Division of Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Medicine

Department of Medicine

Pulmonologist David Kaminsky, M.D., professor of medicine

(AUGUST 7, 2023) Pulmonologist David Kaminsky, M.D., professor of medicine, says it’s probably best to avoid breathing in polluted air during the cleanup following July’s record-setting flooding, according to WCAX-TV.

“It’s dirt, but I also imagine aerosolized chemicals, molds, endotoxin, which is part of bacteria,” he said, adding that people assisting with cleanup should wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, long pants, and N95 masks if available.

People with pre-existing conditions face a risk of significant lung damage, he said, but those with healthy lungs can also experience long-term health problems if they aren’t careful.

“If they’re exposed to those things for an extended period of time they could get severe lung irritation and that could cause lung damage.”