Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Dealing with allergies after Hurricane Irene

Allergic reactions are common after
hurricanes and floods.
Residents in the northeastern United Stated, who got pounded with strong winds, heavy rainfalls and widespread flooding when Hurricane Irene hurled through are still feeling the effects.

Many areas in New York state and other regions are still heavily flooded and the water and humid air provide perfect conditions for mold and other pollutants to flourish.

This, coupled with the seasonal ragweed allergies may lead to much stronger allergic reactions to those sensitive to mold, dust mites, ragweed and other allergens.

According to health experts, similar strong allergic reactions were observed after Hurricane Katrina.

The experts recommend taking various steps to mitigate and prevent mold growth, warning that just because you don’t see or smell anything, any surface area that has been wet for more than two days is prone to get moldy.

If that is the case, wet carpet and humid drywall should be thrown out and the area dried thoroughly to prevent any mold from spreading or growing further.

Other tips include
  • Drying out the air with an air conditioner or dehumidifier
  • Checking the home’s humidity with a hygrometer
  • Using a particle mask to avoid exposure to allergens
  • Running a HEPA air filter to reduce the allergen count in the indoor space

AllerAir offers air purifiers for mold that contain a HEPA filter for particles and mold spores, a deep bed of activated carbon  for the removal of musty smells, mold mycotoxins and other harmful chemicals and gases in the air as well as a UV lamp (optional), which neutralizes biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, mold spores and mold mycotoxins.

The units are portable and can easily be moved from one area (such as the basement) to the room that is frequented the most (such as the bedroom).

AllerAir recommended air purifiers for mold include:

Contact AllerAir for more information!

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