Mold Assessment Remediation
Mold Assessment (FL) -answer A process performed by a mold assessor that includes
the physical sampling and detailed evaluation of data obtained from a building history and
inspection to formulate an initial hypothesis about the origin, identity, location and extent of
amplification of mold growth greater than 10 square feet.
Mold Remediation (FL) -answer The removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition or other
treatment, including preventative activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter greater than
10 square feet that was not purposely grown at that location.
Mold Assessment (NY) -answer An inspection or assessment of real property that is
designed to discover mold, conditions that facilitate mold, indicia of conditions that are likely to
facilitate mold or any combination thereof.
Mold Remediation (NY) -answer Conducting the business of removal, cleaning,
sanitizing, or surface disinfection of mold, mold containment, and waste handling of mold and
materials used to remove mold from surfaces by a business enterprise, including but not limited
to, sole proprietorships. Mold remediation for the purposes of this article shall not include
remediation of the underlying sources of moisture that may be the cause of mold that requires
expertise not specific to acts authorized under this article.
Project (NY) -answer Means mold remediation, mold assessment or mold abatement
of areas greater than ten square feet, but does not include (a) routine cleaning or (b)
construction, maintenance, repairs or demolition of buildings, structures or fixtures undertaken
for purposes other than mold remediation or abatement.
Sanitization -answer Reduction of the microbial population on an inanimate object to
levels judged safe by public health standards; usually, the object is cleaned with an
antimicrobial.
,Remediation -answer The act of removing damaged construction materials when said
materials are irretrievable or nonsalvageable. Such remediation should be done with precaution
due to health concerns for the occupants and the contractor who is doing the work.
What is Mold? -answer Molds are fungi which may grow on environmental surfaces,
in porous materials, on/or within living organisms and in decaying organic matter.
The Kingdoms -answer 1. Animals
2. Plants
3. Protozoa
4. Fungi
5. Bacteria
6. Viruses
Fungi -answer Mold is a particular type of fungus.
Fungi are a distinct and unique group of organisms that are classified into an individual
kingdom.
Most Common Indoor Fungi -answer • Aspergillus
• Cladosporium
• Penicillium
• Asper/Pen
When Molds Grow -answer Most fungi are composed of microscopic filaments called
HYPHAE , which branch to eventually form a network of hyphae, called a MYCELIUM (colony).
The mycelium extends over or through whatever substrate the fungus is using as a source of
food.
,Digestive Systems of Molds -answer Fungi secrete digestive fluids that decompose the
substrate, making nutrients available.
When the environmental conditions are right, molds/fungi have all the food they need to grow
and colonize.
Toxic By-Products (Mycotoxins) -answer • Large group of toxins produced by some
fungi, located on or in the spores.
• Toxins can be cancer causing and suppress the immune system.
• "Secondary Metabolites" of mold growth are, essentially, the by-products of mold growth.
Toxic Molds -answer Stachybotrys Chartarum primary.
Just because it's black doesn't mean it's Stachybotrys
Isolated primarily from water damaged building materials and cellulose contents (discard)
Mycotoxin producer, toxic to many
Requires an ongoing water source.
Secondary metabolite of this is Trichothecene, a mycotoxin. (Some other obscure molds
produce this same bi-product.) Other water damage-related molds may be toxic including
Fusarium, Chaetomium, Trichoderma and Memnoniella.
Additional molds found to have toxins include Aspergillus and Penicillium, Cladosporium and
more. Mycotoxins are not always produced.
What are VOCs? -answer VOCs are invisible gases that are emitted from solids and
liquids found in the home, such as building materials, cooking sources, gasoline and fuel, air
fresheners, paints/varnishes, drycleaning, laser printers, carpeting, adhesives, cleaning
solutions, and many other sources. These chemicals can build up in houses, especially in the
winter and summer months when homes are generally closed up. Repeated exposure to VOCs
can cause blurred vision, headaches, nausea, dizziness, coughing, lethargy, burning eyes,
respiratory irritation, skin rashes, reduced lung function, respiratory illness, concentration
difficulties, depression, and, in extreme cases, loss of consciousness and suffocation. Higher
, exposure can lead to liver damage, kidney and central nervous system irregularities. Some VOCs
can cause cancer.
What are MVOCs? -answer MVOCs are gases (chemicals) produced by actively
growing mold. Just as humans expire gases, so do molds. These chemicals can be monitored to
determine the level of actively growing mold in the house. A Home Air Check measurement is
an excellent way to determine the level of mold growing in a house - even behind walls. This is
possible because Home Air Check is a chemical analysis of the air, and chemicals move more
freely through a house than mold spores (particulates) which can be trapped by walls and
thereby go undetected. When mold levels are elevated and there is chronic exposure in the
home, some individuals can experience negative health effects, or worsening of existing
illnesses, that could run the gamut from mild to serious. These health effects could include
allergies, skin irritations, asthma, respiratory infection, and toxic poisoning. In addition,
individuals with suppressed immune systems may be particularly vulnerable to illnesses caused
by mold contamination.
Volatile Organic Compounds - VOC -answer Chemicals that easily evaporate into the
air
Some VOC's have industrial origins, e.g. housekeeping products but sourcing is often difficult
because these come from most building components and many contents in a home or building.
Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds - mVOC -answer Produced during fungal
growth as a waste by-product so they elevate primarily when a mold is in an active state.
Their production is dependent on the substrate and environmental conditions and are easily
detected even when no visible mold is present.
