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This article describes five simple "rules of thumb" that can help you decide when a mold problem in a building merits hiring a professional to investigate or clean up mold or other allergens.

A mold professional may have some neat gadgets to find or test for mold, but a real expert knows that a thorough building inspection and an understanding of how buildings work and where they leak, as well as an understanding of mold itself, are critical in finding hidden mold problems and in specifying the cleanup work needed.

We emphasize that for small areas of mold contamination, generally where less than 30 square feet of contiguous mold is present, simple building cleaning and renovation procedures are all that's needed and testing is usually not appropriate. Most building mold contamination falls in this first category. At DO IT YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP we provide suggestions for a do-it-yourself cleanup of small areas of mold. At MOLD TEST REASONS we discuss when it is appropriate to test for mold.

These guidelines aid in protecting the building occupants not only from potential health concerns but also from inappropriate expenses. This document provides information about how to decide when to hire a professional to investigate for the presence of allergenic and toxic mold in residential or office buildings. Home buyers or home owners who are concerned about mold and who are considering a mold "test" should read the following articles with care:

BUYERS GUIDE - home inspections for mold
MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE - this article - continue reading below
MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD
MOLD TEST REASONS
MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY
MOLD "TESTING" vs. MOLD "PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION"
MOLD TESTING SERVICES lists mold testing professionals.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE

Also see the Mold Action Guide and Online Directory of Home Inspectors. Special thank you to Mark Cramer for assisting in clarifying this text.

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WHEN TO HIRE A MOLD TESTING PROFESSIONAL - Five Rules of Thumb for Deciding When to Hire a Professional to Inspect for Mold & Prepare a Mold Remediation Plan The purpose of this article is to help readers decide when it is appropriate to perform mold inspection and testing on a building. We want to know how and when mold testing is appropriate, and we want to avoid spending money on mold testing when it is not necessary. Also we want to avoid spending money on unreliable mold "tests" and inspections that do not validly support any conclusion about the building. Our moldy home photograph (above, left) shows a cup fungus growing along the wall/floor baseboard trim in a home that had suffered a prolonged plumbing leak. The visible fungal growth is quite obvious. What is less obvious, and what will require an expert inspection, is the extent of mold cleanup needed in the building, possibly including hidden mold in wall and ceiling cavities. To be effective and to produce advice which is based on more than a wild guess, building investigations for mold, allergens, gases, or other indoor air quality concerns must take a broad approach to site and building examination for probable sources of moisture, bioaerosols, toxic/allergenic mold, or other allergens. In order to have some confidence that we understand the building, how it works, where the risks and problems lie, we examine at the entire structure, inside and out, and its mechanical systems are examined as well. Partial inspections, like partial remediation, risk the cost of having to repeat the process if it was not proper and complete the first time. In the photo above, though not much mold is visible on the drywall, the presence of fungal fruiting bodies or "mushrooms" growing indoors at the wall baseboard trim tells us that this building was very wet for some time - professional inspection is needed to define the location and extent of moldy material removal and cleaning.

If your ONLY concern is the identity of the mold you've already seen, and if you are confident that there is not a possible problem elsewhere on the property, you could simply send a mold sample to our lab (or to any mold lab) for determination. Instructions for an inexpensive and easy way to test mold or to screen settled dust for mold are at http://InspectAPedia.com/sickhouse/bulksamp.htm

Here are five reasons to consider a more extensive on-site investigation for toxic or allergenic mold:

1. People in the building are at particular health risk: elderly, infant, immune-impaired, asthmatic, history of respiratory illness or other medical complaints which might be caused by or aggravated by mold, allergens, or other bioaerosols
2. People in the building are sick and there is reason to suspect that the building is causing or contributing to health, air quality, or similar concerns. You need a building or apartment evaluation and diagnosis to answer the question that may be posed by your doctor: might the building be contributing to or causing these complaints?
3. The building has or is suspected of having had a history of significant leak events or even a single event which flooded some areas: plumbing leaks, roof leaks, ice dam leaks, basement water entry, sewer backup, ventilation problems, air conditioning system problems; forced-air central heating/cooling concerns. If hidden building cavities have been wet, the mold you see may be just the tip of a "mold iceberg" that does need an expert to find the extent of mold, cause of mold, and to remove the mold.
   
