CDC Health Advisory Notices & Announcements

[Guest guest]

CDC Health Advisory Notices & Announcements Last Updated: Sep 6th,

2005 - 06:32:42

http://communitydispatch.com/artman/publish/article_1902.shtml

Community Dispatch (press release) - USA

Protect Yourself from Mold fter Flooding and Hurricanes

By Center for Disease Control , Emergency Preparedness & Response

Sep 6, 2005, 06:29

Email this article

Printer friendly page

Download PDF version formatted for print (157 KB/2 pages)

After natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods,

excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold

in homes and other buildings. When returning to a home that has been

flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk

for your family.

People at Greatest Risk from Mold

People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be

more sensitive to mold. People with immune suppression (such as

people with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and

people who have received an organ transplant) are more susceptible

to mold infections.

Possible Health Effects of Mold Exposure

People who are sensitive to mold may experience stuffy nose,

irritated eyes, wheezing, or skin irritation. People allergic to

mold may have difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath.

People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases,

such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in

their lungs. If you or your family members have health problems

after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care

provider.

Recognizing Mold

You may recognize mold by:

Sight (Are the walls and ceiling discolored, or do they show signs

of mold growth or water damage?)

Smell (Do you smell a bad odor, such as a musty, earthy smell or a

foul stench?)

Safely Preventing Mold Growth

Clean up and dry out the building quickly (within 24 to 48 hours).

Open doors and windows. Use fans to dry out the building. (See the

fact sheet for drying out your house, Reentering Your Flooded Home).

When in doubt, take it out! Remove all porous items that have been

wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and

dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be

removed from the home. Porous, noncleanable items include carpeting

and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and

ceiling tiles, insulation material, clothing, leather, paper, wood,

and food. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold

may cause allergic reactions in some people.

To prevent mold growth, clean wet items and surfaces with detergent

and water.

Homeowners may want to temporarily store items outside of the home

until insurance claims can be filed. See recommendations by the

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) .

If you wish to disinfect, refer to the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) document, A Brief Guide to Mold and Moisture in Your

Home at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/images/moldguide.pdf .

If there is mold growth in your home, you should clean up the mold

and fix any water problem, such as leaks in roofs, walls, or

plumbing. Controlling moisture in your home is the most critical

factor for preventing mold growth.

To remove mold growth from hard surfaces use commercial products,

soap and water, or a bleach solution of 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon

of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as

concrete.

If you choose to use bleach to remove mold:

Never mix bleach with ammonia. Mixing bleach and ammonia can produce

dangerous, toxic fumes.

Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.

Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.

If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold

Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings . Although focused

on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to

other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor

Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or by going

to the EPA web site at

http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html .

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using bleach or

any other cleaning product.

More information on personal safety while cleaning up after a

natural disaster is available at

www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/workers.asp .

For more information on mold, visit CDC's Mold Web site at

http://www.cdc.gov/mold/ .