Definition

Mold is a term used to designate a wide range of species of fungi, which are filamentous or yeast like organisms that, under the proper environmental conditions, will grow on the surface of organic material; producing a downy, powdery, or pasty, moist colony of growth.

Regulations/Guidelines

There are currently no Federal Regulations pertaining to mold or mold exposure.

The most current guidlines regarding mold remediation are published by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Clearing, and Restoration Certification) as S520 - Standard and Reference Guide for Molds Remediation.

Thermal comfort and ventilation standards are set by ASHREA-55 and ASHREA-62 respectively. These documents set standards for air flow and seasonal temperature and relative humidity.

Molds and Health Effects

The predominate concerns of indoor mold exposure are asthma and allergies. These issues are often the main cause for an investigation. The primary route of exposure related to theses concerns is airborne fungal spores and/or hyphal fragments.

Under certain conditions, numerous Molds are capable of producing potent mycotoxins. The most common route of mold exposure is ingestion. There have been insufficient studies related to exposure to and inhalation of mycotoxins to establish these pathways as a significant concern for non-immuno comromised adults.

Other Concerns

The primary controllable cause of mold contamination is excess moisture. Whether due to water infiltration, inadequate ventilation, or insulation related condensation, the environmental conditions necessary for mold growth can lead to structural in viability of many building materials, including drywall, wood, and depending on composition, plaster.

Sampling

Global Environmental Management is capable of performing numerous methods of sampling which will be applied based on your specific location, physical conditions, or concerns. Types of sampling include:

• Swab - Can be utilized for either viable or non-viable (direct microscopic examination) sampling on a suspected mold contaminated surface.
• Tape - Used to provide a "Mirror Image" of a suspected mold contaminated surface for DME analysis.
• Air Cassette - Used for DME and/or culture (viable) analysis of potential airborne fungal contamination.
• Agar Plates - Used to determine presence of viable airborne fungal contamination.
• Compact Plates - Used to determine the presence of viable fungal contamination on surfaces such as air duct interiors.

Investigations

Global Environmental Management will customize our mold investigation to address the specific issues related to your mold concerns. Through the application of indicated sampling methods and establishment of environmental conditions such as temperature relative humidity, moisture content, and air flow; we can compare the fungal ecology of your facility to what would be considered a normal fungal ecology for the type and location of the structure. Global Environmental Management will also seek to determine the underlying cause of your mold situation. Our results, interpretations, and recommendations will be presented in a concise, reader friendly final report.

Remediation

Global Environmental Management is able to refer you to several well qualified mold remediation contractors.