CDCMold
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mold and Your Health
CDC's public-health overview of mold exposure, who is more sensitive, and how to control moisture and clean up mold in homes.
View Original SourceIndoor Air Quality Research · Treasure Coast
The Air Inside Your Home Matters
We spend much of our lives indoors. Research from organizations including the EPA, CDC, National Cancer Institute, and other scientific institutions shows that indoor air pollutants and excessive moisture can affect respiratory health and, in the case of certain pollutants, contribute to serious long-term health risks.
What's in the air
What Can Be in Your Indoor Air?
Every home is different. The contaminants present — and their levels — depend on construction, location, ventilation, occupants, pets, activities, and how moisture is managed.
Mold spores
Fine particulate matter
Dust
Pollen
Pet dander
VOCs
Biological contaminants
Smoke particles
Excess moisture / humidity
Outdoor pollutants entering the home
Radon
Mold & moisture
What Research Says About Mold & Damp Buildings
Public-health agencies and scientific reviews associate damp or moldy indoor environments with respiratory symptoms, allergic reactions, and the development or worsening of asthma, along with other respiratory problems.
Some people may be more susceptible, including those with asthma, allergies, chronic respiratory conditions, or weakened immune systems.
An important distinction: the evidence links damp and moldy buildings with respiratory and allergic effects. Ordinary household mold is not identified by these agencies as an established cause of cancer.
Beyond mold
Indoor Air Quality Is More Than Mold
Indoor air can contain many pollutants, and some have known or suspected long-term health effects. Risk depends on the pollutant, its concentration, how long you're exposed, individual susceptibility, and other factors.
Fine particulate matter
Tiny particles from cooking, smoke, and outdoor air that can reach deep into the lungs.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Gases released from paints, cleaners, furnishings, and building materials.
Secondhand smoke
A mix of particles and gases recognized for serious health effects.
Combustion pollutants
Carbon monoxide and other gases from fuel-burning appliances, garages, and generators.
Biological contaminants
Mold, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, bacteria, and viruses.
Cancer risk
Are Any Indoor Air Pollutants Linked to Cancer?
Yes — some indoor pollutants are recognized carcinogens or have been associated with increased cancer risk. Radon is one of the clearest examples: it is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, and long-term exposure increases the risk of lung cancer.
The EPA also notes that some VOCs are known or suspected to cause cancer in humans or animals, and that secondhand smoke is associated with cancer risk.
Mold is not included here. Damp and moldy environments are associated with respiratory and allergic effects, not established as a cause of cancer. Radon is best addressed with testing by a certified radon professional — HVAC equipment is not a substitute for radon testing or mitigation.
Florida climate
Florida Homes Face a Unique Indoor Air Quality Challenge
Our hot, humid climate means moisture management matters year-round. The EPA recommends keeping indoor relative humidity below 60% — ideally between 30% and 50% — to discourage mold growth.
Your HVAC system plays a role in:
- Humidity control
- Moisture removal
- Air circulation
- Filtration
- Condensate drainage
- Keeping evaporator coils and drain systems maintained
- Ventilation
- Reducing conditions favorable to microbial growth
No HVAC system sterilizes a home or removes every contaminant — but a properly sized, maintained system makes a real difference in moisture control.
Honest solutions
Your HVAC System Is Part of Your Home's Air-Quality Strategy
The right approach depends on your home. We evaluate first and recommend only what addresses the problems we actually find — the same repair-first, honest-assessment philosophy we bring to every call.
Properly sized HVAC equipmentHumidity managementHigh-quality filtrationMedia air cleanersAppropriate MERV filtrationUV-C germicidal equipment where appropriateDehumidificationVentilationCoil cleaningDrain & condensate maintenanceDuct inspectionIdentifying moisture problems
Research library
Read the Research
EPAMold
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mold and Health
Describes allergic, asthma-related, and irritant effects associated with mold, and stresses that controlling moisture is the key to controlling mold growth.
View Original SourceEPAMold
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
Practical EPA guidance on finding moisture sources, keeping indoor humidity low, and cleaning up mold.
View Original SourceWHOMold
World Health Organization
WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould
WHO guidelines reviewing the evidence that damp, mouldy buildings are associated with respiratory symptoms, asthma, and other health effects, and recommending prevention of persistent dampness.
View Original SourcePEER-REVIEWEDMold
Environmental Health Perspectives (Mendell et al., 2011)
Respiratory and Allergic Health Effects of Dampness, Mold, and Dampness-Related Agents
A review of the epidemiologic evidence linking dampness and mold in buildings with respiratory and allergic health outcomes, including asthma.
View Original SourceNCICancer Risk
National Cancer Institute
Radon — Cancer-Causing Substances
Explains that radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and that long-term exposure increases the risk of lung cancer.
View Original SourceEPACancer Risk
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Health Risk of Radon
EPA's summary of radon as a leading cause of lung cancer, and why testing homes for radon matters.
View Original SourceEPAVOCs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality
Covers common household VOC sources, short- and long-term health effects, and notes some organics are known or suspected to cause cancer in humans or animals.
View Original SourceEPAParticulate Matter
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Indoor Particulate Matter
Describes indoor and outdoor sources of particle pollution and the health effects associated with fine particles.
View Original SourceEPAHVAC & Ventilation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home
Explains how portable air cleaners and HVAC filters work, what they can and cannot do, and why source control and ventilation come first.
View Original SourceEPAMold
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Biological Contaminants and Indoor Air Quality
Overview of mold, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and other biological pollutants, and the role of humidity and HVAC maintenance.
View Original SourceEPACancer Risk
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Secondhand Smoke and E-Cigarette Aerosols
EPA information on secondhand smoke as an indoor pollutant and its health effects, including cancer risk.
View Original SourceEPAHVAC & Ventilation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Carbon Monoxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality
Covers combustion sources of carbon monoxide in homes, health effects, and the importance of properly maintained fuel-burning appliances.
View Original SourceFAQ
Common Questions
Does mold cause cancer?
Public-health agencies such as the CDC and EPA associate damp or moldy indoor environments with respiratory symptoms, allergic reactions, and asthma effects. They do not identify ordinary household mold as an established cause of cancer. Radon, secondhand smoke, and certain VOCs are the indoor pollutants recognized for cancer risk.
What indoor humidity should a Florida home target?
The EPA recommends keeping indoor relative humidity below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%, to discourage mold growth.
Can an HVAC system clean all the air in my home?
No. A well-maintained HVAC system with proper filtration, humidity control, and ventilation can help reduce some contaminants, but it cannot eliminate every pollutant. The EPA notes that source control and ventilation are usually the most effective strategies.
Does Maritime Air Co. test for radon?
Radon testing is a separate specialty. We recommend using a certified radon tester. We focus on the HVAC side of indoor air quality — humidity, filtration, coils, drains, ducts, and ventilation.
Health Information Disclaimer
The information provided by Maritime Air Co. is for general educational purposes and is based on information from public-health agencies and scientific literature. Maritime Air Co. provides HVAC and indoor-air-quality services and does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment. Indoor-air-quality improvements cannot guarantee the prevention or treatment of any disease or medical condition. Anyone experiencing health symptoms should consult an appropriate healthcare professional.
Wondering What's Happening With the Air in Your Home?
Your home doesn't necessarily need every indoor-air-quality product on the market. Maritime Air Co. can evaluate your HVAC system, filtration, humidity control, coils, ductwork, ventilation, and other factors that may affect indoor air quality.
Your Comfort Is Our Compass.