health and assess the consequences on a personal, professional and autonomy level. Once the medical expertise has been issued, we will be able to refer the matter to the judge.”explains to Figaro the law firm Avi Bittonwhich represents the young woman.
Questioned by the daily, the social landlord assures that Marine was the only report in this 1969 residence. “It was not the entire accommodation that was moldy, but a place behind the headboard. She didn’t see him right away. We always react very quickly for the health of our tenants and to avoid damage to the property. accommodation”he explained.
Marine, who spoke in the media to warn the general public against the dangers of mold, confides “I have to have a weakened immune system to develop this disease – often, more people develop asthma in response to mold”. However, she adds: “but even having asthma because of your accommodation is not normal.”
