| Allergen |
Substance (such
as mold) that can cause an allergic reaction. |
| APR |
Air purifying
respirator |
| Biocide |
Substance or
chemical that kills organisms such as molds. |
| EPA |
Environmental
Protection Agency |
| Fungi |
Fungi are neither
animals nor plants and are classified in a kingdom of their own. Fungi
include molds, yeasts, mushrooms, and puffballs. In this document,
the terms fungi and mold are used interchangeably. Molds reproduce
by making spores. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor
air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they
may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on. Molds
can grow on virtually any organic substance, providing moisture and
oxygen are present. It is estimated that more than 1.5 million species
of fungi exist. |
| Fungicide |
Substance or
chemical that kills fungi. |
| HEPA |
High-Efficiency
Particulate Air |
| Hypersensitivity |
Great or excessive
sensitivity |
| IAQ |
Indoor Air Quality |
| Mold |
Molds are a group
of organisms that belong to the kingdom Fungi. In this document, the
terms fungi and mold are used interchangeably. There are over 20,000
species of mold. |
| mVOC |
Microbial volatile
organic compound, a chemical made by a mold which may have a moldy
or musty odor. |
| OSHA |
Occupational
Safety and Health Administration |
| PAPR |
Powered air purifying
respirator |
| PPE |
Personal Protective
Equipment |
| Remediate |
Fix |
| Sensitization |
Repeated or single
exposure to an allergen that results in the exposed individual becoming
hypersensitive to the allergen. |
| Spore |
Molds reproduce
by means of spores. Spores are microscopic; they vary in shape and
size (2-100 micrometers). Spores may travel in several ways—they
may be passively moved (by a breeze or waterdrop), mechanically disturbed
(by a person or animal passing by), or actively discharged by the
mold (usually under moist conditions or high humidity). |
