If Hurricane Ian itself wasn’t enough, residents across Southwest Florida are having to deal with mold forming in homes and businesses that suffered water damage. With that mold comes health hazards.

Officials with the Florida Department of Health – Lee County are urging the public to take precautionary measures to avoid indoor air quality problems that can occur in storm damaged homes and buildings. They said moisture from leaks or flooding can promote mold growth.

So, how can you tell if there is mold in your home or building?

FDOH-Lee officials stated:

• Search areas where you notice mold odors, if you smell an earthy or musty odor, you may have a mold problem.

• Indoor mold growth can usually be seen or smelled.

• Look for visible mold growth as it may appear cottony, velvety, rough or leathery and have different colors like white, gray, brown, black, yellow or green.

• Mold often emerges as a staining or fuzzy growth on furniture or building materials, such as walls, ceilings or anything made of wood or paper.

• Look for signs of moisture or water damage, such as water leaks, standing water, water stains and condensation. Check around air handling units, such as air conditioners and furnaces, for standing water.

When it comes to those who could be most impacted by mold, FHOD-Lee officials stated, “Infants, young children, older adults, people with chronic respiratory conditions and people with weakened immune systems may be affected sooner and more severely than others by mold in the home. If you have concerns, you should consult a healthcare provider if you feel your health has been affected by indoor mold.”

Health officials stated there are four kinds of health problems that come from exposure to mold: allergic illness, irritant effects, infection and toxic effects.

For those sensitive to molds, symptoms such as nasal and sinus irritation or congestion, dry hacking cough, wheezing, skin rashes or burning, or watery, or reddened eyes could occur. Officials said individuals with severe allergies to molds may have more serious reactions, such as hay fever-like symptoms.

“People with weakened immune systems may be more likely to get infections from certain molds, viruses and bacteria. Molds can also trigger asthma attacks or cause development of asthma. Headaches, memory problems, mood swings, nosebleeds and body aches and pains are sometimes reported in mold complaints. The long-term presence of indoor mold may eventually become a problem. Please note, that allergic reactions to mold are common and can be immediate or delayed.”

Health officials said mold should be cleaned as soon as it appears. Those that are most sensitive to molds should not help clean. Officials said to not use ozone generators. Protective gloves and safety goggles should be worn during cleaning. Small areas of mold should be cleaned using detergent/soapy water or a commercial mildew or mold cleaner. The cleaned area should be thoroughly dried.

“Throw away any sponges or rags used to clean mold,” officials stated. “If the mold returns quickly or spreads, it may mean you have an underlying problem, such as a water leak.”

To Protect Against Health Risks Associated with Mold, FDOH-Lee provided the following tips:

• Remove standing water from your home or office within 24 hours, being cautious about other hazards such as electricity, physical damage to the home or office and animals in the water or home.

• Dry out or remove wet building materials and carpets within 24 hours.

• If power is available use an air conditioner or dehumidifiers to reduce the indoor humidity levels. If using a portable generator to power air conditioners, dehumidifiers or other equipment, appliances or tools keep the portable generators at least 20 feet away from your and your neighbor’s home. All homes should have working carbon monoxide alarms installed at all times.

• If mold growth has already occurred, carefully remove or clean the moldy material.

• Use at least an N-95 respirator (or higher protection if possible), gloves and goggles when cleaning or removing mold. People with mold allergies, asthma or who have weakened immune systems should not clean or remove moldy materials.

• When using cleaners, make sure to read and follow the label instructions carefully and open windows and doors to provide plenty of fresh air. Do not mix bleach with ammonia cleaners or acids because a dangerous gas will form.

Officials said if there is a lot of mold growth in your dwelling, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) booklet “Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.” Although written about schools and commercial buildings, this document addresses mold in other types of buildings. If the moldy material is not easily cleaned, such as drywall, carpet padding and insulation, removal and replacement may be necessary.

When determining who should do the clean-up job, health officials said if the moldy area is less than 10 square feet, which is less than a 3-foot by 3-foot patch, cleanup can be handled yourself. However, if there has been significant water damage and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult the EPA booklet.

If an individual chooses to hire a contractor, officials said to consider someone licensed by the State of Florida.

The license for a mold assessor or mold remediator can be checked by using ton the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation web page (myfloridalicense.com). Officials recommended individuals check references and ask the contractor to follow current recommendations by EPA and the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) or other professional or government organizations.

For additional information, call DOH-Lee’s Environmental Health Office at 239-690-2100 or the Florida Department of Health’s (DOH’s) Radon and Indoor Air Program at 800-543-8279.

The program can provide guidance and advice on prevention, identification of mold problems, investigation techniques, clean-up methods, disaster planning and messaging, health effects including possible hazards of mold exposure and direct concerned people to appropriate local resources.

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