There have been a lot of mold complaints in the last 10 years. While mold existed on earth before humans, mold complaints are fairly new.

One of the reasons for this is that we did not realize how harmful mold can be until recently. Some people have no reaction to mold. Some become very ill. Black mold can really may people sick.

To respond to this problem, an entire industry called mold remediation has evolved. Mold remediators are to mold what ghost busters are to ghosts.

The problem is that there are not many standards in the mold remediation business. Some states regulate this industry, others do not.

And there is no one place for mold remediators to gain their education. There are courses that can be taken -some seem better than others.

Lots of companies are trying to get into the mold remediation education business, and it is hard to know which educators are doing a good job.

All of this can create problems for homeowners. Persons with mold problems need to know who to call. With that in mind, I suggest the following:

• Use common sense in selecting a mold remediator. If the proposal sounds inappropriate, ask around and solicit other proposals.
• Ask for references. You know that is a common suggestion. It is even more important in this area because this area is so new and uneven in terms of quality.
• Ask for credentials. Though there are not many standards in this industry, evaluate what has been presented.
• Find out what kind of remediation is being proposed. Some contractors propose high tech approaches that may, or may not work.
• Have a written contract, with a warranty. If the mold redevelops in a short period, you may want recourse.
• Ask the local Better Business Bureau if complaints have been filed.

Remember that mold remediation usually follows source control. For example, if the mold is caused by a leaking roof, the roof must be fixed before mold remediation can take place. Otherwise, the problem will simply continue.

The mold remediation field is a fairly new field. Some contractors are excellent and reputable. Others need to be avoided. Do your homework and protect yourself.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.