Responding to Indoor Mold Concerns: A Resource for Environmental Public Health Professionals
1. Introduction EPH professionals commonly receive requests for assistance with mold concerns in homes, public buildings, and commercial facilities, including after community-wide impacts from natural disasters or extreme weather. Comprehensive guidance on indoor moisture and mold exists; however, this practical, applied resource is tailored specifically to EPH professionals. It provides EPH professionals with: • Information for responding to mold-related inquiries, concerns, complaints, and requests for technical assistance. • Tools to support assessments and field investigations, decision- making, and communication with homeowners, building managers, and community members. • Links to existing comprehensive guidance offering detailed technical information on key topics and best practices for addressing moisture and mold in indoor environments. This resource also aligns with NEHA's Pillars of Governmental Environmental Public Health: A Guide to Scalable Environmental Public Health Programs , which identifies air quality as a secondary program area within local EPH departments and recognizes indoor mold and moisture as concerns within its scope (Bare et al., 2025). 1.1 Scope This resource provides practical guidance that complements existing governmental, nongovernmental, and academic resources. While not exhaustive, it offers field-oriented information and tools primarily for EPH professionals working in public health agencies. The scope of this guide is limited to indoor moisture and mold and does not address bacteria, viruses, or other biological, chemical, or physical hazards associated with the indoor environment. The guidance can be applied across a variety of settings, including homes, schools, long-term care facilities, and disaster-affected communities. It places, however, greater emphasis on residential settings, since mold in homes is typically a primary source of requests and complaints.
Additionally, this resource supports EPH professional responsibilities including assessment, consultation, and information-sharing activities rather than actual remediation and cleanup actions, which public health agencies do not perform. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section provides information to address questions and concerns from homeowners and residents, community members, and building or
facility managers and occupants. 1.2 Special Populations
Groups that may be especially susceptible to the health effects of mold exposure include infants and young children, older adults, people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, individuals with weakened immune systems, and individuals living or receiving care in childcare, healthcare, or long-term care settings. Due to underlying medical conditions or reduced immune function, these populations could be at increased risk for adverse health outcomes related to mold exposure. EPH professionals should take these populations into account when assessing mold concerns and providing consultation on remediation and cleanup. In addition, certain facility types and occupancy characteristics might require enhanced controls or compliance with specialized standards to minimize exposure, particularly in healthcare and long-term care settings. 1.3 Escalation and Technical Support In complex situations such as widespread community impacts, elevated exposures, or increased health risks, EPH professionals should consider the need to escalate assistance requests or seek additional technical support. During emergency response, coordination with incident command is critical, and responsibility can shift from local to state agencies or other entities, such as housing authorities. Technical support may be sought from department leadership, program managers, subject matter experts (e.g., toxicologists), industrial hygienists, engineers, partner agencies, or external consultants with specialized expertise.
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