| 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 water drop), mechanically disturbed (by a person
or animal passing by), or actively discharged by the mold (usually
under moist conditions or high humidity). |
