Mold information
Molds are fungi that can be found nearly everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Inhaling mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. The most important strategy toward limiting negative health effects associated with mold is prevention of indoor mold growth. Occupants of University buildings should identify and address plumbing leaks and water intrusion events and should ensure facilities are kept clean in order to prevent mold growth. If mold growth is present, steps should be taken to address the issue as soon as possible.
The 性爱五色天, Reno Environmental Health & Safety department provides guidance related to mold and mildew prevention, remediation and post-remediation verification. Learn more about mold and follow the guidance in the answers to the following frequently asked questions below.
“Molds are microorganisms that are found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors.” ().
Mold is a naturally occurring fungus that is generally considered an indoor air allergen similar to pollen, animal dander, dust and dust mites. Mold produces tiny spores, which act much like seeds of plants, to spread the growth of the mold colony. “Some molds have spores that are easily disturbed and settle repeatedly with each disturbance. Other molds have sticky spores that will cling to surfaces and are dislodged by brushing against them or by other direct contact. Whether or not the spores are alive, the allergens in and on them may remain allergenic for years.” ().
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, food and insulation. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed. It is impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. However, mold growth can be controlled indoors by controlling moisture indoors.” ().
There are thousands of species of mold, most of which occur naturally outside and have some spores present within buildings. Mold is typically white, green, black, yellow, brown or orange. The texture can vary between appearing like powder, cotton, velvet or tar-like.
If visible mold is present on any indoor surface, a work order request should be submitted to Facilities Services.
Since mold requires water to grow, it is important to prevent moisture problems in buildings. The potential for mold growth increases greatly when materials have been wet for more than 48 hours. Completely drying water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours is important to prevent mold growth.
Below are proactive steps to prevent growth:
- Report any water problems (leaks behind a toilet or under sinks, dripping faucets, wet or damp carpet, leaks from a ceiling or roof, etc.) immediately by contacting Facilities Services.
- Keep room air vents (where applicable) in all areas open and unobstructed to maintain proper airflow.
- Maintain good housekeeping practices (vacuum floors and have carpets cleaned when dirty, sanitizing and disinfecting counters and other surfaces, clean up spills quickly, dispose of food waste, etc.) to reduce the number of food sources for mold growth.
Residential life, housing and food services: Residence halls & dormitories
- Routinely clean bathroom areas (where students are living in residence halls), including the shower curtain liner, with bathroom cleaner to prevent the growth of soap scum which is an excellent food source for mold. Always follow the directions and read all precautions before using any cleaning product.
- If a bath exhaust fan is provided in your living space, be sure to turn the fan on when showering. After your shower, keep the shower door closed and the fan running for an extra 10 to 15 minutes to remove excess moisture from the air.
- Do not hang towels (or any other wet items) to dry between your mattress and bed frame. This can cause mold to grow on the bottom of your mattress.
- Good housekeeping practices (vacuum floors, clean cutlery and serving items, wipe down counters, clean up spills quickly, wash out refrigerators – including wiping the doors, etc.) should be shared by all roommates to help reduce the number of food sources for mold growth.
To report visible mold, contact Facilities Services for removal. It is the responsibility of occupants to clean mildew and maintain good housekeeping practices. Contact Environmental Health & Safety to request an assessment of the room and to receive recommendations and guidance.
In some cases, mold growth is due to poor cleaning habits and is the responsibility of occupants. Examples of this include the following:
- Maintaining appliances – Students and staff are typically responsible for maintaining and cleaning cooking appliances such as microfridges, coffee makers, microwaves, etc. Students and staff should leave adequate time for defrosting and routinely wiping out the inside of microfridges. Failure to adequately maintain appliances with regular cleaning can result in mold growth inside or outside of the unit.
- Bathroom/shower areas of dormitories. According to the Residential Life, House and Food Services, Housing Services Student Handbook, cleaning of the bathrooms, showers, and other public areas is checked regularly by the Resident Assistant/Community Assistant (RA/CA). If residents know of any damages, needed repairs or find conditions unsatisfactory, fill out a service request by navigating to the . Being as specific and complete as possible can speed up the maintenance process.
Argenta Hall, Canada Hall, Peavine Hall, Sierra Hall and Nevada LLC residents have private bathrooms that are the responsibility of the residents to clean. These bathrooms may be checked by staff for cleanliness.
Environmental Health & Safety will respond to mold and mildew calls, as well as water intrusion calls. They will investigate and make recommendations based on their findings to address issues of concern. They will also submit work order requests to Facilities Maintenance Services based on the nature of the call to make the necessary repairs. Surface mold is typically cleaned with the appropriate fungicide. Environmental Health & Safety will follow-up on completed work order requests to verify that the issue has been resolved and will notify the occupants.
According to the Residential Life, House and Food Services, Housing Services Student Handbook, it is the responsibility of residents to clean areas where mildew is present. Residential Life, Housing and Food Services staff complete health and safety inspections to ensure that each room meets health and safety standards. Students can check out a vacuum cleaner with their student ID at the front desk.
To submit maintenance requests, navigate to the .
According to federal health and safety agencies, mold growth is commonly found in both indoor and outdoor environments. Some people are sensitive to mold and may experience short-term reactions in the presence of mold. Symptoms associated with mold exposure are not unique and cannot be readily distinguished from symptoms caused by other medical conditions, such as the common cold or seasonal environmental allergies. Since some individuals may have more intense reactions, those with medical conditions or who experience symptoms should consult with a licensed physician or health care provider regarding their risk to mold exposure.
Contact Environmental Health & Safety to report and discuss health concerns related to visible mold or mildew. Environmental Health & Safety staff will investigate calls, perform an assessment of the room, provide recommendations and guidance and refer incidents when necessary to the appropriate parties for further action.
Mold is present in the indoor and outdoor air and on surfaces all around us each day. It requires moisture and a food source to colonize mold. The University does not conduct air sampling or monitoring for mold and instead follows available federal agency guidance:
"Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable, or normal quantity of mold have not been established," and "generally it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growth in a residence, and CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds. Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the susceptibility of individuals varies greatly either because of the amount or type of mold, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk... therefore, no matter what kind of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal." (.)
"In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards.” (.)
Mold is not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Center for Disease Control (CDC). According to the , “It is impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment.” Mold cannot be eliminated in the environment unless extreme measures are taken constantly, as would be the case in a “clean room” laboratory. The presence of visible mold on indoor building materials is generally agreed by professionals to be an unacceptable condition that should be remediated as quickly as possible. When visible mold is present in spaces on campus, contact Facilities Services.