4. Large areas of water damage or mold contamination have been seen and you need an estimate of the extent of demolition and mold remediation which will be needed to make a proper cleanup and repair.
   
   Small mold problems: If you are confident that the amount of mold is less than 30 sq. ft. of contiguous mold (and that there is no significant risk of a larger hidden mold problem) then the NY City mold remediation guidelines suggest that professional remediation is not appropriate. You do not need to hire someone other than perhaps a handyman or general cleaning service. BEWARE: if during cleanup of a small mold problem you discover that it is actually a large one, stop work and bring in a professional to advise you on how to proceed.
   
   Large mold problems: If more than 30 sq. ft. of mold-infected material is found or is already visible, then you need professional advice as more serious health risks and mold contamination may be involved.
5. Contractors have already bid a variety of expensive mold-cleanup approaches to building cleanup/remediation and you need an unbiased, informed professional to help sort out these proposals

Should You Clean Mold in Advance if You ARE Going to Hire a Mold Expert

If you are thinking of hiring a professional to inspect, diagnose, and test your building for mold or other problems we prefer that you do NOT conduct a "do it yourself" cleanup ahead of time. Cleaning up the mold that you see does not preclude an expert's ability to find areas of suspicion or even to find mold, but

1. Cleaning up the mold you see may remove some easy-to-identify materials that are useful to compare with what we find in other screening measurements find in the building - that is, it's useful to know some apparent sources of particles that we may later find in screening samples in the building.
2. Contamination risk: Cleaning up a large area of mold risks cross-contamination of other areas in the building
3. Illness risk: Doing a large mold cleanup without taking proper precautions could make someone sick

Want more mold guidance? See THE MOLD ACTION GUIDE

Can You Clean Up Small Areas of Mold Yourself?

If you're not able or interested in hiring a mold professional, and/or especially if the total known moldy area is small

1. Remove small mold areas yourself: For small areas of mold, it's appropriate to just remove it - if you are sensitive, fragile, or sick, have someone else do the work.
2. Collect and hold on to some samples. If you're going to proceed anyway, try collecting some tape samples of what you see. Instead of sending these samples off to a lab, just keep the samples, but prepare them by following the sample collection instructions at Six Easy Steps to Get and Mail a Mold Test Kit - you can always save them to give to an investigator later if it becomes necessary to investigate further
3. If you stumble onto a large area of mold during your cleanup (more than 30 sq ft) you should stop and consult an expert

Want to clean up your own mold? See DO IT YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Take Care in Hiring Mold Contractors: Avoid Conflicts of Interests

How to avoid conflicts of interest during a mold remediation project: the person who evaluates your property to tell you what (possibly costly) cleanup work is needed certainly should not be the same person who is going to perform that work. Similarly, after a mold cleanup has been completed, the person who inspects and tests to certify that the work has been done properly should have no connection with the company who performed the cleaning. In the photo the author is examining a very moldy basement. He will find the extent of cleanup needed, perform appropriate testing in this and other building areas, and will assist the homeowner in evaluating the results of the cleaning effort. But it would be unethical and a conflict of interest for the investigator who is going to specify what mold remediation cleanup work is needed in a building to also offer to perform the cleanup work itself.

U. Minnesota general rules of thumb for deciding when to inspect for mold

[Edited and annotated by Daniel Friedman.]

IF these conditions are present in a building being evaluated for mold contamination risk

• Fungal spore count or visual presence indicators are high (air or bulk) [DF comment: BEWARE: while a high indoor spore count probably does indicate a problem, a low indoor airborne mold count is not a reliable clean bill of health for a building. See ACCURACY OF AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNTS.]
• Fungi indoors are different from outdoors or non-complaint control areas.
• Fungi are allergenic or toxic
• The area is likely to be disturbed
• There is or was a source of water or high relative humidity, AND
• People are occupying the area or have contact with air from this area
• There are immune compromised individuals or individuals with elevated sensitivity to molds
  [DF Comment: we add other examples of people at special risk: elderly, infant, asthmatic, COPD sufferers]

THEN mold may be a problem in the building. -- N. Carlson, U. Minnesota [Comments added by DF]

FAQs about how to decide if a mold inspection and testing are needed, justified, appropriate at a building

Question: mold in rental property vents - what tests would be appropriate? Can I use a mold spray to cure a mold problem?

