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Black Mold Regulations

Concern about the health risks associated with mold in the workplace, schools and at home has increased as info about the variety of health problems related to mold exposure has grown. As of 2010, there are still no federal standards or regulations for airborne mold (including black mold). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers mold prevention and eradication guidelines and the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers a guide to mold in the workplace. But no regulatory body exists for enforcing mold clean-up, and there are no federally mandated thresholds for acceptable mold spore concentrations in the air, according to the EPA and OSHA.

  1. About Black Mold

    • Black mold or Stacybotrys chartarum, grows in moist environments and requires constant moisture to survive. There are about 1,000 species of mold in the United States. Stacybotrys chartarum is less common than other mold species (like Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Altenaria and Penicillium) but it is not rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In 2004, a study by the Institute of Medicine found evidence linking exposure to black mold with upper respiratory distress including congestion, wheeze, cough and asthma-like symptoms. Black mold was implicated in a series of infant deaths by pulmonary hemioridosis (lung bleeding), but subsequent research produced no evidence that black mold was to blame, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

    State Regulations

    • Some states have passed mold regulations into law including California, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas. These mold regulations dictate requirements for mold removal, but do not regulate the presence of mold. For example, Texas requires mold remediation workers to be licensed by the state in proper removal techniques. These laws apply to contractors and home owners.

    Growth

    • Mold spores travel on the wind and enter indoor environments through windows, doors and ventilation systems. The spores will begin to grow if they fall on moist surfaces. Black mold grows best on materials with low nitrogen and high cellulose, like lint, dust, paper and fiberboard. Regardless of the type of mold you have, you should follow the same procedures for eradicating it, according to the CDC.

    Prevention/Solution

    • OSHA provides guidelines for removing mold. These guidelines include drying out the area and preventing continued mold growth by stopping up leaks; using a wet vacuum to collect water; disposing of materials that are not salvageable; using biocides (like bleach) to kill mold; and containing the spores by closing off the area with plastic curtains.

    Warning

    • OSHA warns against using outdoor fungicides indoors. These chemicals can be extremely toxic in enclosed spaces. OSHA also recommends always wearing a respirator when working near mold to prevent inhalation of spores as the mold is disturbed. It is a violation of EPA (federal) law to use biocide products in any manner other than is dictated by label directions.

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