We spend more than 90% of our time breathing indoor air. It is therefore vitally important that our air is healthy, and that health-protective standards for indoor air quality be established and implemented for the benefit of all communities nationwide. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and American Lung Association have determined that mold —along with radon, asbestos, and lead— is a critical indoor air pollutant that adversely affects human health. And yet, there are no health-based standards or thresholds for mold or the conditions that support mold growth (i.e., dampness). Consequently, major public health interventions to reduce or eliminate exposures to indoor dampness and mold have been left to states and local jurisdictions to implement, with marginal results over time.
Here are some facts:
Here are policy approaches that Change the Air Foundation is advocating for at the Federal and State level to fix this widespread health and housing epidemic.
• Promote inspection and remediation by licensed or certified professionals. Require accredited industry standards for mold inspectors and remediators; create registries of licensed or certified individuals and companies.
• Direct funding and other resources to individuals who need it most. Prioritize low-income households and other demographic groups at highest risk (e.g., those living in substandard housing conditions).
• Increase investment in public health and clinical research to better detect harmful levels of mold in the home, diagnose and treat exposed individuals, and track disease trends over time. Efforts to establish PELs should continue, but not hold up implementation of measures to reduce indoor dampness, the prime culprit for mold growth.
• Create greater issue awareness among the public and legislators. Multifaceted communications efforts can include supporting National Mold Awareness Month activities, engaging the media, using social media, brochures, hotlines, etc. Materials and messages should be culturally appropriate and available in multiple languages.
• Incentivize the use of moisture-resistant building materials in new construction and remediation projects. Incorporating moisture-resistant materials into construction is a proactive approach to decreasing the risk of microbial growth; these materials absorb less moisture, reducing the risk of mold-related health issues.
• Recognize that addressing dampness and mold requires comprehensive, multidisciplinary action. Relying on just one sector or type of actor — be they state public health and environment agencies, housing and real estate communities, consumer protection and patient advocates—will continue to leave much of the population unprotected.
• Enlist trusted voices including healthcare providers, community leaders, youth, and others to support widespread community awareness and drive political will.
• Build multistakeholder coalitions including local and state public health, health care workers, academia, medical societies, advocacy groups, community members, licensed or certified inspectors and remediators, builders and developers. Empower members who can lobby for mold-related legislation and encourage education and advocacy efforts among members who are prohibited from lobbying. Coordinate communication among coalition members.
• Evaluate indoor dampness and mold prevention interventions for effectiveness; conduct pilot studies; share best practices, model policies, and success stories; replicate and scale to other jurisdictions.
For more information and detailed Policy Brief, please visit here: https://changetheairfoundation.org/policy-brief/