The National Organization of Remediators and Microbial Inspectors (NORMI™) has formed a new Medical Advisory Board, chaired by leading environmental illness expert Dr. Andrew Heyman, MD. This strategic initiative is designed to refine and strengthen remediation protocols, particularly for facilities serving individuals with mold sensitivities and other environmentally triggered health conditions.

For hotels, resorts, hospitals, and care facilities that host chemically sensitive or immunocompromised guests, the risk of mold exposure and indoor environmental contaminants is a growing liability. NORMI’s new Medical Advisory Board directly addresses this challenge by integrating medical insight into remediation practices. At the center of this initiative is NORMI’s Level Four Protocol, the foundation of the NORMI Certified Remediation for Sensitized Individuals (NCRSI™) credential.

This enhanced protocol equips certified professionals to effectively assess, sanitize, and remediate indoor environments for those suffering from:

• Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).
• Mold allergies and asthma.
• Fungal or respiratory infections.
• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
• Cognitive dysfunction and mycotoxicosis.

Under the leadership of Dr. Heyman—medical director of Integrative Medicine at The George Washington University—the advisory board also includes experts from integrative medicine, pharmacy, and neuropsychiatry, such as:

• Jim LaValle, RPh – clinical pharmacist at LaValle Metabolix
• Ray Solano, RPh – clinical pharmacist
• Dr. David Ross, MD – director at Virginia Institute of Neuropsychiatry
• Allison Remy, PA – physician assistant

“Too often, we treat patients with mold-related illness while they continue living or working in the very environments that are making them sick,” Dr. Heyman said. “This collaboration with NORMI represents a critical step forward in breaking that cycle and protecting vulnerable populations.”

Doug Hoffman, NORMI™ executive director, emphasized the significance for facility managers: “Facilities maintenance teams now have direct access to professionals certified to deal with the most complex mold issues.”

Through NORMI Pro Locator, property managers and owners can connect with trained experts who understand both the science of remediation and the needs of sensitized individuals.

To learn more about the NCRSI™ Assessment/Remediation Protocol or to locate a certified professional, click here.

The City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) has identified hazardous levels of lead contamination in multiple Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) buildings. These findings, uncovered through separate case investigations by MHD’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, in consultation with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, confirm lead hazards inside MPS buildings that exceed state safety standards.

However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has rejected a request from Milwaukee health officials for help with a lead poisoning investigation, after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. eliminated the agency’s response team amidst mass firings last week across multiple federal health agencies.

“I sincerely regret to inform you that due to the complete loss of our Lead Program, we will be unable to support you with this,” Aaron Bernstein, director of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, told city officials April 3 in an email obtained by CBS News.

On March 26, Milwaukee and Wisconsin’s state health departments formally had requested the CDC’s aid after the city’s schools were found to have “significant lead hazards.” The officials had asked the CDC to help develop a strategy to test and triage Milwaukee public school students for lead poisoning, along with assistance in providing outreach to the community.

Milwaukee’s health department remains committed to moving work forward and finding solutions locally, CNN reported.