Mold is major health threat after flood

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Mold is major health threat after flood

Parsons Sun - Parsons,KS,

By Kirbee Yost

http://www.parsonssun.com/news/articles/mold070707.shtml

As flood waters recede, the greatest health risk still may be inside

homes and businesses: mold.

Kenny Titus of the Labette County Sanitation Department said he

expects mold to be the most serious health problem after the flood.

" Anything that has been wet for over two days could have mold, "

Titus said.

Titus said it is important to address the problem because exposure

to mold can lead to respiratory problems.

Weir, an environmental scientist at the Kansas Department of

Health and Environment in the Bureau of Air and Radiation, also

expects mold to be a problem for flood victims.

" The most common thing that occurs are hayfever-like symptoms, " Weir

said. " Itchy eyes, watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing are common.

In more severe cases it can be difficult to breathe. "

Mold, which is likely to be widespread after the flooding, can act

as an asthma trigger.

" Mold spores are everywhere, " he said. " They're a natural part of

our environment. They just wait until conditions are right, and the

key is moisture. "

One common indication of mold is a musty odor, and mold can come in

a variety of colors with black, gray or green the most common.

" It just depends on the species or state of growth it is in, " Weir

said. " It can be powdery, fuzzy or have runners. "

Weir said treatment depends on the type of water causing the mold.

" Flood water is contaminated water, so porous items exposed to flood

water should be thrown out. "

Hard, non-porous surfaces can be cleaned with a mixture of one cup

of bleach to one cup of water. He said clothes should be washed as

normal and dried thoroughly.

" Anything that is going to be too difficult to clean, and the value

has been significantly decreased, throwing out is the easiest thing

to do. "

Weir said wall-to-wall carpeting was one of the things that should

be thrown out after flooding. Small area rugs may be washed and

dried.

He said it is important to wear rubber boots and gloves while

cleaning, and goggles and a respirator or mask help keep mold from

entering the body. Weir said bleach should never be combined with

another chemical because of the hazardous fumes that result.

Professionals need to be called in if the mold has grown into the

floors or walls of the building.

" Once it's going, it can keep going, " Weir said. " It can damage wood

if left untreated. It's feeding on your property. "

He said there is no need to spend the time and money for tests used

to pinpoint the type of mold.

" If you see mold and smell mold, you've got mold and you need to get

rid of it. "

Swearengin, a nurse practitioner at Our Family Care Center in

Altamont, said she has seen an increased number of patients as a

result of mold since the flooding began.

" We've had an awful lot in this week with head congestion and other

symptoms like a head cold, " she said.

Swearengin said in most cases an over-the-counter antihistamine

should take care of mold-related illness, but more serious symptoms,

especially those involving trouble breathing, require additional

treatment.