What’s lurking in those floodwaters?
Public health experts warn against venturing into floodwaters, which are full of contaminants. But Hurricane Harvey showed that isn’t always possible.
Exactly what’s lurking in that water, and what can you do to minimize your risks?
Truth to tell, there’s no way to know what’s in the waters in one particular area.
“There could be anything in those waters,” Houston health department spokesman Porfirio Lopez said in the days after Harvey hit. “We just know it’s contaminated.” Here’s some of what’s been found in previous flooding:
Bacteria
E. coli, a measure of fecal contamination that causes gastrointestinal distress, showed up in levels hundreds of times above normal in areas tested after Harvey. Vibrio vulnificus, better known as flesh-eating bacteria, is more a threat near the coast, but it killed two Houston people in the aftermath of Harvey. Other bacterial threats include Legionella, Shigella and Leptospirosis.
Viruses
Norovirus, which is very contagious and causes gastrointestinal distress. Non-polio enteroviruses which causes tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year. Rotovirus, a common cause of diarrhea.
Parasites
Giardia and cryptosporidium, both of which cause gastrointestinal distress.
Chemicals
Floodwaters also typically are rife with chemicals, including arsenic, benzene, cadmium, chromium, vinyl chloride, dioxin, lead, butadiene, pesticides and toxic cleaning fluids and carbon monoxide. During Harvey, Houston area refineries, petrochemical plants and other industrial operations spewed millions of pounds of pollutants.
Winifred Hamilton, director of environmental health at Baylor College of Medicine, suggests people stock up on waders, high-rubber boots and gloves in the event of flooding near their homes. She says Hurricane Harvey’s lesson is that people need to be better prepared this season.
“People weren’t knowledgeable about health risks, knew virtually nothing about personal protective equipment and governmental and academic entities couldn’t quite agree on messaging before, during and after Harvey,” said Hamilton. “We want to avoid that in the future.”