6/24/08

Madison, WI - As floodwaters begin to recede, homeowners are dealing with additional problems associated with the damage.

Those who saw their homes fill with water now have health concerns to worry about, most notably mold, according to health officials.

Health officials said that with all the extra water and moisture following the floods, there's a good chance that black mold could be forming inside many of the homes.

Doctors said the biggest concern has to do with respiratory health. If you have mold in your house, it could heighten asthma and allergic reactions.

"Mold can grow where there is moisture present. That can be under carpeting, on concrete slab floors, it can be behind dry wall, it can be behind areas you might not see until the mold is present in large quantities," said Dr. Mark Moss of the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

Moss said that, typically, the mold that irritates people is outdoors, which is harder to prevent, WISC-TV reported.

With all the extra moisture as of late, mold could continue to be a problem through this fall.

The best way to clean mold damage is to use a is to use a Mold Help approved fungicide, but a professional will be needed to determine mold levels if it isn't visible.