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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM, HEALTH, SAY NOW THAT THE STORMS ARE OVER, CLEANUP SHOULD INCLUDE MOLD PREVENTION AND REMOVAL PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) say that Rhode Islanders who experienced storm-related water damage from the recent heavy rains, may now be contending with mold in their homes or businesses."Although the storms have ended, says DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan, "many Rhode Islanders are still cleaning up. We want to be sure they have the information they need to clean up safely and effectively." Advice from the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that to safely prevent mold growth, buildings should be dried out and cleaned up quickly - within 24 to 48 hours. Open doors and windows, and use fans to dry out the building. Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried, such as carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, leather, paper, wood, and food. To prevent mold growth, clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water. To remove mold growth from hard surfaces, use commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of one cup of bleach in one gallon of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete. If using bleach, never mix it with ammonia. Open windows and doors to provide fresh air. Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear. "Some people are really sensitive to mold and mildew," said Robert Vanderslice, Ph.D., HEALTH's Chief of Environmental Health Risk Assessment. "A few simple steps will help to avoid any hay-fever-like effects and make cleanup safe and effective for those that can do it themselves. We recommend wearing gloves and easily laundered clothing, using exhaust fans during and after the cleanup, working over short time spans and taking breaks in a fresh air location. A dust mask can help reduce breathing in mold spores in the air." Both HEALTH and the CDC have extensive online resources available concerning mold. CDC's "Mold After a Disaster" webpage (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/) provides links to simplified documents on cleaning up mold, in English, Spanish, and soon in Vietnamese; to an emergency-based fact sheet on mold; and to information on re-entering a flooded home. Information on HEALTH's website, www.health.ri.gov, can be found by clicking on "M" under "Health Topics". Those without easy Internet access can contact HEALTH's Family Health Information Line at 1-800-942-7434. -30- |
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