The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) just launched a Mold Resource Center, an online reference guide for consumers and professionals to learn fast facts on mold, the potential adverse health effects of mold exposure, why remediation and prevention is important, what to do if you are victim of an indoor flood, and where to find help to prevent mold infestation.  

 

In addition to natural catastrophes, such as the recent Hurricane Joaquin that caused historic rain fall and flooding in the Carolinas, excessive indoor moisture in a building can lead to mold problems, resulting in an increased risk of respiratory disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  

 

AIHA's Mold Resource Center provides information to consumers and industry professionals regarding mold, including:

The term "mold" is a colloquial term for a group of filamentous fungi that are common on food or wet materials. Indoors, mold needs moisture to grow; it becomes a problem only where there is water damage, elevated and prolonged humidity, or dampness.

 

"The AIHA Mold Resource Center should be the first stop on the internet for professionals, home owners, and business owners affected by mold growth and contamination caused by flooding, storms, and water intrusion into buildings," said Donald Weekes, CIH, CSP, FAIHA™, member of the AIHA Board of Directors' Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Committee. "The Center provides up-to-date information useful for the detection of mold in buildings as well as the successful remediation of the contamination."

 

Previously, AIHA launched a Formaldehyde Resource Center to equip consumers with concerns regarding overexposure to formaldehyde in laminate wood flooring and other products found in homes with resourceful information.