Daniel, I hired a 'professional' vent cleaning service to clean a rental home's ducts yesterday, against my better judgment, but to appease a difficult tenant. As expected, they tried to 'upsell' the job, INCLUDING 'testing for mold', stating there were a few spots in vents that looked like mold. Upper level of home tested negative, Lower level tested positive. I've been told by a licensed HVAC contractor that it's common for a little mold to be present in many areas of a home, but highly unlikely for this to be problematic, given that we live in Albuquerque NM: high desert. The home is cooled by an evaporative cooler (vs refrigerated air).

Can you recommend how to best test this alleged mold? Also, when I was able to get the Vent Cleaner alone & 'thank' him for alarming the tenant w/ his mold comments, he stated that some simple, over the counter sprays from Lowe's or Home Depot could probably fix the problem (vs me paying him another $160 to do so) - L.W.

Reply: If there is no mold problem testing is not appropriate; if there is a mold problem, sprays alone are not a recommended "mold cure"

A competent onsite inspection by an expert, a real one, not an HVAC company trying to sell more duct cleaning services, can often finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem, or that indicate that there is no evidence of a larger mold reservoir that justifies costly cleaning.

That said, it's true that often we find small patches of mold in HVAC systems and that an expert can find at least some mold in just about any building. Often a small Cladosporium colony is seen on HVAC ductwork just downstream from the blower fan in the ductwork. While Cladosporium sp. (the largest group of molds) contains some members that can be harmful to people, small immobile colonies of even a square foot or two are unlikely to be detectable in the building air.

Watch out: if the conditions that produced mold growth that you see anywhere in the building have also produced a larger but less obvious mold colony, say more than 30 sq.ft., and say of highly-mobile problem molds such as Aspergillus sp., the little, probably harmless mold you saw may not be the issue but it might be a pointer to a less obvious problem.

The article above is intended to help decide if an expert inspection and tests for mold are really justified and appropriate at a property. If the rules of thumb we describe above all fail to indicate that further inspection and testing are needed then it's unlikely that it is appropriate nor cost justified to perform more mold testing at your building as well.

The comment by your hvac guy recommending a mold cure by applying sprays suggests to me that the person is not properly informed about mold.

Mold Sprays Alone are not a "Cure-all" for Indoor Mold Troubles

Sprays alone are not a "mold cure" and in some cases can even be a health problem themselves. There is a place for sealants and disinfectants but not as a "mold cure" see MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS.

Find and Fix the Cause of Indoor Mold Growth

And furthermore, if there really were a mold problem, in the ductwork or elsewhere in the building, finding and fixing the cause of the mold growth is an essential part of a mold remediation plan. Otherwise the time, trouble, and money spent on the "mold cleanup" is simply wasted when the mold-growing conditions remain and a problem returns at the same spot or others in the building.

Amateur "mold inspections" can be Risky - do nothing or do it right?

If legal or health complaints justify a check of the building for mold, I would be certain it's performed by an expert. You don't want to be in the position of asserting that there is "no problem" if in fact there is one, since someone could get sick and you could bear liability for it.

On the other hand, as we discuss in MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE the article above, in the absence of good reason, a thorough inspection and testing for mold are not justified, and superficial tests (air tests, cultures, etc.) used alone, without an accompanying careful inspection would be unreliable.

Question: Moldy Rental Apartment Ceiling - Is this Serious? Do I need a Mold Expert?

I was hoping to get some quick advice from you regarding my mold problem, and the sooner the better.

I feel as though my management and landlord are pressuring me to just do a paint job and don't want to admit there is mold because of their liability and costs, and I don't know that I can trust expert advice if I call in mold specialists (as you articulate in your amazing guide to mold). I also do not have the money to call in experts and seek advice, as I am currently a student and in a great deal of debt.

I understand that you cannot give me exact advice based on a photograph, but I am at least hoping that you can just give me an opinion as to whether I should call in an expert for the problem.

