The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a grant to Air Quality Sciences to conduct a baseline study on mold and the fungi concentrations in urban Atlanta homes.

Atlanta, Ga.- March 18, 2002 - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a grant to Air Quality Sciences to conduct a baseline study on mold and fungi concentrations in urban Atlanta homes. Mold is a major allergen and trigger of asthma, which affects more than 17 million Americans, including five million children.

The study will be part of the research for HUD's "Healthy Homes Initiative," launched to protect children and their families from health and safety hazards in the home. The program includes research and demonstration projects, which HUD has funded through competitively awarded grants. The initiative was developed with the assistance of a panel of nationally recognized experts from the private sector, and federal, state and local governments.