Making sense out of mold. What do I do?

Mold on basement wall

Our Seattle, Washington office gets phone calls like this year round partially  due to the persistently damp climate. But whether the building or residence is located in Washington, California or Maine, our approach to helping the facility manager or owner is going to be the same:

1) identify the extent of the mold,

and

2) determine what is the underlying

cause of any mold growth.

The kinds of questions that you should expect an indoor air quality specialist (often referred to as an Industrial Hygienist) to ask about your building include:

• Is there visible mold or is there a moldy smell?

• Have there been complaints about physical symptoms that are sometimes associated with mold or poor indoor air quality such as sneezing, burning throat, colds, coughing, etc.

• Are other occupants of the building experiencing similar symptoms?

• Has there been any known water leakage, recent construction or changes in building operations?

• What is the age and type of construction of the building?

• How long has the building or residence been occupied?

Based upon the answers, the Industrial Hygienist will design an inspection specific to the client’s needs. Don’t be surprised if the Industrial Hygienist doesn’t collect any mold samples during the initial site visit. Depending on the circumstances he/she may determine that removing the moldy building components and having a contractor repair the underlying cause of the mold growth is an appropriate course of action. At the conclusion of the mold remediation and building repairs the Industrial Hygienist may return to perform air testing. Remember, the goal is to address both the symptoms and the cause of the mold growth.

JoAnn Copperud, CEO – Emeryville, CA