| 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). |
