after flooding in New Orleans [23]. The authors have already conducted
field measurement of the airborne concentrations of VOCs
and mould, indoor temperature and humidity, air change rate in
room with CO2 concentration, etc during the first year and the
second year after flooding as shown in Fig. 2. Our results indicated
that contamination occurred by fungi on surfaces in crawl space
within two months after flooding by tsunami. In particular Appergillus
and Penicillium were most frequently recovered genera of
fugal contamination on the floor surfaces in crawl space [34]. In
addition itwas indicated that the ratio of RH levels exceeding 70%rh
in a living room was significantly higher in flood-damaged homes
than in no flooded homes and indoor environmental problems
related to dampness was more often among flooded damaged
homes [35].
The participants living in homes flooded above floor reported
more indoor environmental problems such as mould growth,
perception of odour and feeling dampness, in comparison with
homes flooded under floor. These self-reported problems tended to
be more often according to the flooding height. The environmental
assessment of indoor mould in the months following the hurricanes
indicated high level of mould growth according to the
flooding height. The extensive flooding in the aftermath of Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita created ideal conditions from mould growth
homes with 3 > feet indoor flooding indicated higher levels of
mould growth [5]. Homes flooded above floor in this study is close