Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
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Progress News Writer - It was a dark and rainy night. No, strike that. It was several dark and rainy nights and days. The rains came down and the floods came up, and the mold grew and grew.
Recent flooding in 30 disaster-related counties and even in counties adjacent to those areas may have contributed to an increase in mold growth, according to recent literature released by the Federal Emergency Management Association.
Mold can cause problems for homes and health. Mold-sensitive individuals need to be aware of ways to check for mold, and of potential health risks.
If mold is seen, or if there is an earthy or musty odor, there is cause for concern. Visible mold growth can be found under water-damaged surfaces, or behind walls. Look for discoloration and cracking walls.
Although he has not seen mold growth resulting specifically from Tropical Storm Allison, Jacksonville Building Official Warren Oakley said his office sees about three or four homes a year infected with mold spores.
“We’ve seen some houses left vacant that did not have proper air circulation,” he said. “We always advise (homeowners) about the health hazards and explain the agents used to get rid of the mold. We also try to help them by showing what is causing the growth, such as poor insulation and other factors.”
According to The Journal of the American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control, mold growth in water-damaged homes can create a potential health hazard for individuals sensitive to mold.
There is always a little mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces. According to the CDC, there are very few cases of toxic mold reported. Mold exposure doesn’t always present a health problem, but for those who are sensitive, mold spores can bring on allergic symptoms such as:
• respiratory problems, such as wheezing and difficulty in breathing,
• nasal and sinus congestion,
• burning and watering eyes,
• dry, hacking cough and sore throat,
• shortness of breath, or
• skin irritation.
According to Dr. David Strauss, director of the Texas Tech University Health Science Center Indoor Air Quality Lab, a phenomenon called “sick building syndrome” happens when a contaminant enters a building and begins to grow.
“Anything can cause it,” Strauss said. “A leaking roof, broken pipe, a sewage leak or any of a number of things will cause fungi and mold to grow, and it will grow to a level where people will get sick.”
Strauss said the best way to prevent it from happening is to keep houses clean and dry, because some of the damage molds cause can be very serious.
“Different people can react differently to types of mold,” Strauss said. “If you are in a building which has it (mold), the building needs to be repaired and the mold removed.”
Recovery, a magazine circulated by FEMA, suggests ways to get rid of or control mold, especially after water damage has occurred.
Make sure the electricity is turned off. Wear a dust mask and gloves while cleaning and follow these cleaning steps:
If necessary, remove any water and mud from the home.
Scrub all moldy surfaces with a non-ammonia soap or detergent, then rinse.
Disinfect with a diluted bleach solution, a mix of one to two cups of bleach per gallon of water.
Use a wet-dry vacuum to collect the excess bleach solution. Do not rinse off the solution.
Allow the treated surfaces to dry naturally and use fans or air conditioning to speed up the drying process.
Wear boots and rubber gloves at all times.
Persons with respiratory health problems, such as asthma or emphysema, or children should not perform the cleanup.