Mold Information and Health Resources

Mold information and health resources

Insurance companies, landlords, homeowners—everyone recognizes potential health problems from exposure to toxic molds. One recent study found that household mold more than doubles children’s risk for asthma. What’s a parent to do? Answer: Educate yourself.

• Mold in My Home: What Do I Do?
  Published by the Calif. Dept. of Health Services: Extensive toxic mold information, including health information, detection, and clean up.
  Click here for more
• A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
• Published by the US EPA: A good place to start:
• The EPA’s introduction to indoor mold and health.
• PDF en Español: Una Breve Guía para el Moho, la Humedad y su Hogar.
• Moisture and Mold Problems: Preventing and Solving Them in Your Home (WebMD) A plainspoken introduction to mold’s effects on family health.
• Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC): Referrals to clinics with physicians experienced with environmental exposures.

CDC is not a regulatory agency and does not have enforcement authority in local matters. Your local health department can enforce state and local health codes and may also have information on mold. Contact your state Indoor Air Quality office. Information to find your representative office is available at:

• https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/community-health/iaqstateinfo.htm

You can read the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, at:

• https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-remediation-schools-and-commercial-buildings-guide-chapter-1

This web site offers further indoor-air quality tools for schools:

• https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools

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HEALTH RESOURCES

(Information for attorneys and tenants on mold-related health)

• For a complete list of California County Inspection and Health Departments, Read Here
• Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments: Health issues, assessment, and remediation of toxic mold in indoor environments. Read Here
• OSHA: A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace. Read here
• Guidelines for Clinicians: A guide for clinicians to understand indoor mold-induced illness. Read here
• Precautionary Principle Policy Statement: An innovative policy from the city of San Francisco, CA. Read Here

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COMMUNITY RESOURCES

(Legal, expert, and city services)

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Non-Profit Legal Services

• SF Tenants Union
  (415) 282-6622 | www.sftu.org
  Resource center for all tenant related questions
• Eviction Defense Collaborative
  (415) 947-0797
  Prepare legal papers for tenants facing eviction – low cost / free
• Tenderloin Housing Clinic
  (415) 885-3286 | www.thclinic.org
  Volunteer legal services for SRO/Tenderloin housing community
• SF Legal Assistance for the Elderly
  (415) 538-3333
  Free legal services for the elderly
• Legal Referral Services
  (415) 989-1616
  Obtain a lawyer referral from the State Bar

Court filings / Service of process / Notarization / Deposition videography / etc.

Expert Services

• Austral Housing Inspections
  (510) 654-1058 | www.australhousinginspections.com
  Private housing inspection service for tenants
• Mecca Consulting
  (925) 808-6700
  Environmental mold inspection/testing services (Certified Industrial Hygienist)
• CRDN, A division of Dutch Girl Cleaners
  (925) 943-7058
  Professional cleaners for mold/fire damaged personal property

Public Services

• SF Dept. Building Inspection / SF Housing Inspection Services
  (415) 558-6096 / (415) 558-6220
  Free residential inspections for all code violations
• SF Dept. Public Health
  (415) 252-3800
  Free residential inspections for unsanitary conditions

Health Related Services

• Childhood Lead Prevention Program
  (415) 554-8930
  Free lead poisoning testing for minors
• University of California: Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU)
  (866) 827-3478 | https://wspehsu.ucsf.edu/
  Free medical evaluation for children with suspected environmental health related illnesses

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