Biological contaminants including molds, viruses, and bacteria in indoor environments such as offices, schools, hotel structures, and residential dwellings have become a major concern for property owners, business managers, and employers. Within recent years, there has been a heightened awareness of the huge legal, financial, and potentially significant health concerns resulting from media attention focused on high-profile mold litigation cases. These legal actions have included claims against building owners, property managers, contractors, architects and engineers, and insurance companies.

While the real health impacts from mold exposure are not yet fully understood, it is well documented that mold aggravates the symptoms of allergies and acts as a sensitizer. Some mold types are pathogenic, which cause more serious health effects. Unhealthful indoor air quality induced by all types of biological contaminants has resulted in health hazards among workers and occupants, catastrophic liability, environmental concerns, regulatory mandates, diminished property values, termination of leases, and labor relations issues. In most cases, the presence and proliferation of these contaminants have been encouraged through improper building design, construction, or maintenance.

In response to growing public health awareness, GZA scientists have established defensible investigation protocols to confirm the presence/absence of mold and other biological contaminants that often thrive and amplify on moist indoor surfaces due to such conditions as water damage, condensate accumulations from plumbing and HVAC systems, and sewer backups. GZA’s experienced toxicologists and industrial hygienists are trained to assess the mold issue scientifically, yielding practical solutions that eliminate the health effects and prevent the reoccurrence of mold growth. Our relevant services include:

Investigating and evaluating mold and moisture intrusion Moisture intrusion scans Bioaerosol monitoring Temperature and humidity surveys HVAC system design performance evaluations Remediation plan development Remediation and oversight Post-remediation clearance monitoring Replacement, renovation, and repair Operation and maintenance programs Negotiation/litigation support