Texas Mold Assessment Consultant Practice Exam

According to the EPA, how should concrete or cinderblock surfaces with mold growth from clean water be treated?

1. Scrubbed with bleach

2. Wet vacuumed and HEPA vacuumed

3. Encapsulated with sealant

4. Left to dry naturally

The correct answer is: Wet vacuumed and HEPA vacuumed

The appropriate treatment for concrete or cinderblock surfaces with mold growth from clean water, as recommended by the EPA, is to wet vacuum and then use a HEPA vacuum to remove any remaining mold spores. This method is effective because it helps to extract moisture and debris, preventing further mold growth. Wet vacuuming initially aids in removing excess water and mold from the surface, while HEPA vacuums are designed to capture very small particles, including mold spores, that could otherwise be disturbed and become airborne. Using bleach on these surfaces may not be the best approach since bleach only sanitizes the surface without addressing the underlying moisture problems that allowed mold to grow in the first place. Furthermore, encapsulating the surface with a sealant could be ineffective unless all mold is thoroughly cleaned away first; sealing over mold can trap moisture and exacerbate the problem. Allowing the surface to dry naturally might not be sufficient to prevent mold regrowth due to residual spores and moisture possibly remaining on the surface. Therefore, the combination of wet vacuuming followed by HEPA vacuuming ensures both the physical removal of mold and prevention of further growth, making it the recommended method by the EPA for treating mold growth in this scenario.