I live on the 10th floor of a fairly nice apartment complex, and this mold has appeared in my bedroom. The room is not ventilated with open windows, but it has the sole convector that is both the AC and heat in my building. It appears like it originated from upstairs, or for the convector (which is just under the visible window in the picture). The mold grew rather quickly and spread fast, and I believe it may be irritating my mild asthma. I live in Washington DC, which is a very humid place.

My concern is this: I do not want to have to rip out walls as I am in the middle of a school semester and that would not be ideal since I would have to relocate; meanwhile, I don't want to bleach and paint over it, only to have this problem arise again. I understand that you may not be able to give me expert advice through a simple photo, but in case you can tell me whether this problem looks serious or not, I thought to email. Because of my asthma, I understand that you may be obliged to recommend an expert, but if that was not a concern and a paint job will suffice, that would be ideal for my school work.

I know this may be unreasonable, but I am hoping you can get back to me tomorrow as my landlord is coming to see the unit and I want to be able to make a good argument and uphold my right to have a livable apartment. However, your advice would be much appreciated whenever you can give it, whether tomorrow or weeks or months from now.

Thank you so very much, and more specifically, thank you for your guide - it was the most helpful thing on the internet! - S.M., D.C.

Reply: A Paint-over of an extensively mold-contaminated ceiling is out of the question. Professional mold inspection and a remediation plan are most likely needed in this case

My opinions below are based on your email, your photograph, and my own field and lab experience in building mold contamination diagnosis and remediation. Naturally a competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem and that would permit recommending the proper steps to correct these conditions. That said, here are some things to consider:

Basis for Opinion that Professional Mold Inspection & Cleanup are Needed

Extent of Visible Mold:

Your photo shows heavy black material on a ceiling that from your description sounds and looks as if it is almost certainly mold. It would be unusual for only one mold genera/species to be present under these conditions, so it would be an error to assume that the black mold you see is the only mold there nor even that it is the largest mold reservoir nor that the black mold is the most harmful mold present.

For example, if the mold growth was caused by leaks into the ceiling cavity from above, there could be a larger reservoir of mold in that space.

The mold growth pattern suggests that it is following a previous paint pattern, though there could be other explanations. More significantly, there is almost certainly more than 30 sq.ft. of contiguous moldy surface in this area. In your photo it looks as if mold growth is extending down the building walls from the ceiling area.

Health Risks of Occupants

Your concern for irritation of asthma is a very reasonable one. In my experience both chronic exposure and short term high level exposure to at least some molds can increase mold sensitivity and even induce severe allergic or asthmatic reactions in some people. The longer you are exposed the greater the risk.

Conclusions: hire a mold expert

Under these conditions, and as we discuss at MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE it is very apparent that professional inspection and diagnosis of the location and extent of mold growth and the steps necessary to not only remove it but stop future mold growth in the area are what's needed.

My conclusion is that the problem looks serious and that you need a competent onsite professional to confirm the extent of mold growth, its cause, and the steps needed to correct the condition. As you are renting this apartment you will want to determine who is responsible for fixing this apartment mold problem, and even if you bear none of the responsibility you'll want to assure that it is handled correctly. See RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD

Warnings about Mold "Tests" and "Treatments"

I don't mean just "mold testing" - which would not be helpful.

In addition, because of the amount of moldy surface, it's likely that dust containment, negative air, and steps to protect your own belongings as well as the apartment contents will be needed during demolition and cleaning of the surfaces.

Simply painting, spraying, or surface treating these areas would be an inappropriate approach. YOu'd be leaving mold-contaminated ceiling materials in place, perhaps a significant problem in the ceiling cavity, and almost certainly the cause would by that approach remain un repaired. When there is moldy drywall the proper repair is to remove that material - it cannot be reliably cleaned and the hidden side would remain un inspected and untouched as would any mold in the cavity above.

Does it Make Sense to Try an Emergency Seal-Off of the Moldy Area?

While I do not recommend it in this case, in an emergency in which an occupant simply cannot move out of an area to permit necessary mold cleanup work, it might make sense to install a continuous 6-mil poly plastic temporary mold barrier covering over all of the contaminated surfaces as a short term stop-gap measure.

