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Code Enforcement Official – in NYS, municipal government (i.e., town or city) officials responsible for enforcement of the state (and New York City) uniform codes that include construction, fire prevention and property maintenance codes. Cognitive – brain functions involved in processing information such as memory, problem solving, decision making, language comprehension and math skills Culturable Fungal Counts – counts of fungi from environmental samples (air, water, dust or other materials) that grow on a laboratory growth medium such as malt dextrose agar. Only those fungi present that can grow under the chosen laboratory conditions (such as growth medium, temperature, relative humidity) will be counted. Different results can be obtained from the same sample for different choices of growth medium, temperature and other variables. Dampness – used throughout this document, along with excess moisture, moisture problems and water damage, to refer to conditions where bulk water or water vapor has affected building materials or the indoor environment. These terms are somewhat interchangeable, but may have subtly different meanings depending on the context. Disinfection – application of disinfectant antimicrobial pesticide products intended to destroy or eliminate micro-organisms (except bacterial endospores) on inanimate surfaces. See Antimicrobial Treatment. Encapsulant Treatment – a surface treatment that is intended to encase the surface, and any contaminant present on the surface, in a material to prevent release of the contaminant from the surface. This could include treatments that are painted or sprayed onto a surface or treatments that wrap the surface in covering material. Endotoxin – a chemical product of some types of bacteria that forms a part of the bacterial cell wall. Endotoxin exposure can be common in some occupational settings, such as cotton and lumber processing. Epidemiology Study – study that investigates possible statistical associations or causal relationships between exposures and diseases or health symptoms in a defined community or population. Excess Moisture – see dampness. False Negatives – in exposure assessment, a measurement that appears to indicate no exposure (i.e., a 'negative' finding) when some exposure is actually occurring. This may be due to an insensitive measurement technique or a sampling method that is not adequately representative of actual exposure. Fungi – a biological kingdom separate from plants, animals and other micro-organisms. Fungi have cells that contain a true nucleus, lack chlorophyll and use organic carbon sources for growth and energy. Fungi include yeasts, molds, smuts, rusts and mushrooms. Hazard Assessment – a qualitative (i.e., presence or absence) conclusion regarding whether exposure to a chemical, physical or biological agent causes a particular type of health effect. For example, a conclusion (based on available evidence) that a chemical does or does not cause liver damage, developmental toxicity or cancer. Hazard assessment conclusions often are based on experimental animal studies and do not consider the level of exposure needed to cause an effect. Also see dose- response assessment. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis – an inflammation of the deep regions of the lung where gas exchanges takes place (the alveoli) due to immune reactions to inhaled dust or aerosol particles containing bacteria or organic matter. Acute symptoms occur after exposures to large amounts of inhaled material. Chronic exposure can lead to permanent lung damage. Hypothesis Generating – with respect to health effects, studies that do not provide direct evidence of a statistical association or causal relationship but only suggest hypotheses about possible associations between a cause and a health outcome that could be tested through more scientifically rigorous study designs. Intervention – as used in this report: a portion of a study protocol that involves remediation of mold or water damage in buildings as a way to reduce mold exposures in building occupants. Lower Respiratory Illness – illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia or hypersensitivity pneumonitis affecting the deep regions of the lung including small airways (bronchi) and where gas-exchange takes place (the alveoli). vii

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