Official Florida Resources and Links
Comprehensive Mold Health & Resource Guide: Mold, Your Health, and Trusted Resources
Indoor mold is more than a cosmetic or odor issue—it is a complex indoor environmental health concern that can impact respiratory health, immune function, building integrity, and overall quality of life. This comprehensive resource page ties together mold health effects, prevention principles, and authoritative state and national resources to help homeowners, renters, property managers, and families make informed decisions.
TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MOLD
- Mold can affect your health. Potential health effects associated with mold exposure include allergic reactions, asthma attacks, hypersensitivity responses, and other respiratory complaints. People with asthma, allergies, compromised immune systems, children, and the elderly are often the most affected.
- You cannot eliminate all mold spores indoors. Mold spores exist naturally in both outdoor and indoor environments. The goal is not total elimination, but control. The key to controlling mold growth is controlling moisture.
- Moisture is the root cause of mold growth. If mold is present in a home, school, or workplace, there is almost always an underlying moisture issue such as leaks, flooding, condensation, or high humidity.
- Mold cleanup without moisture control will fail. Cleaning visible mold without fixing the water source allows mold to return quickly, often spreading further into hidden building materials.
- Fix leaks promptly. Plumbing leaks, roof failures, HVAC condensation issues, and foundation water intrusion must be corrected to prevent ongoing mold amplification.
- Control indoor humidity. Maintaining indoor relative humidity between 30–60% significantly reduces the likelihood of mold growth. This can be achieved by:
- Venting bathrooms, kitchens, and dryers outdoors
- Using air conditioning and dehumidifiers
- Increasing ventilation
- Using exhaust fans during cooking, cleaning, and bathing
- Dry wet materials quickly. Damp or wet building materials and furnishings should be cleaned and dried within 24–48 hours to prevent mold colonization.
- Not all materials can be cleaned. Hard surfaces can often be cleaned with detergent and water, but porous materials such as ceiling tiles, insulation, carpet, and drywall that are mold-contaminated may need to be removed and replaced.
- Prevent condensation. Condensation on windows, pipes, exterior walls, roofs, and floors can support mold growth. Adding insulation and improving airflow reduces condensation risk.
- Mold can grow almost anywhere. Mold can grow on wood, paper, drywall, carpet, fabrics, dust, and food—anywhere moisture is present for an extended period.
Official State of Florida Mold Resources
These Florida-based agencies and legal references provide guidance on mold health, housing standards, licensing, and disaster response:
- Florida Department of Health – Mold Information
http://www.floridahealth.gov/Environmental-Health/mold/index.html - Florida Statutes – Mold-Related Licensing & Regulation
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0468/Sections/0468.8419.html - Florida Legislature
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ - Florida Housing Authority / State Services Portal
http://www.myflorida.com/ - Florida Division of Emergency Management (Disaster Response & Flooding)
http://www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp - Office of the Governor of Florida
http://www.flgov.com/ - Florida Senate Interim Report on Mold
http://archive.flsenate.gov/data/Publications/2004/Senate/reports/interim_reports/pdf/2004-158ri.pdf - Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation – Mold Licensing
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/division/Servicesthatrequirealicense_mold.html
These resources outline how mold is addressed from a public health, housing, licensing, and emergency management perspective within the State of Florida.
National U.S. Mold & Indoor Environmental Resources
The following federal agencies provide science-based guidance on mold, indoor air quality, worker safety, and disaster-related mold contamination:
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Mold
https://www.epa.gov/mold - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Mold FAQs & Health Effects
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – Mold & Workplace Safety
https://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib101003.html - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Mold After Disasters
https://www.fema.gov - General Reference – Indoor Mold Overview
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_mold
These national resources are frequently referenced by physicians, environmental professionals, insurers, and remediation specialists.
Why Professional Mold Assessment and Mitigation Matters
Mold is often hidden behind walls, under flooring, within HVAC systems, or inside building cavities. Visual inspection alone is not enough to determine the extent of contamination or exposure risk. Professional mold assessment uses:
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging
- Indoor air quality testing
- Surface and cavity sampling when appropriate
- Building science principles to identify moisture pathways
Proper mold mitigation follows established standards of care, focuses on source correction, containment, safe removal, and post-remediation verification.
In Need of a State-Certified Mold Mitigation Contractor?
If you suspect mold growth, water damage, or unexplained health symptoms related to your indoor environment, working with a state-certified, experienced mold professional is critical. A qualified contractor can help identify the source, protect occupants, and restore a healthy indoor environment—safely and effectively.
This resource page is intended to educate and guide—not replace professional medical or environmental advice. When in doubt, take mold seriously and act early.
