Mold produces a byproduct as it grows and matures. That byproduct is called a mycotoxin. The US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health states, “Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by mold." As the name implies, it is a toxin.

All signs point to sustainability, safety and BIM technology when it comes to future success in the HVAC industry. But where do you begin? And most importantly, how do you keep building on what you’re already doing? Steve Jones — director of industry insights and research for Dodge Data & Analytics and keynote speaker at this year’s AEC BuildTech (April 30-May 2) — shows you the way forward to the future.

The indoor environment is an inherently complex system. There’s the building itself, of course. The design, materials, systems, and so much more come together to create a home, office, retail space, hospital, school, and so on.

Before he became a licensed mold inspector/assessor in 2006, Brent Horton, owner of Mold and Air Inspection in Boiling Springs, S.C., sold indoor air purification equipment. Often, when calling on customers, he kept running into questions from many of them about mold.

For decades, scientists have been focused on outdoor air quality. Today, there are regulations in place across the U.S., and around the world, to help keep the atmosphere clean, and reduce smog and other pollution.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, hoarding disorders occur in an estimated 2 to 6 percent of the population and often lead to substantial distress and problems functioning.

The first three parts of this series covered an overview of chemical sensitivities, the critical importance of source removal and detailed cleaning, and products and processes that can be used for neutralization of chemical or biological residues that remain following cleaning.