It is probably no surprise to anyone that mold has become a problem in New Orleans. A Web MD article says many walls will have to be removed because the mold buildup will be so bad.
Persistent and potentially dangerous mold is a problem mostly in New Orleans, where buildings spent days and in many cases weeks under water. That's more than enough time for moisture to permeate walls and floors and provide an ideal growth medium for mold.
Health and environmental officials Wednesday urged residents returning to flood-affected areas to quickly clean up mold contamination to avoid potential illnesses. Small amounts of mold can be cleaned by homeowners themselves. Moldy surfaces over 10 square feet require professional removal, said Steven Redd, MD, chief of the CDC's Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch.
"Those [surfaces] that can't be cleaned need to be removed," Redd told reporters.
Mold can be especially dangerous for people with asthma and allergies and this MSNBC.com article says a surge in asthma and allergies is expected in the Gulf following Katrina.
