Maintaining a healthy indoor environment, including good indoor air quality, requires a joint effort by UK faculty and staff; Environment, Health and Safety (EHS); and UK PPD . No heating or air conditioning system can eliminate all pollen, dust, allergens or mold spores.

To reduce humid conditions and prevent mold growth, good housekeeping practices and routine maintenance are necessary. If provided moisture, molds and other microbes can grow almost anywhere within 24-48 hours. These conditions can be created by food, organic materials containing moisture, wet towels, water intrusion, or spills that are not cleaned up immediately.

To conduct a mold investigation, UK EHS use guidance from the following organizations: EPA, OHSA, NYC DOHMH, and the IICRC.  

According to the EPA - "In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations."

When air quality concerns are reported, EHS will work with UK PPD and or student housing staff as needed to perform  an indoor air quality investigation. We will then develop a plan to locate and remediate the sources of air quality concerns.