No Need for Mold Testing

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“No Need For Mold Testing

Testing for mold is not necessary, but getting rid of the mold and water problem is.

Scientists say that mold testing is not needed because any amount or type of mold can cause a health problem for people sensitive to mold.

Mold tests do not provide additional information for protecting your families’ health.

Mold grows when there is water, a leak or flood, dampness, or condensation, like water drops on a window.

Any type of indoor mold growing, whether black mold or any color, can be a problem.

Get the water issue fixed that is causing the mold to grow.

To show that your home has mold, you can take photos and write a description of the mold or water problem instead of having the mold tested.

In most cases, it is the building owner’s responsibility to fix any leak or water problem that causes mold to grow.

Visit the California Department of Public Health’s website, cdph.ca.gov/mold, for information about mold in the home.”

In this video from CDPH, a sample letter to a landlord regarding mold reads: “Dear Landlord, I have been seeing and smelling mold for a month. I am coughing and sneezing. Can you fix the problem? Attached are photos. Please drop by my apartment Friday to identify the problem causing this mold. Thank you, Apartment #4” [Editor’s Note: See How to Report Mold in a Rental Property.]
The Mold in the Home Video Series is created by the Environmental Health Investigations Branch of the California Department of Public Health.

About

Series: “Mold in the Home Video Series is created by the Environmental Health Investigations Branch of the California Department of Public Health. It is designed to answer basic questions about mold in the home using plain language in English and Spanish.”

This Video: “A third animated video in the 6-part Mold in the Home video series. It explains that no testing is needed to find out the type or amount of mold in the home. Any type or amount of mold will be a problem to people are most sensitive to mold.”

Produced and published by the Environmental Health Investigations Branch of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Published November 7, 2022.