title: Proactive approaches for mold-free interior environments.
abstract: Interior design education and practice can contribute to the prevention of mold growth in indoor environments. The authors provide an overview of current thinking within the interior design educational and professional communities regarding proactive approaches to achieving mold-free building interiors, including identification of current best practices for the prevention of mold problems in buildings. They also discuss the development of certification programs. A review of recent literature points to the need for interior designers to be educated to specify the use of ecologically sound materials that support the health of building occupants. The authors present trade-offs between best practices for designing mold-free indoor environments (including considerations of cost, maintenance, and operation) and occupant comfort, health, and well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interior Design and Merchandising, College of Human Ecology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 28858-4353, USA. warscok@mail.ecu.edu
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Warsco
authors.forename: Patricia F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Lindsey
mesh_terms: D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019985:Benchmarking; D002568:Certification; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000592:standards; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000592:standards; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005160:Facility Design and Construction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005658:Fungi; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010684:Philosophy; D018877:Sick Building Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology