Mold
Molds are common naturally occurring fungi that can grow almost anywhere with moisture and oxygen. Mold is generally easily removable and killable with a simple bleach solution, but can spread considerably if left unchecked. Molds are most likely to form in large amounts after floods—contact Facilities Services immediately upon discovering a large, uncontained flood. When molds grow indoors, or in enclosed spaces, they may cause a variety of adverse health effects in sensitive individuals.
Mold generally grows best in warm humid environments, and large growth events may be caused by water leaks, flooding, or lack of fresh air ventilation in humid areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Once an area has been flooded it's important to try to dry the area as quickly as possible, OSHA recommends within 24-48 hours. Wet porous products such as rugs, clothing, insulation, and carpets that cannot be quickly cleaned and dried may need to be thrown out after a flood event. If the product is of particular value, a flood service company may be able to recover waterlogged items. Make sure bathroom and kitchen vent fans are in good working order and use them anytime moisture has the potential to collect. Don't leave standing water in sinks, and hang up wet towels and clothing to properly dry. If you find a water leak, have issues with ventilation, or suspect mold growth, contact facilities maintenance.
Molds are generally not very hazardous to human health. They can cause some short-term effects such as sneezing, coughing, rash, eye irritation, or aggravation of asthma. Generally speaking, the people at greatest risk from mold are those with pre-existing medical conditions like asthma, immunocompromisation, mold allergies, and recovery from surgery. In rarer cases, molds may cause more serious effects such as the release of toxic substances. In exceedingly rare cases mold may cause serious fungal infections that may lead to serious adverse health effects.