After Milton made After making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in western Florida last week, some residents who evacuated the area are now returning to discover water damage to their homes. And they may soon find something else: mold.
Mold can begin to grow 24 to 48 hours after exposure to moisture. And Florida’s subtropical climate, which is still warm and humid in October, makes it a perfect breeding ground. Worse yet, mold will continue to grow until the source of moisture is removed.
As climate change brings heavier rain and stronger storms, mold is likely to become a more common problem. Warmer temperatures add moisture to the atmosphere, which can produce heavier precipitation. “Mold is absolutely associated with climate change,” says Mary Johnson, a senior researcher in environmental health at Harvard University. “Those extreme weather patterns, including hurricanes, can allow water to enter a home or any type of interior space. “When there is moisture, the likelihood of mold growing inside increases.”
Mold growth has been previously documented after large storms that caused flooding and water damage in residential neighborhoods. A few months after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention inspected 112 flood-affected homes and found that almost half It had visible mold growth. AND Johnson’s investigation has linked higher temperatures and increased precipitation to more mold spores in the outdoor air.
Mold, a type of fungus, is a natural part of the environment and has been on Earth for millions of years. Outdoors, it plays an important role in breaking down organic matter, such as dead trees and leaves. But indoors, mold can be a health risk, especially for children, people with allergies and asthma, and those with weakened immune systems.
Mold spores (reproductive cells that act like seeds) travel through the air both outdoors and indoors. When people inhale these spores, they can cause respiratory symptoms, itchy eyes, infections, or rashes. Inhaling them can also trigger asthma attacks which can be serious. However, not everyone is affected by mold exposure.
“Our bodies, for the most part, deal with mold,” says Ronald Saff, an internal medicine physician, allergist and immunologist in Tallahassee, Florida. “People are exposed to fairly high concentrations of mold if they go for a walk in the park or through wooded areas.”