![]() ![]() No indoor space is entirely free from mold spores, but exposure to high concentrations is linked with respiratory complications such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. It spreads by making tiny spores that float through the air to land in other locations. Mold can be found indoors and outdoors in all climates. Damp materials inside buildings following a flood create perfect conditions for rapid mold growth. Indoor mold generally grows due to extensive dampness, and signals a problem with water or moisture. The growth of mold can also affect healthĪnother common hazard is mold, a fungal growth that forms and spreads on damp or decaying organic matter. Many homes we studied after Hurricane Ida suffered water intrusion through roofs, windows, and ventilation ducts - and some were more than 100 miles away from coastal regions that bore the brunt of the storm. Anything in that dried flood sediment - the toxic chemicals, the metals, the biotoxins - is now in the air you breathe into your lungs, potentially affecting your respiratory health.īuildings needn't be submerged during flooding to spur respiratory problems. When disturbed through everyday actions like walking and cleaning, this turns into microscopic airborne dust. Afterward, some toxic contaminants remain in dried sediments left behind. How does flooding trigger respiratory health issues?įlooding may bring water contaminated with toxic chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, biotoxins, sewage, and water-borne pathogens into buildings. Fortunately, you can take steps to minimize or avoid flooding, or to reduce respiratory health risks after flooding occurs. Among the less visible threats is a higher risk of respiratory health problems like asthma and allergic reactions. Surging water rushing into buildings often causes immediate harms, such as drowning deaths, injuries sustained while seeking shelter or fleeing, and hypothermia after exposure to cold waters with no shelter or heat.īut long after news trucks leave and public attention moves on, flooding continues to affect communities in visible and less visible ways. Heavy rains and sea level rise contribute to major flooding events that are one effect of climate change. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |