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Community Corner

With Flood Waters Receding, Mold Now a Concern

Lance Berens, director of Lawrence Township-based Environmental Forensics, talks about the health risks mold can pose to your family and what steps you can take to prevent mold growth in your home.

Despite no longer being an active threat, Hurricane Irene's damage remains in flood waters and the resulting water damage in the basements and homes of many people throughout the state.

Of great concern to many now – even those who had just a few inches of flood water invade their properties – is mold

Mold can threaten not only your home or business but your health. And the best breeding grounds for mold – moist, damp conditions – are all over the township right now.

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Experts say mold needs just moisture and nutrients to grow and multiply. With Hurricane Irene’s flood waters receding, water-soaked building materials and household items are excellent sources for these two things.

Lance Berens, director of Lawrence Township-based Environmental Forensics LLC, said ground water flooding such as from a creek or a sewer line is much worse than flooding from a burst pipe. He said flood water is essentially muddy soup with microorganisms present in the water. Once mold is presented with that environment, it could flourish, he said.

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Mold spores are like little seeds which start to grow as soon as they get wet. Once that happens, Berens said, the spread is inevitable, and it becomes a question of degree and how much nutrient quantity the mold can consume.

“If spores are whipped up into the air they will land on materials and, if conditions are right, it can sprout up into a colony. Each mold formation could spread more spores and thousands of spores can spread, and in a matter of days an entire basement can go from being water-damaged to mold-damaged,” he said.

Berens said most of the molds that cause health effects on people grow from cellulose. In nature, an example of fertile ground for mold would be tree bark. In homes, lumber and drywall can serve to attract and feed mold.

Basements all over town are currently wet. If a basement already has mold in it then it’s already been inoculated, Berens said. Once the mold gets water it can germinate rapidly.

First find the mold

Although you could hire a private company to inspect your home using testing or mold-sniffing dogs, detection starts with your senses of sight and smell. Berens said you should be able to spot an area of mold in any of its usual colors: black, brown, green, yellow, or white. The mold’s texture should appear cottony, velvety, granular, or leathery.

At first sight you may not recognize mold because it can be mistaken for discoloration, staining, or a fuzzy ivy-like growth on the surface of building materials or furnishings.

Earthy or musty smells (mold odors) are likely to come along with any areas with mold. The presence of moisture or worsening allergy-like symptoms, including respiratory trouble, might also suggest the presence of mold.

Some assume mold is a minor issue which doesn’t require swift action. Guess again, Berens said. Unlike the rain and wind, airborne mold spores can attack your body and your family members as the air circulates through your home.

Effects on health from exposure to mold will vary depending on the individual and the amount of mold in their home. Some people can experience symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, nasal and throat conditions. Allergy sufferers or people sensitive to mold may notice increased symptoms.

Infants, seniors, people on medication and those who have a weakened immune system can be at risk of developing serious fungal respiratory infections if they’re exposed to mold, Berens said.

Get it out of the house

Berens said drying all items and flood areas should be the first priority, but removal comes immediately after.

Daniel Emmer, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, agreed. He offered basic guidelines for residents.

“Remove and dispose of mold-contaminated materials. Look for mold on porous items that may have absorbed moisture – including sheetrock, insulation, plaster, carpet, carpet pads, ceiling tiles, wood (other than solid wood), and paper products. If you see evidence of mold, these items should be removed, bagged and thrown out,” Emmer said.

Getting rid of all moisture is the essential. Emmer said that along with throwing out moldy items people should fix water leaks, use fans and dehumidifiers, and open doors and windows to remove moisture.

If you decide to clean mold yourself, national organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Environmental Protection Agency have detailed mold removal guidelines available online. Current national standards for mold treatment are based upon asbestos safety precautions.

Non-porous items fare best for mold cleaning while porous items should be salvaged within 48 hours. Linoleum, plastic, metal, glass, some hardwoods, brick and cement and similar materials can usually be saved with cleaning. Although different types are tricky, solid wood items can also usually be saved through cleaning if they are structurally sound.

First thing to do is seal off the room you’re working in with some plastic sheeting and tape. Second, spray a mold cleaner directly onto the mold and let it sit for at least a day. This will give the cleaning solution time to work.

Removing mold with soap and water may sound counterproductive, but keeping the mold wet actually helps to prevent airborne spores from spreading. All waste should be removed in a sealed plastic bag because dead mold retains its allergenic properties. Because of this, the objective of cleaning is not just a clean-looking surface – it's to capture and remove the mold contamination while making sure mold spores don't spread.

One continuing point of debate is the use of bleach mixtures to remove mold. Berens doesn’t recommend bleach cleaning because bleach alone won’t reliably kill mold. In fact bleach consists mostly of water, so it can actually provide some of the moisture needed for the growth of mold, he said.

Bleach treatment also cannot remove mold spores or particles. It can merely blanket the surface area. Berens made the analogy of killing dandelions by mowing the grass.

People should always use caution when cleaning with bleach as fumes from mixing bleach and ammonia could be toxic.

Vinegar in a simple spray bottle can be used as an effective and less toxic alternative.

Here are some other mold removal tips:

  • For heavily contaminated items using an industrial-style HEPA vacuum is your best option.
  • If you can’t get a HEPA vacuum, carefully damp wipe the item to remove as much surface contamination as possible. Rinse wipes often with clean water. Dispose of contaminated wipes and rinse water frequently and properly.
  • After HEPA-vacuuming or damp wiping, thoroughly scrub all contaminated surfaces. Use a stiff brush, hot water, and a non-ammonia soap/detergent or commercial cleaner.
  • Collect excess cleaner/cleaning water a wet/dry vacuum, mop or sponge.
  • Rinse the surface, item or clean-up area with clean water. Collect the excess rinse water, and dry everything as quickly as possible. (Once again conditions can’t be moist)
  • Disinfectant may be used to kill some of the mold that may still be present. Disinfection is not a substitute for cleaning and removal of mold but it’s essential for items that have been in contact with sewage.
  • If using bleach, mix ¼-to-½ cup bleach per gallon of water and apply to surfaces where mold growth was visible before cleaning. Apply with a spray bottle, garden sprayer, sponge, or some other suitable method.

Steps to avoid spreading mold spores include:

  • When transporting moldy materials, use the shortest path into and out of the building.
  • Remove your outer layer of work clothes before leaving the mold-infested area. Bag the contaminated clothes or wash them separately.
  • Damp clean all surfaces in and around the mold area to remove any fine dust.

 The EPA recommends paying special attention to areas where mold grew previously because continuing problems with mold and moisture can develop once flooding subsides.

Look for new mold growth over the next few months and particularly after heavier rain storms. If the mold returns, repeat cleaning and consider using a stronger disinfecting solution. New mold growth may mean that the contaminated material should be removed, or that you still have a moisture problem.

Finally, checking and cleaning your heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems around the house is also wise because they contain moisture.

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