The problem with this approach is that no one has adequately determined the extent of mold contamination: the barrier may be incomplete or inadequate. Also the barrier, by trapping moisture, is likely to increase the mold growth problem, and finally, because the cause of growth has not been determined I'd have little confidence that it would not appear soon outside the barrier.

Need to Move Out of a Moldy Apartment? Protect or Clean Items to be Moved

I am sorry to say that in the case that you describe the problem room needs to be isolated from the rest of the apartment. If this cannot be achieved then indeed you may need to move elsewhere during the remediation. That question will be answered by a professional inspection and by the mold premeditation company. Watch out: if your apartment contents become contaminated with mold growth, or more likely in this case, moldy dust, they may need cleaning before you move them to the new residence.

Question: How can I Tell if a Window Leak Has Caused A Mold Problem in My Home?

I had energy efficient windows installed in my townhouse over a year ago. This past spring one of the master bedroom windows leaked after a rain storm because the caulking failed. The company immediately came out and re caulked the window and it hasn't leaked since. My concern is that I now have a water stain under the window on the drywall, and since I have a mold allergy, I'm wondering if there might be mold on the inside of the drywall.

I read your article on testing the dry wall but as mentioned in the article would rather not cut into it unless it's necessary. I looked at other articles but didn't see one with a picture resembling the water stain I'm concerned about. What would you recommend? By the way, this is a very helpful website. I was considering using ozone for any possible mold in my place but see from your article that's not a good idea. Thank you. - G.N.

Reply: Follow the water, estimate the risk, decide if an expert inspection is needed, don't just "test" for mold

A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem with mold, hidden mold, and with tracking down just how much water leaked into the building and where it went. Indeed a basic axiom in deciding the level of risk of an actionable hidden mold reservoir is to identify places where water has leaked into the building, asking how much water leaked where for how long and just where did it go in the building? Follow the water.

That said, here are some things to consider:

First, how disappointing that your new windows leaked - certainly a wet wall below a leaky window is not particularly energy efficient, and indeed it could become a mold reservoir.

Second, the risk of a mold problem that you can't see but that is significant enough to merit removal is not something I nor anyone should guess at by email with so little information. In the article above at MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE we give some suggestions on how to decide if it's justified and appropriate to hire someone to perform a more competent mold inspection at your building. Testing alone is not reliable.

Third, I would not rely on "mold tests" alone to decide if further investigation is needed. A "mold test", especially an air test for airborne mold, performed without an expert diagnostic inspection of the building is just not reliable in cases where the result is "negative".

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD
DO IT YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP

MOLD ACTIVITY in BUILDINGS

MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD
MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE
MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES
MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD

MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE

MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE

MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS
MOLD INSPECTION SERVICE
MOLD INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE TIPS
MOLD INVESTIGATION REPORTS

MOLD KILLING GUIDE

MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS

MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS
MOLD TESTING SERVICES

RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD

• Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. (727) 595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 03/31/2009

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• Adkins and Adkins Dictionary of Roman Religion discusses Robigus, the Roman god of crop protection and the legendary progenitor of wheat rust fungus.
• Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
• "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
• US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building US EPA
• US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo - en Espanol