Conditions Needed for Mold Growth -answer Temperature (ideal - 40°F to 100°F)
Moisture (ideal - H2O or RH <%40-60%>)
Nutrient base (ideal - less organics)
Mold Assessment (FL) -answer A process performed by a mold assessor that includes
the physical sampling and detailed evaluation of data obtained from a building history and
inspection to formulate an initial hypothesis about the origin, identity, location and extent of
amplification of mold growth greater than 10 square feet.
Mold Remediation (FL) -answer The removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition or other
treatment, including preventative activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter greater than
10 square feet that was not purposely grown at that location.
Mold Assessment (NY) -answer An inspection or assessment of real property that is
designed to discover mold, conditions that facilitate mold, indicia of conditions that are likely to
facilitate mold or any combination thereof.
Mold Remediation (NY) -answer Conducting the business of removal, cleaning,
sanitizing, or surface disinfection of mold, mold containment, and waste handling of mold and
materials used to remove mold from surfaces by a business enterprise, including but not limited
to, sole proprietorships. Mold remediation for the purposes of this article shall not include
remediation of the underlying sources of moisture that may be the cause of mold that requires
expertise not specific to acts authorized under this article.
Project (NY) -answer Means mold remediation, mold assessment or mold abatement
of areas greater than ten square feet, but does not include (a) routine cleaning or (b)
construction, maintenance, repairs or demolition of buildings, structures or fixtures undertaken
for purposes other than mold remediation or abatement.
Sanitization -answer Reduction of the microbial population on an inanimate object to
levels judged safe by public health standards; usually, the object is cleaned with an
antimicrobial.
,Remediation -answer The act of removing damaged construction materials when said
materials are irretrievable or nonsalvageable. Such remediation should be done with precaution
due to health concerns for the occupants and the contractor who is doing the work.
What is Mold? -answer Molds are fungi which may grow on environmental surfaces,
in porous materials, on/or within living organisms and in decaying organic matter.
The Kingdoms -answer 1. Animals
2. Plants
3. Protozoa
4. Fungi
5. Bacteria
6. Viruses
Fungi -answer Mold is a particular type of fungus.
Fungi are a distinct and unique group of organisms that are classified into an individual
kingdom.
Most Common Indoor Fungi -answer • Aspergillus
• Cladosporium
• Penicillium
• Asper/Pen
When Molds Grow -answer Most fungi are composed of microscopic filaments called
HYPHAE , which branch to eventually form a network of hyphae, called a MYCELIUM (colony).
The mycelium extends over or through whatever substrate the fungus is using as a source of
food.
,Digestive Systems of Molds -answer Fungi secrete digestive fluids that decompose the
substrate, making nutrients available.
When the environmental conditions are right, molds/fungi have all the food they need to grow
and colonize.
Toxic By-Products (Mycotoxins) -answer • Large group of toxins produced by some
fungi, located on or in the spores.
• Toxins can be cancer causing and suppress the immune system.
• "Secondary Metabolites" of mold growth are, essentially, the by-products of mold growth.
Toxic Molds -answer Stachybotrys Chartarum primary.
Just because it's black doesn't mean it's Stachybotrys
Isolated primarily from water damaged building materials and cellulose contents (discard)
Mycotoxin producer, toxic to many
Requires an ongoing water source.
Secondary metabolite of this is Trichothecene, a mycotoxin. (Some other obscure molds
produce this same bi-product.) Other water damage-related molds may be toxic including
Fusarium, Chaetomium, Trichoderma and Memnoniella.
Additional molds found to have toxins include Aspergillus and Penicillium, Cladosporium and
more. Mycotoxins are not always produced.
What are VOCs? -answer VOCs are invisible gases that are emitted from solids and
liquids found in the home, such as building materials, cooking sources, gasoline and fuel, air
fresheners, paints/varnishes, drycleaning, laser printers, carpeting, adhesives, cleaning
solutions, and many other sources. These chemicals can build up in houses, especially in the
winter and summer months when homes are generally closed up. Repeated exposure to VOCs
can cause blurred vision, headaches, nausea, dizziness, coughing, lethargy, burning eyes,
respiratory irritation, skin rashes, reduced lung function, respiratory illness, concentration
difficulties, depression, and, in extreme cases, loss of consciousness and suffocation. Higher
, exposure can lead to liver damage, kidney and central nervous system irregularities. Some VOCs
can cause cancer.
What are MVOCs? -answer MVOCs are gases (chemicals) produced by actively
growing mold. Just as humans expire gases, so do molds. These chemicals can be monitored to
determine the level of actively growing mold in the house. A Home Air Check measurement is
an excellent way to determine the level of mold growing in a house - even behind walls. This is
possible because Home Air Check is a chemical analysis of the air, and chemicals move more
freely through a house than mold spores (particulates) which can be trapped by walls and
thereby go undetected. When mold levels are elevated and there is chronic exposure in the
home, some individuals can experience negative health effects, or worsening of existing
illnesses, that could run the gamut from mild to serious. These health effects could include
allergies, skin irritations, asthma, respiratory infection, and toxic poisoning. In addition,
individuals with suppressed immune systems may be particularly vulnerable to illnesses caused
by mold contamination.
Volatile Organic Compounds - VOC -answer Chemicals that easily evaporate into the
air
Some VOC's have industrial origins, e.g. housekeeping products but sourcing is often difficult
because these come from most building components and many contents in a home or building.
Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds - mVOC -answer Produced during fungal
growth as a waste by-product so they elevate primarily when a mold is in an active state.
Their production is dependent on the substrate and environmental conditions and are easily
detected even when no visible mold is present.
Conditions Needed for Mold Growth -answer Temperature (ideal - 40°F to 100°F)
Moisture (ideal - H2O or RH <%40-60%>)
Nutrient base (ideal - less organics)
