September 19, 2005—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies published a statement September 14 warning those affected by Hurricane Katrina that cleaning up in preparation to return to homes and businesses can pose significant health and environmental challenges.
According to EPA, individuals may be exposed to potentially life-threatening hazards posed by leaking natural gas lines and carbon monoxide poisoning from using un-vented fuel-burning equipment indoors. During a flood cleanup, failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity may present serious long-term health risks from micro-organisms, such as bacteria and mold.
For detailed information on safe flood cleanup and how to avoid the growth of mold in buildings, visit EPA’s Indoor Air Quality—Molds site.
