Toxic mold growth often follows flood

[Guest guest]

Toxic mold growth often follows flood

BY CHRIS BIRK

STAFF WRITER

07/11/2006

Scranton Times-Tribune

Scranton, PA

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?

newsid=16905163 & BRD=2185 & PAG=461 & dept_id=415898 & rfi=6

Despite the receded waters and mounds of curb-side debris, cleanup

might not be complete for many flood-weary home and business owners.

Hard-to-spot mold colonies, hiding in wall cavities and crevices,

can create severe health problems and, if left unattended, require

costly and major structural repairs.

Flooded-out residents should take a second look at their basements

and belongings for fuzzy patches or musty smells and kill off any

spores before mold makes a bad situation worse, warn environmental

and health experts.

" It is something people need to worry about, " said McGarvey,

spokesman for the state Department of Health. " Mold likes the cool,

damp, dark places. It's not something that's out in the light a lot.

" It's something you need to be looking for. "

Flooding only intensifies those conditions where mold thrives.

Wood, paper and items made of cellulose, a raw material in many

manufactured goods like drywall and plaster, are ideal breeding

grounds for mold colonies, which often appear as fuzzy patches of

black, brown, green or white. While smaller mold colonies subsist in

most environments, both indoor and outdoor, their intensity and vast

quantities in flooded basements and houses can trigger respiratory

problems for children, elderly people and those with breathing

problems, said Mr. McGarvey.

Cleanup should entail removing all wet items from the flooded area,

often including the walls themselves, said Mike Steckler, an

estimator with ServiceMaster, a commercial and residential cleaner

in Scranton.

Residents should then use a solution of nine parts water to one part

bleach to spray affected areas. Many home and business owners have

already cleaned up, but they often miss mold colonies lurking behind

walls or in dark places, said Mr. Steckler, whose company has

already cleaned out about 80 homes in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Others, whose homes are still waterlogged, should follow similar

steps. The key in both situations is drying out the flooded area

with fans and dehumidifiers, then keeping a close watch for colonies

and fuzzy patches, said T.J. Jimmie, president of Dunmore

environmental firm Datom Products Inc.

Disaster agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Federal

Emergency Management Agency offer guidelines and tips for dealing

with mold growth caused by flooding. But, unlike water and outdoor

air, there are no environmental regulations governing the quality of

indoor air.

Many homeowners will be able to kill off mold colonies on their own.

Others may need to seek outside help.

If mold growth is present in more than 25 square feet of your home,

FEMA recommends the use of a professional contractor.

Calling the move " a last resort, " Mr. Jimmie cautioned homeowners to

do their homework when selecting a contractor. There are no formal

state or federal certifications for mold removal, and scam artists

have duped home and business owners in the past, he said.

" Choose wisely in a contractor, and get two or three quotations, "

said Mr. Jimmie. " It's not a quick fix. It's a drawn-out procedure. "

For more information, visit www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/mold.shtm.

Contact the writer: cbirk@...