Household levels of mold following Hurricane Katrina surpass some agricultural e

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Public release date: 22-Sep-2006

EurekAlert (press release) - Washington,DC,USA

Contact: Berger

212-305-4372

Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-09/cums-hlo092206.php

Household levels of mold following Hurricane Katrina surpass some

agricultural environments

Mold and bacteria levels in New Orleans homes warrant use of strong

respiratory protection

In a study assessing flood clean-up procedures in New Orleans

following Hurricane Katrina, a team of scientists led by researchers

at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, report

that household levels of mold and bacterial endotoxins in three

single-family homes were so considerable that they equaled or

surpassed those in waste- water treatment plants, cotton mills, and

agricultural environments. The study is the first comprehensive

report documenting levels of mold and bacteria in homes that

received sustained flooding.

Following Hurricane Katrina, many New Orleans homes remained flooded

for weeks, promoting heavy mold growth. These three New Orleans

homes were selected for the study based on their levels of flood

water, whether they previously were structurally sound, and if they

were located in an area likely to be rebuilt. The study examined the

extent to which homes that experienced significant and prolonged

exposure to flood waters could be satisfactorily cleaned to enable

reconstruction. Homes were inspected for roof leakage, standing

water and the extent of mold throughout their interiors, as well as

heating ventilation and air conditioning.

" From our data, it is clear that levels of mold were so high that we

strongly recommend that those entering, cleaning, and repairing

flood-damaged homes wear respirators that are more protective than

plain dust masks, " said Ginger Chew, ScD, assistant professor of

environmental health sciences at Columbia's Mailman School of Public

Health. " While our assessments of the data are based on a small

demonstration project, the results give a clear picture of what is

acceptable in flood clean-up procedures. "

The project was sponsored by the NIEHS Center for Environmental

Health in Northern Manhattan and Enterprise Community Partners, and

was carried out by the Mailman School of Public Health, the National

Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) and several other academic

institutions including Tulane School of Public Health, the

University of Cincinnati, Harvard School of Public Health, The

University of Iowa, and Case Western Reserve University.

" Our goal was to make recommendations for the safe removal of flood-

damaged articles, safe re-entry into homes, and safe levels of

worker protection, " said , deputy director of the

National Center for Healthy Housing.

According to researchers, these findings not only will inform those

involved in current clean-up activities in New Orleans and other

environments, but will benefit those responding to any future

disasters that may occur.

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The findings will be published in the December issue of

Environmental Health Perspectives. To access the study currently

online, visit http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/9258/9258.pdf

About the Mailman School of Public Health

The only accredited school of public health in New York City, and

among the first in the nation Columbia University's Mailman School

of Public Health provides instruction and research opportunities to

more than 900 graduate students in pursuit of masters and doctoral

degrees. Its students and more than 270 multi-disciplinary faculty

engage in research and service in the city, nation, and around the

world, concentrating on biostatistics, environmental health

sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, population and

family health, and sociomedical sciences. www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu

National Center for Healthy Housing is the only national non-profit

organization dedicated to developing and promoting practical

measures to protect children from residential environmental hazards

while preserving affordable housing. NCHH seeks to find

scientifically valid and practical strategies to make homes safe

from hazards, to alert low- income families about housing-related

health risks, and to help them protect their children. NCHH also

works with governmental and non-governmental organizations to

develop standards and programs and guide their implementation

through insurers, lenders, federal and state laws and regulations,

community organizations, and the courts.

www.centerforhealthyhousing.org