Allergies, Allergens, Allergy Testing in Buildings - References & Products

• Air Conditioning System Blower Fans & Filters Cascading for Optimum Indoor Air Quality
• Allergen Tests in Buildings advice about how to test, what to look for, in evaluating the level of dog, cat, or other animal allergens in a building
• "IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA, What do they really tell us?" Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic - ELISA testing accuracy: Here is an example of Miller's critique of ELISA http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
  The critique included in that article raises compelling questions about IgG testing assays, which prompts our interest in actually screening for the presence of high levels of particles that could carry allergens - dog dander or cat dander in the case at hand.
  http://www.tldp.com/issue/174/IgG%20Food%20Allergy.html contains similar criticism in another venue but interestingly by the same author, Sheryl Miller. Sheryl Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, is an Immunologist and Associate Professor of Basic and Medical Sciences at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Bastyr Natural Health Clinic Laboratory.
• Allergens: Testing for the level of exposure to animal allergens is discussed at http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/animalallergy/diagnosis.shtml (lab animal exposure study is interesting because it involves a higher exposure level in some cases
• Allergens: WebMD discusses allergy tests for humans at webmd.com/allergies/allergy-tests
• Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
• Atlas of Mold Related Illness Symptoms & Complaints - long list of both documented, studied mold related illness, and complaints ascribed to mold contamination or allergens in buildings
• Cat Dander: how to inspect and test a building for past or current presence of cats, cat hair, cat dander, and cat allergens
• Clinical Atlas of Mold Toxicity - An Online Description of Toxic, Pathogenic, Allergenic Fungi, Fungal Diseases
• Fiberglass Insulation Contains Mold© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation
• Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
• Mold Action Guide detailed guide on finding, removing, and preventing indoor mold contamination
• Odors, Odor Detection, Smells, & Gases how to find and identify sources of noxious or toxic odors and gases
• Other environmental risks, Our much longer list: Asbestos, carbon monoxide, electromagnetic fields, etc.
• Ozone: The Use of Ozone Indoors for Control of Odors and Mold Removal in Buildings: A Summary of Hazards and False Claims.
• Pollen Allergens: identification, plant pollen and indoor air quality
• Products to Reduce Mold & Allergy Problems to reduce indoor mold or allergen levels: air cleaners, air purifiers, dust mite covers, vacuum cleaners, crawl space vents
• Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
• Rodent control issues, including dander, fecal, and urine contamination of Buildings and Building insulation are discussed at our
• Sewage and Septic backup contamination in Buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
• Action Guide: What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
• ...

Mold Contamination Testing, Cleanup, Prevention: references & products

• The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
• Aerobiology, Building Science, Microscopy, & Laboratory References, an extensive technical bibliography
• Allergens: what they look like in buildings
• Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
• Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9 (you can buy this book at Amazon)
• Atlas of Mold Related Illness: Index of Symptoms and health, physical, neurological, psychological, and other complaint which people suspect may be mold or building-related.
• Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
• Black Mold that is Harmless Photos of recognizable, usually harmless black mold on wood, bluestain, ceratocystis, ophistoma
• Building Floods: quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
• Classes of Mold: what types of cosmetic, allergenic, or toxic mold are a problem? Can mold be cleaned-up successfully?
• Clinical Mold References - Detailed bibliography of mold reference texts
• "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
• "Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
• "Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens," Patricia Donald, Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology, Lewis Jett
  Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
• "Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• Fiberglass: Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
• Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
• Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English) (buy at Amazon)
• Looking for Mold Procedure: what mold is often found where in buildings - simple technical presentation
• Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
• Mold Action Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions, What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
• MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE Photos of what mold looks like in buildings
• MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD Photos of NOT-mold material that is sometimes mistaken for mold
• MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
• MOLD BY MICROSCOPE Mold under the microscope - photo identification of the most common indoor molds found in buildings
• Mold FAQs Answers to Most Questions about Indoor Mold, Mold Related Illness, Mold Cleanup, Mold Prevention
• US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building US EPA
• Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens
• Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab or to any mold lab you wish
• Most Common Indoor Molds Found in Buildings, A Table of
• Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6 (buy this book at Amazon)
• Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
• Rot concerns in buildings-some building mold such as Meruliporia incrassata "Poria" risks serious rot and hidden structural damage
• US EPA: Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo - en Espanol

OTHER IAQ ISSUES: How To Find and Address Other Indoor Air or Indoor Environment Contaminants Besides Mold

Mold or allergens may not be the only or even the main indoor environmental contaminant. Don't let media attention to mold cause so much enviro-scare fear that other, possibly more urgent hazards go un-addressed.

• Fiberglass building insulation and HVAC duct work insulation hazards
• Sewage and Septic backup contamination in buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
• Other environmental risks: Asbestos, carbon monoxide, electromagnetic fields, environmental illness, fiberglass, MCS - multiple chemical sensitivity, toxic gases, etc
• Indoor Gas Sampling Plan for Residential Buildings lists a number of toxic indoor gases which we test for, depending on the building complaint and building conditions
• Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
• Pet control - if you can't say goodbye to your bird, cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, tropical fish, then limit the areas they occupy and limit the airflow from that area to sleeping or other areas of the building, use allergenic bedding, eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting, improve housecleaning including use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner. For more details see our article Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Information for Asthmatics and Indoor Air Quality
• Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings, and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some help from a licensed pest control expert.