Mold battle about to begin

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Mold battle about to begin

By Bomey and Pepose

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

June 29, 2006

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20060628-110420-8366r.htm

Local health officials are warning residents to be on the lookout

for mold and mildew in homes that were flooded by this week's

torrential rains.

Officials said exposure to the fungus -- which flourishes in

warm, damp and humid conditions -- can lead to serious health

problems such as allergies, asthma and fever.

" You don't want mold in your home, " said Earl Harrington, owner

of the District-based Harrington Contractors Inc. " That's one of the

worst things that can happen. "

More than 10 inches of rain fell in the Washington region from 7

a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. yesterday, according to the National Weather

Service. Flooding forced local officials to evacuate at least 1,200

homes in the area.

Mold doesn't happen immediately after a storm, but experts

expect that it could soon crop up in flooded homes.

" If there's visible mold, you need to remove it, " said Pam Lawn,

director of Montgomery County Environmental Field Services. " There

could be some issues with cleanup the next couple days. "

Dr. Henry Fishman, an allergist who has a practice in the

District, described mold as extremely versatile.

" Mold acts like an irritant, like cigarette smoke. It can cause

irritation, allergies, colonization with allergies and infection, "

he said.

Local government entities are offering residents information to

help combat problems with mold and mildew and to avoid health

problems.

The Fairfax County Health Department has distributed information

on dealing with mold, mildew and fungi. Information was distributed

at town meetings, in flooded neighborhoods and at county service

centers.

Mold generally sets in when water sits in the same place for a

couple of days.

" If you have moisture and if you have water, then you're going

to have mold, " said , deputy director of the Office of

Radiation and Indoor Air at the Environmental Protection

Agency. " The only mechanism we have for controlling mold is

controlling moisture. "

Homeowners concerned about mold should use fans, sump pumps,

dehumidifiers, air-conditioning units or other tools to dry the

flooded areas of their homes immediately. They also can scrub the

affected areas with cleaning materials such as bleach and water.

" Eliminating the moisture is the first step, " said Ron

Moolenaar, field epidemiology team chief for the Air Pollution and

Respiratory Health Branch, National Center for Environmental Health

at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. " Mold is kind of

ubiquitous in the environment. If it's already there, you want to

get rid of it as soon as possible. "

Carpets, upholstery, textiles, stuffed animals, fabrics and

other porous materials absorb water and can be particularly

susceptible to mold.

A stuffed animal infested with mold, for example, generally has

to be thrown out. However, mold abatement professionals can be hired

to try to salvage cherished household items.

Companies that remove mold or help homeowners keep water out of

their residences have been deluged with calls for help in recent

days.

" Overwhelming is the word to describe what's going on here, "

said Mike Mullins of land Waterproofing.

Amy Coffin, who works at ServiceMaster in andria, said the

prodigious rain has presented a challenge for local companies.

" Everyone is completely booked, " she said. " Unfortunately, there

are tons of people out there who are sitting in wet houses who won't

get helped for weeks, or even a month. "

Experts suggest that to prevent water from getting into their

residences, homeowners should clean the gutters and try to get water

to flow away from their homes.

" You just have to be vigilant, " Mr. Harrington said. " It's like

checking the oil in your car. "