An article in USA Today reports that crusader Erin Brockovich, is fighting a new battle. Brockovich was made famous by instigating a class action lawsuit against utility giant, Pacific Gas and Electric, who polluted her small town in California. Brockovich is taking on a new enemy - mold. Upon discovering her husband and daughter have developed respiratory illnesses related to mold growing in her home, Brockovich decided to sue the home's builder and seller. She is also pushing California lawmakers to adopt the nation's first policy to regulate mold.

Stephen Lehtonen of the California PHCC says contractors should be wary of mold and not disturb it in any way. "There is the potential that a contractor can create a liability and we don't want that," said Lehtonen. The California PHCC is aiming to educate both contractors and the general public so they can recognize the potential for a mold problem.

Mold can be a problem in any area of the country, but it is especially common in areas that are humid or get a lot of rain and warm winters. Mold thrives in spaces that are damp and dark, such as basements, crawlspaces and under refrigerators. Leaky plumbing is a very common cause of mold because the leak moistens organic material (such as wood) within a building's walls or ceiling. This creates the perfect environment for mold. Drywall is another medium upon which mold thrives.