Officials say Mold follows flood, health

Tag : Dried Fungus


Exposure to too much mold often causes sneezing, a runny nose, redeyes or a rash, which can be immediate or delayed.

"Under the current conditions, it is obvious mold growth issomething to be aware of," said Iowa Department of Public HealthDirector Tom Newton.

Crews must be careful when cleaning flooded homes or removing mold,Newton added. A flooded area should be cleaned and dried as soon aspossible. Opening windows and doors and using fans or dehumidifierscan speed up the drying process.

Items that have absorbed flood water must be thrown away if theycannot be thoroughly washed and dried, including carpeting,upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation material,leather, paper, some woods and food.

Wet items or surfaces that do not absorb water should be cleanedwith detergent to prevent mold growth.

Existing mold growth should be removed as quickly as possible toprevent the spores from becoming more obstructive, Newton said. Anyhomeowner cleaning up mold should wear gloves and goggles withoutventilation holes.

Avoid breathing in mold by removing contaminated materialscarefully, so the spores are not disturbed. A dust mask orrespirator helps minimize exposure when the mold growth is severe.