As part of an expansive service line, Progress offers indoor air quality consulting services for both commercial and residential clients.  Progress maintains a Certified Microbial Consultant on its staff and routinely conducts mold inspections and indoor air quality assessments throughout the region.  The demand for mold inspections, in particular, has increased dramatically in recent years.  There are several sub-classifications within the Fungi Kingdom.  These include: yeasts, commonly used in making bread and beer; mushrooms, often seen in the wild forming large fruiting bodies; and, mold, multicellular, filamentous fungi that can be found growing indoors.  Molds reproduce by producing microscopic spores that are transported through the air. Mold spores are ubiquitous and may begin growing when they encounter suitable habitat (e.g., wet or damp organic surfaces).  Mold can thrive in and on building materials such as paper, wood, drywall, carpet, carpet padding, and adhesives associated with carpeting.  However, mold growth in indoor environments may be controlled by limiting moisture intrusion into the indoor environment.  In evaluating potential areas of mold growth in a building, consideration should be given to the building envelope, the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system (including control of relative humidity and temperature), the presence of interior plumbing leaks, roof and foundation leaks, and control of building pressurization and condensation.   

At this time, there are no federal or state regulatory standards or permissible exposure limits for mold spores.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the New York City Health Department, and other trade associations have developed guidelines/recommendations for addressing mold problems within buildings.  The human response to mold spores varies among individuals.  At present, industry standard (as supported by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the EPA, and the New York City Health Department) is to compare indoor and outdoor mold spore counts.  Generally, interior mold counts should be similar to (or below) outdoor mold spore counts.  In general, visible mold should be addressed by elimination of the source of moisture intrusion followed by the proper treatment of visible mold either by material removal/replacement or by cleaning, as appropriate.