Over the last few years, mold has become a high profile biological contaminant, placing an increasing need for information on design practices. Molds can degrade building materials, cause structural damage and make people very sick, especially children.

Molds circulate in the air continually — indoors and out. When excessive moisture accumulates, mold growth can occur, particularly if the moisture remains. Mold spores can grow on just about any organic substance where moisture is present including wood, paper, carpet, foods, and insulation. They survive by digesting these substances and can gradually destroy them. Mold can be hidden on the back side of surfaces such as dry wall, wallpaper, paneling, ceiling tiles, carpets and pads. They can seriously compromise a building.
Many types of molds exist and all molds have the potential to cause health effects. Some molds can produce toxic substances called mycotoxins which can cause health compromises as severe as kidney and liver damage. However, The presence of mold in a building does not necessarily mean that mycotoxins are present or that they are present in large quantities.
It is impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. Since mold requires water to grow, their growth can be controlled indoors by controlling the amount of moisture that gets introduced or is present indoors.

Select green strategies:
Use materials that breathe but limit selection of fibrous materials that have the greatest potential to foster biological contamination. For example, when choosing wallcovering, avoid vinyl (which does not breathe and can trap moisture behind it setting up a good growing climate for molds). Chose breathable wallcovering.
Where interior live plants are specified, ensure plant maintenance does not provide an environment that promotes mold growth in the soil or on the plant.
To set up resistance to water vapor coming through from the building envelope —often a significant cause of mold problems — use an effective vapor retarder.

Definitions:
mVOCs (Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds) are volatile compounds produced by molds and released into the air. These compounds often have strong and/or unpleasant odors. Exposure to mVOCs has been linked to negative health symptoms such as headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. Research on mVOCs is still in the early phases.

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