Summary

This document presents information from two GAO surveys on ongoing and recently completed federal research activities on the health effects of exposure to indoor mold conducted or sponsored by three federal agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We surveyed these agencies to, among other things, obtain information on federal research that was (1) ongoing as of October 1, 2007, or (2) completed between January 1, 2005, and September 30, 2007. For each research activity, we provide the title, a brief description of the research activity provided by the agencies, and an agency contact. This information can be viewed in table form by clicking on the Table of Contents link at the bottom right of the screen. We received information about 107 research activities from 37 officials in the three agencies. The information about the research activities included here was provided and confirmed by the relevant agency officials. In addition, we provided the draft e-supplement to EPA, HHS, and HUD for review and comment. We received one technical comment from HHS, which we incorporated. Agencies were also provided with a copy of the related draft report for review and comment. Agency comments on the draft report, as well as a more detailed discussion of our scope and methodology, are contained in our report Indoor Mold: Better Coordination of Research on Health Effects and More Consistent Guidance Would Improve Federal Efforts, GAO-08-980 (Washington, D.C.). We administered the surveys from November 2007 to May 2008 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.