Health issues result from mold growth

Members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who participated in the preliminary assessment of flood damage in Webster Parish said what comes next is inevitable — MOLD.

Mold goes hand in hand with flooding and usually rears its ugly head within days, attacking Sheetrock and other wickable surfaces.

Although mold abatement is not a part of the preliminary assessment, FEMA representatives felt compelled to speak out about the negative and at times dangerous effects of mold.

“Very few people pay attention to the mold factor,” said Ernal Cunningham, a FEMA disaster assistance employee who works with mitigation.

Cunningham stressed health issues associated with mold.

“Every time you have a humid day, and you haven’t removed that mold, that mold spore will take humidity out of the air and will start throwing out spores,” Cunningham said. “Then you have your babies and the elderly breathing the mold spores. All it takes is moisture and oxygen and it can grow.”

Cunningham laid out the following simple, non-intrusive plan for checking Sheetrock and paneling for mold.

1) Remove the baseboard

2) Along the exposed bottom of the Sheetrock/paneling, cut a three-quarter inch by eight-inch long section

3) Screw Sheetrock screws into cut section and pull out

4) Check back side of Sheetrock/paneling for mold

If no mold is visible, return strip and hold into place with caulk. Replace baseboard.

“If there is not any mold, you are OK,” Cunningham said.

Mold growth doesn’t just occur when there is major flooding. It can also appear when carpet gets wet from a small water leak inside the home.

“Even on a carpet wetting, water will wick from eight to 13 inches high,” Cunningham said. “You can have mold on the back side of your Sheetrock and not even know it.”

Any “wickable” material is prone for growing mold.

“Water does not absorb as well on paneling, but it too should be checked,” Cunningham said. “If it is a chipboard-type paneling, it’s worse than Sheetrock.”

Drying out wet carpet does not prevent mold from growing.

“People will say they dried the carpet with a fan. What did that fan do? It pushed oxygen and moisture into the wall and made that mold grow,” said Cunningham. “When the oxygen/moisture went away, the mold went dormant. But how many high humid days do you have in Louisiana? Every time you a get humid day, the mold absorbs the moisture, the spores think it’s dying and puts out more spores and it’s back in your house.”

When a federal disaster is declared, FEMA provides information and assistance with mitigation – an area of the agency that can assist homeowners with mold issues.

“When people get their money, they don’t want to stop by mitigation. The only thing they want is money to buy their furniture,” said Cunningham. “It’s hard to get the information out about mold. It’s a natural process, but in your home, it’s not a welcome place.”

Cunningham said painting may cover up mold, but it does not kill the mold. His suggestion is to immediately remove any wet Sheetrock.

The best thing to do with Sheetrock is to cut it out and throw it away,” said Cunningham. “Say you get the carpet wet in a 12 x 12 square foot room. Sheetrock is four foot wide. If you cut it into 16-inch strips, it takes two sheets of Sheetrock to repair the 12 x 12 foot room — and Sheetrock costs just $6 a sheet.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing.  

“Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals,” says the agency’s Website.  

“Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis).

Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people,” the site continued.

The EPA says investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth.

“For example, removal of wallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growing on the underside of the paper. If you believe that you may have a hidden mold problem, consider hiring an experienced professional,” the site suggests.

In regard to cleanup, the EPA says biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms.

“The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. There may be instances, however, when professional judgment may indicate its use (for example, when immune-compromised individuals are present).

In most cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area; a background level of mold spores will remain - these spores will not grow if the moisture problem has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or biocides, always ventilate the area and exhaust the air to the outdoors. Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes could be produced,” the site states.

The EPA notes that dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website says one can 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?)

The CDC suggests cleaning up and drying out a building quickly (within 24 to 48 hours). One should open doors and windows and use fans to dry out the building

“When in doubt, take it out! Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be removed from the home. Porous, non-cleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, wood, and food. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold may cause allergic reactions in some people,” states the CDC site.

The CDC says 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.

To receive a free guide, call the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or go to the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html.

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