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NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- Doctors prepared for a possible surge in the number of patients in New Orleans on Friday as many residents returned to begin the long process of rebuilding their lives after Hurricane Katrina.

Contaminated water, mold and the dusty sediment left behind when the city was pumped dry are some of the key health threats facing residents, according to Dr. Frederick Cerise, the head of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

"We've been testing around the city and it's not consistently clean and that's because there are still leaks in the system," Cerise said.

"So as the water comes out of the pumping stations, it's clean, but as it goes through the pipes because of the leaks there, there is still seepage in. So it's unpredictable..." (Checking out status of popular bars and restaurants -- 6:46)

Cerise said that mold could be a serious problem for people with asthma, allergies or weak immune systems and that some people could have allergic reactions similar to pneumonia.

He recommended that people wear protective masks in closed areas or when doing work that could kick up dust.

Residents allowed home

Residents of eight New Orleans ZIP codes were allowed to return to their homes on Friday -- one month after Hurricane Katrina swept ashore and swamped the city. (Watch what two residents found at their homes -- 2:16)

The remaining neighborhoods were scheduled to reopen Wednesday, except for the Lower 9th Ward, which was flooded by both Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

Most of the city's hospitals were either closed or offering only limited emergency service, but the Navy's USNS Comfort has been brought in to serve as a trauma center.

"I don't really have an idea how many we will see, but I think as we repopulate the city, the numbers will escalate correspondingly," said Capt. Thomas Allingham, who commands the ship's hospital. "As you let more people in, there will be more opportunities for injuries, accidents to occur."

A ship spokesman told CNN that the Comfort could handle almost anything a typical land-based hospital could, including delivering babies. It does not have the facilities for cancer treatment or open-heart surgery and Allingham said the ship will not be a floating doctor's office for people with noncritical needs.

"What we expect is to see trauma brought here by local EMS that could be of any variety," Allingham said. "Anything from motor vehicle accidents to what we're terming recovery trauma such as falls from rooftops, use of chain saw injuries. Also, any medical emergencies that may arise. People who are exerting themselves for the first time perhaps in a while with, you know, chest pain, anything like that."

The ship has 40 surgeons on board and enough staff to run five of its 12 operating rooms at the same time. Some of the doctors are civilians who have not had a place to work since Katrina hit, said Dr. James Moises, who normally works at the Louisiana State University Medical Center.

Cerise told CNN it might be too early for families with young children or elderly members to move to the city.

"I know it's important for essential workers to be in the city and trying to bring up the infrastructure, working on things like getting the sewage, and getting the water back online," he said. "Those people, these are adults who are are living there, they should be very aware of the limitations."

But he added that "without adequate sewage and water, we certainly don't think it's a good idea for entire families to settle back in yet."

Floodwaters contained bacteria, fecal matter

The Environmental Protection Agency found high levels of bacteria, fecal contamination as well as arsenic and lead in the floodwaters.

A group of government experts told a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that health risks are still uncertain, according to The Associated Press.

"The potential for any long-lasting effects depends on the degree of exposure. ... how long people are exposed" to contaminated sediments, bacteria-laden floodwater or other health hazards, said Dr. Henry Falk, director for environmental health and injury prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson visited New Orleans on Thursday and said the lack of clean drinking water and sewage service was still a concern, according to AP.

New Orleans returnees face health risks

Contaminated water, mold among problems

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Residents allowed home

Floodwaters contained bacteria, fecal matter