In these hot and humid months of summer, drying out the recently flooded homes in the northeast states will be no easy task. Along with repairing structural and cosmetic damage, people may find themselves in a battle with mold.
Increasingly, homeowner's insurance policies are not covering the costs of mold damage and removal, so as people are working to clean the growth out of their homes and offices themselves, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing information on the health implications of mold growth.
The CDC asserts that exposure to mold is only a minimal health threat for healthy individuals. People with mold sensitivity may develop a stuffy nose, irritated eyes, a minor cough, or a mild skin reaction, while those individuals with asthma or mold allergies may develop shortness of breath from exposure. People with a suppressed immune system or with chronic lung disease need to take more precaution in mold-infested areas to guard against pulmonary infection. It is important to note, however, that many people have no physiological reaction to mold.
Alarm over the black mold dubbed "toxic mold" made news for allegedly causing serious illness, but the CDC states that "there are very few reports that toxic molds (those containing certain mycotoxins) found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxic mold and these conditions has not been proven."
Mold is ubiquitous in the environment, and while the health danger caused by mold is minimal for many people, mold should not be permitted to grow excessively in homes and businesses. "A common-sense approach should be used for any mold contamination existing inside buildings and homes," according to the CDC. The best way to handle mold is to stop it before it starts. The CDC suggests removing all items from the home that cannot be thoroughly dried within forty-eight hours. These items include porous, non-cleanable items such as carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, wood, and food. Mold can be cleaned off of hard surfaces with either soap and water or a bleach and water solution (not to exceed one cup bleach per gallon of water). In the case of cleaning large amounts of mold, a particulate-filter respirator is recommended by the CDC as the appropriate respiratory protection.
Even though the health hazard posed by mold is small at most, with quick action, mold growth in flooded homes and businesses of the northeast can be prevented. People need to take into consideration their health history and look for symptoms of mold allergies when cleaning their homes, but bleach and a sponge are a better way to confront a mold problem than panic and fear.
Julianne Chickering is a research intern at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).
