New Jersey Regulations on Mold & Mildew

A-3773

• A bill known as A-3773 was introduced to the New Jersey Legislature in February 2011 by Assemblywoman Celeste Riley and Assemblyman Daniel R. Benson. The bill would require the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to develop standards for the safe removal of mold, and set up a certification program for inspectors and those doing the cleanup. Standards would cover cleaning, repairs, maintenance, containment and monitoring of known and potential mold problems. The DCA would be required to adopt standards no more than a year after the bill becomes law, and six months after regulations are adopted, inspectors and abaters would have to be certified by the DCA.

Mold Act

• Senator Sean T. Kean introduced the Mold Safe Housing Act to the New Jersey Legislature in January, 2011. This act, if passed, would give renters a way to have mold removed from contaminated rental housing, or be moved to safer housing. It would also require all rental housing in the state to be inspected for mold. Prospective homeowners would also have the right to have a licensed home inspector conduct an inspection for mold prior to buying a house.

Description

• Molds are a type of fungi that live and grow in colonies. They help break down dead materials, changing them into organic matter that other organisms can use. Like other fungi, molds reproduce through spores. Molds can grow on almost anything, as long as it's warm and damp. Depending on the species, molds can be brown, black, green, yellow or a host of other colors. Common molds that grow inside buildings include aspergillus, cladosporium, pennicillium and alternaria.

Problems

• Molds damage buildings when they start growing on drywall, ceiling tiles or wood. In addition to staining walls, they can break down the studs and joists, causing stability and safety issues in a building. They also contribute to health problems. Although there aren't any standards describing what levels of mold are hazardous, in 2004 the Institute of Medicine found evidence of a relationship between mold and upper respiratory tract problems in healthy people. Some people may also develop asthma symptoms or hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Others experience nausea, dizziness and fatigue when exposed to mold. Some molds produce mycotoxins -- poisonous substances that can affect the immune, central nervous and respiratory systems.

Control

• Fixing mold problems includes discovering and correcting moisture sources, cleaning and removing mold-contaminated materials and renovation work. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it's important to clean up all mold, because it remains allergenic, even when it's dead. You may be able to clean up small areas of contamination yourself. However, areas greater than 100 square feet should be cleaned by a contractor with experience in mold cleanup. Use a respirator, goggles and protective clothing when cleaning mold.