USG Moisture, Mold, and Construction Practices Frequently Asked Questions User Manual

Page 4

The following questions and answers

What are molds?

are excerpted with permission from the

Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When

New York City Department of Health:

mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on
in order to survive. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet and foods. When excessive moisture
or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains
undiscovered or unaddressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold spores in the indoor environment;
the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

How does mold grow?
All molds need water to grow. Mold can grow almost anywhere there is water damage, high humidity or dampness.
Most often, molds are confined to areas near the source of water. Removing the source of moisture—such as
through repairs or dehumidification—is critical to preventing mold growth.

What should you do if mold is present in your home or apartment?
Although any visible mold can be sampled by an environmental consultant and/or analyzed by a laboratory
specializing in microbiology, these tests can be very expensive—from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
There is no simple and cheap way to sample the air in your home to find out what types of mold are present
and whether they are airborne. Even if you have your home tested, it is difficult to say at what levels health may
be affected. Therefore, it is most important to correct underlying water damage and clean the affected area.

How should mold be cleaned?
Mold should be cleaned as soon as it appears. Persons cleaning mold should not be prone to allergies. Small
areas of mold should be cleaned using a detergent/soapy solution or an appropriate household cleaner. Gloves
should be worn during cleaning. The cleaned area should then be thoroughly dried. Dispose of any sponges or
rags used to clean mold.

If the mold returns quickly or spreads, an underlying problem such as a leak may be present. Any underlying water
problems must be fixed to successfully eliminate mold problems. If mold contamination is extensive, a professional
abatement company may need to be consulted.

Who can I call if I suspect I have a mold problem or if I want more information?
For more information about the health effects of mold exposure and information on the safe removal of mold,
please call the New York City Department of Health, Office of Environmental Investigations at (212) 442-3372
or the Environmental and Occupational Disease Epidemiology Unit at (212) 788-4290.

Trademarks

The following trademarks used

herein are owned by United

States Gypsum Company or a

related company: A

QUA

-T

OUGH

LIMA

LUS

, D

UROCK

, F

IBEROCK

OLD

OUGH

, S

HEETROCK

, USG.

Footnotes

1. New York City

Department of Health

http://nyc.gov/html/doh/

home.html

2. U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency

www.epa.gov

Agency Resources

The following organizations

also offer certification

programs for remediation

specialists:

– IAQA Certified Indoor

Environmentalist

www.iaqa.org

– Certified HVAC Hygienist

(CHH) Certification has been

changed to the Certified

Indoor Environmentalist

(CIE) Certification

– IICRC – Institute of Inspection,

Cleaning and Restoration

www.iicrc.org

United States Gypsum Company

550 West Adams Street

Chicago, Illinois 60661

800 USG.4YOU (874-4968)

usg.com

getmoldfacts.com

Page 4 of 4

– ASCR – Association of

Specialists in Cleaning

and Restoration

(CR – Certified Restorer)

WLI – Water Loss Institute

(Division of ASCR)