We moved
into our home about a year ago. This summer we noticed some
mushroom-like growth in one of the rooms in the basement. We had a
dehumidifier, but it was old and would freeze up. We bought a new one
and after a week or two the mushrooms disappeared. We let the
dehumidifier run even though it is now winter. It has the humidity
down to 55%. It is now winter and my 2 ˝ year-old daughter has had
sinus congestion, runny nose, watery goopy eyes for the last 6 weeks.
She has been on 2 antibiotics, it clears up for about a week after the
meds and then comes back. I am wondering if this is caused from
mold. I am wondering if we should use bleach water to clean the
surface and purchase some new filters for our furnace that help stop
mold circulation. I have read that bleach doesn’t get rid of the mold
and found a website that recommends using ShockWave. Can you give me
some direction?- Stacy –
Michigan
Mushroom-like growth indicates that a
wood-decay fungus of the group Basidiomycetes is present (probably in
the walls). Exposures to a variety of species of Basidiomycetes can
cause allergic responses and possibly asthma and sinusitis( the fact
that your daughter is on antibiotics and it keeps coming back is
suggestive of fungal sinusitis).
Basidiomycete spores are much more
common outdoors than indoors because that is where wood-decay is more
common. When they are found in indoor samples, it is usually
associated with their entry from the outdoors through open windows.
They can be produced indoors in cases where severe deterioration of
wood is occurring either in walls or in a crawlspace. I recall one
house subject to flooding episodes over the years that had a
basidiospore count of > 1 million spores/m3. That is quite
a lot and would pose a significant exposure/health effects risk to
individuals living in such an environment.
The presence of mushroom-like growth
in one of your basement rooms indicates that a significant water
damage/wood decay problem is occurring in your basement. Fifty-five
percent relative humidity in a basement in the winter-time in Michigan
indicates that a significant moisture source is present and this
moisture source needs to be identified and corrected.
Though the mushroom-like growth has
disappeared, it is likely that the fungus associated with it is still
alive and growing in water-damaged wood nearby. It is also likely
that other fungal species are present and producing spores that are
responsible for your family’s overall mold exposure.
In the two images presented on this page, one can see mushroom-like
growth. In both cases the growth is associated with water seeping
through the concrete basement wall into the
finished wall.
Mushroom-like mold growth is commonly
reported in bathrooms subject to repeated water spills. The wood
materials have been damaged to a significant degree by water before
they are infested by Basidiomycete fungi.
Mold growth in a basement results in
significant airborne mold exposures particularly if the furnace is
located there. Air from the basement is drawn into the fan housing of
your furnace/air-conditioner and is transported throughout the house
in a matter of seconds when the fan is activated. Even in the absence
of activation, air flows upwards from the basement through the furnace
and ducts because of differences in pressure.
Shockwave is a disinfectant. The use of Shockwave or
Bleach alone will not solve your mold problem. Walls where mold
growth is occurring will have to be opened, infested materials removed
and replaced, and water entry will have to be staunched.
February 3, 2004
