Are Stakeholders Ignoring The Standard Of Care For Assessing And Remediating Mold?
Mold actually destroys carbon-based substrates, and thus constitutes property damage in and of itself.3 Inhalation exposure to mold can also cause health problems for certain individuals. Molds produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions and even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold.4 A recent study published by the Institute of Medicine, commissioned by the National Academy of Sciences and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found “sufficient evidence of an association” between health outcomes and the presence of mold or other agents in damp indoor environments. These adverse health outcomes include upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, hypersensitivity pneumonitis in susceptible persons, wheeze and asthma in sensitized persons.5 While no federal, state or local regulations exist governing the assessment and remediation of mold, there are several “standard of care” guidelines that have been published by industry trade groups and public health agencies. For in