Additional Mold Resources

United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA)
The US-EPA is seen by environmental professionals and legal authorities as the foremost and most valid source of information on environmental related subjects. The EPA is focused on research, quality standards, and dissemination of information for both indoor and outdoor environmental concerns: air, soil, and water.

The EPA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. EPA’s purpose is to ensure that all Americans are protected from significant risks to their health and the environment where they live, learn, and work. National efforts to reduce environmental risk are based on the best available scientific information. The EPA ensures federal laws protecting human health and the environment are enforced fairly and effectively. Environmental protection is an integral consideration in U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and trade. These factors are also considered in establishing environmental policies. 

The EPA works to ensure all parts of our society have access to accurate information sufficient to effectively participate in managing human health and environmental risks. Environmental protection contributes to making our communities and ecosystems diverse, sustainable and productive. The U.S. plays a leadership role in working with many nations to protect the global environment.

To fulfill its objective and mission, after Congress writes an new environmental law, the EPA implements it by writing regulations. Often, the EQP sets national standards that states and tribes enforce through their own regulations. The EPA gives grants and nearly half of its budget into grants to state environmental programs, not for profit organizations, educational institutions, and similar groups. They use the money for a wide variety of projects, from scientific studies that help us make decisions to community cleanup efforts.  

The EPA studies environmental issues at laboratories located throughout the nation to identify and try to solve environmental problems. To learn even more, the EQA shares information with other countries, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and other agencies.  Importantly, the EPA strives to teach and publish accurate information based on up to date scientific research. The EPA teaches people about the environment since protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility, and starts with understanding the issues. The basics include the three “R’s”; reducing, reusing, and recycling.

The EPA’s most important things you should know about Mold are as follows:

1. Mold is present in every indoor environment. The best way to control mold growth is to control moisture.
2. Indoor humidity needs to be maintained from 30-55% relative humidity by, exhausting moisture generating sources like showers and clothes dryers to the exterior. It is best to use air conditioners and de-humidifiers.
3. Within 48 hours, clean and dry wet materials and furnishings.
4. Mold can trigger health effects including allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory ailments.
5. Materials that are porous or absorbent may need to be replaced. Hard surfaces need to be cleaned with detergent solutions.
6. Do not install carpet or organic floor surfaces where moisture is continually present.
7. If your school or home has a mold problem, it must get cleaned up and the source of moisture eliminated.
8. To prevent mold growth, fix the source of the water problem.
9. Mold grows on any surface if moisture is present. Various molds grow on food, wooden material, drywall surfaces, and cellulose material (newspapers, books, etc…)
10. Eliminate condensation

The EPA publishes additional information through written materials and its Web site: 
http://www.epa.gov/mold/

• What is mold?
• Molds and problems
• How we test for mold
• How mold samples are analyzed
• Various mold types
• Mold Resources

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