Press Releases at EMSL

Last week’s historic rains in the Carolinas caused widespread flooding and water damage that closed many schools for several days earlier this week. As these schools begin to reopen, many are finding that even buildings not directly touched by floodwaters have sustained varying degrees of water damage due to the deluge that brought up to two feet of rain that leaked through many roofs and windows.

Once moisture has entered a school or other building it can support the growth of mold on many materials in less than 48 hours if the wet materials are not quickly and thoroughly dried. Students and faculty exposed to elevated levels of mold could experience allergic reactions, respiratory irritation and mold is also a known asthma trigger. People with a weakened or suppressed immune system can be vulnerable to fungal infections from some types of mold, such as Aspergillus, that are commonly associated with water damaged buildings. Buildings directly impacted by floodwaters could also have been contaminated with sewage and chemicals.

“Schools faced with making repairs due to the storm should also be on the lookout for other potential hazards,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Older schools may have asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paints in some circumstances. Demolition, repair and rebuilding activities could aerosolize these hazardous materials.”

Helping schools identify water and flood damage in schools and other facilities is EMSL Analytical, Inc. As the nation’s leading environmental testing laboratory, they have a service center in Charleston and three laboratories located across North Carolina. EMSL offers rapid testing services for mold, sewage, bacteria, lead, asbestos and a wide range of other contaminants. They provide all of the sampling supplies necessary and even offer easy-to-use test kits to identify a wide range of contaminants. For more information or access to EMSL’s indoor environmental test kits, please visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

To learn more about water damage, mold and indoor air quality testing or other occupational, environmental, health and safety issues, please visit www.EMSL.com or email info@EMSL.com. To contact EMSL’s Charleston Service Center, please call (888) 958-8170.