Mushroom Growth?

Question

This morning I woke up to mushrooms growing out of the plaster of my apartment. They look like little bean sprouts with a cap on top. They seriously burst through the plaster of the wall. I've alreadey called maintence of my building. Does anyone know what could've caused this? My roommates and I have all been sick on and off all year, could that have caused our chronic colds?

Answer 1

Well, mushrooms are a fungi but i doubt if the would be the problem making you sick. It would take a lot of moisture in the plaster of your walls to make them sprout and grow, so I'm guessing with that much moisture you have a lot of much more harmful molds growing there as well. That's likely what's causing your health problems and they could be serious. I would have this looked into by health officials as soon as possible. Good luck.

Answer 2

i dont want to alarm you ,however; you might be a possible victim of "sick building syndrome"? what youre describing
is called Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)"
is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. In contrast, the term "building related illness" (BRI) is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.

A 1984 World Health Organization Committee report suggested that up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Often this condition is temporary, but some buildings have long-term problems. Frequently, problems result when a building is operated or maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its original design or prescribed operating procedures. Sometimes indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or occupant activities.

Indicators of SBS include:

Building occupants complain of symptoms associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors.
The cause of the symptoms is not known.
Most of the complainants report relief soon after leaving the building.
Indicators of BRI include:

Building occupants complain of symptoms such as cough; chest tightness; fever, chills; and muscle aches
The symptoms can be clinically defined and have clearly identifiable causes.
Complainants may require prolonged recovery times after leaving the building.
this is a support group
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/sickbuildings/