Mold Basics & Health
Occupant health, relocation and remediation worker risk
In plain English
When people in a building report symptoms, R520 recommends a physician experienced with indoor air problems, ideally brought in before or alongside the building investigation. It notes that no commercial blood or antibody test reliably shows mold exposure or illness from damp buildings. Watching whether symptoms ease away from the building and return on re-entry is treated as more informative.
R520 says the dependable treatment for building-related symptoms is usually removing the person from the contaminated space, temporarily or for good, and then remediating. It reports no research showing that lasting harm is likely in typical cases. Because the science is incomplete, the guide supports a cautious public-health approach: clean up the growth and the spores it has spread to carpets, bedding, furnishings and HVAC, and consider relocating occupants during the work.
Remediation workers face heavier exposure than occupants. R520 calls for training and OSHA medical clearance before respirator use. It suggests individual evaluation by an occupational physician for workers with chronic lung disease, a weakened immune system, or pregnancy. Sharing the remediation and clearance records with occupants' doctors helps them judge whether it is safe to move back in.
Key points
- No reliable lab test shows mold exposure from a damp building.
- Leaving the space is usually the most effective relief for symptoms.
- Spores spread to contents and HVAC are part of the cleanup, not just the growth site.
- Workers need training and medical clearance before wearing respirators.
- Give remediation and clearance records to occupants' doctors.
Official text
This topic is covered in our own words because the standard behind it is copyrighted; we cite it below rather than reproduce it.
Citations
- IICRC S520 Reference Guide, IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation — Reference Guide — Ch. 3, pp. 26–28. Best practice