Mold Exposure and Respiratory Conditions in Young Children

Explore Other Kids and Climate Health Impacts

Find information on how climate change can affect extreme weather, the home, and children’s health. Start by reading the fictional story of a preschool-aged child who is affected by flooding and mold exposure, and learn how similar situations can affect kids across the country. Also get tools to help families prepare and cope with these kinds of climate disasters and outcomes. Finally, check out the regional spotlight.

On this page:

Climate Change Impacts
Impacts on Children's Health
More Resources

Alex's Story

5-year-old Alex lives with his two young parents in a basement apartment in a city. Their region has recently experienced a lot of rain and flooding during the spring and summer. Alex’s parents notice water leaks through the windows and the home has a musty smell. His parents suspect mold may be present. Alex has a persistent cough with difficulty breathing and is diagnosed with asthma. They have informed their landlord of the problem, who hires a mold removal professional to properly clean the apartment. He also replaces the old windows. After the cleanup, Alex’s symptoms improve significantly.

Climate Change Impacts

Precipitation patterns across the United States is changing because of climate change. Some regions like the central and eastern United States are experiencing more rainfall, while other regions like Hawaii and parts of the Southwest are getting drier.¹
Weather events with heavy precipitation are also becoming more frequent across much of the United States, with the greatest increase happening in the Northeast.¹

Impacts on Children's Health

Infants and children have less mature lungs than adults and are thus more susceptible to breathing in contaminants and other hazardous air pollutants, including mold. They also breathe faster and take in more air than adults relative to their body size, meaning they get exposed more heavily to what is in the air compared to adults.²
Flood waters can carry biological and chemical pollutants indoors, and standing water and wet materials can become a breeding ground for viruses, bacteria, and mold which can cause adverse health effects.⁵
Mold contamination in homes resulting from flooding can lead to poor indoor air quality. Inhaling mold can cause adverse health effects like coughing, wheezing, pneumonia, allergic reactions³, and asthma attacks.⁴ In addition to its impacts on the respiratory systems, asthma can also lead to neurological problems. ⁶
Studies have shown that nearly 80% of asthma cases begin before the age of six.⁵
Due to possible exposure to dust-laden contaminants (e.g., lead, asbestos), children, people who are pregnant, and those with breathing problems like asthma, or who have weakened immune systems, should not participate in flood cleanup activities and should not be present during any remediation or renovation activities.

What can I do?

DO dry your home completely after a flood. Drying can take a long time, usually several days to weeks. Keep the air moving with open doors and windows. If you have power, set up fans, dehumidifiers, or heaters throughout the house to speed up the drying process. Learn more about how to dry your home completely.
DO learn to identify mold in your home. Mold comes in nearly every color. View images of indoor mold.
DO avoid stirring up dust or scrubbing surfaces. Clean surfaces gently using a cloth dampened with clean water, a non-ammonia detergent, soap, or commercial cleaner (choose a product that is phenolic or pine-oil based). If needed, you can also use an EPA-registered disinfectant or sanitizer to kill microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and mold on clean surfaces that do not absorb water. Read and follow all instructions about how to safely use the product. Do not mix chemicals together. Learn more about cleaning up after a flood.
DO remove all items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. Learn more about how to sort water-soaked materials. (png)
DO document damage to your home before making repairs. Agencies like FEMA can offer assistance and may require pictures of damage and receipts for out-of-pocket repair expenses. To apply for FEMA assistance, call the helpline at 800-621-3362, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, or find a local FEMA center by visiting fema.gov/drc. Learn more about FEMA assistance for flooding-related mold issues.
DO contact a healthcare provider if you or a family member experience breathing or other health problems after being exposed to mold.
DO consider consulting with a qualified remediation professional for help if flood cleanup is more than you can manage on your own. Learn more about hiring a professional for flood cleanup.

What should I not do?

DON’T allow children, people who are pregnant, and those with breathing problems like asthma or who have weakened immune systems to participate in flood cleanup. Keep them away from moldy sites. Learn more about mold and heath.
DON'T paint or caulk over mold surfaces.
DON'T mix cleaning products. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaners can create poisonous gases.

Regional Spotlight: Rainfall in the Northeast

The Northeast includes Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.

The Northeast continues to experience extreme weather—most notably heavy rainfall, which results in flooding across the region.⁷
Since the mid-20th century, the Northeast has seen a nearly 60% increase in days with more than 3 inches of precipitation, and nearly a 100% increase in days with more than 5 inches of precipitation. This precipitation is increasingly falling as rain rather than as snow.⁸