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Cross Section of Legislative Approaches to Reducing Indoor Dampness and Mold

Exposure to indoor dampness and mold is associated with numerous adverse respiratory conditions, including asthma. While no quantitative health-based threshold currently exists for mold, the conditions that support excessive dampness and mold are known and preventable; experts agree that controlling...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Major, Jennifer L., Boese, Gerald W.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5457817/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27977504
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000491
Descripción
Sumario:Exposure to indoor dampness and mold is associated with numerous adverse respiratory conditions, including asthma. While no quantitative health-based threshold currently exists for mold, the conditions that support excessive dampness and mold are known and preventable; experts agree that controlling these conditions could lead to substantial savings in health care costs and improvement in public health. This article reviews a sample of state and local policies to limit potentially harmful exposures. Adoption of laws to strengthen building codes, specify dampness and mold in habitability laws, regulate mold contractors, and other legislative approaches are discussed, as are key factors supporting successful implementation. Communicating these lessons learned could accelerate the process for other jurisdictions considering similar approaches. Information about effectiveness of legislation as prevention is lacking; thus, evaluation could yield important information to inform the development of model state or local laws that significantly address mold as a public health concern.