Basement allergy detective work needed

Parent Cafe
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<p>I am at my wit’s end and have no idea where to turn to for professional consultation.</p>

<p>About three years ago, we realized D2 is highly allergic to something in our basement. We built this house nine years ago, and about two years later finished off 3/4 of the basement. The finished off part is carpeted and has a drop-tile ceiling. We have an open stairway from the first floor down to the basement (made spying on the kids easier when they were younger).</p>

<p>She has strong allergic tendencies to begin with… penicillin, sulfa, cats, etc. She also had exercise-induced asthma which is completely under control with a daily preventative inhaler. When she does have a severe allergic reaction, she also gets asthma-like symptoms, and we’ve had several trips to the ER over the years… the last one a couple of years ago when they had to give her an IV benadryl/steroid drip, as well as a breathing treatment. </p>

<p>When she used to have sleepovers down in the basement, she’d almost always have an asthmatic cough for a couple of days afterwards and have to up her albuterol usage, and take some benadryl.</p>

<p>The first serious incident occured when we had overnight guests, so D2 gave up her room and slept on the couch on the first floor. In hindsight, we realize her reaction that time came from a comforter we had stored in the basement (unfinished part), that she used that night. When she woke up the next morning, her eyes were very red, itchy and swollen. Her breathing got worse throughout the day (and albuterol was not taking care of it) so that was a trip to the ER. Maybe once or twice a year, when she has a lot of friends over, they’ll spend some time down in the basement, but she can only stay a couple of hours, and usually has to take Benadryl to prevent an allergic reaction. Basically, she avoids the basement.</p>

<p>So after we realized this, I hot-water washed all the blankets/comforters we store in the basement and now store them in plastic, zippered-blanket bags (thinking it was dust she was allergic to). Last week, we brought up all the Christmas decorations, and we have a decorative Christmas blanket that I had stored in a big plastic bin with other Christmas decorations. She spent most of a day cuddled up with this blanket, and by dinner time her eyes were getting very red and itchy. She took her contacts out, put in some eye drops, yet continued to have problems (didn’t really get so far as to bother her breathing). Then she asks, “Did this Christmas blanket come up from the basement?” Of course, we immediately realized that her reaction was coming from this blanket, which had been stored in the plastic bin. I washed it in hot water (didn’t care if I ruined it at this point) and she’s used it since and hasn’t had any problems. She took a couple of Benadryls and was much better the next day.</p>

<p>I absolutely loathe the idea that there is something in our basement that has the potential to cause her problems. Our basement does not smell musty, nor are there any signs, anywhere of mold. We do run a dehumidifier throughout the year. A year or so ago, I tried to do some research online to see how I might be able to diagnose whatever the issue is down there. Unfortunately, the only information I could come up with from the internet led me to some sort of company wanting to sell me their product which guaranteed our ‘basement’ problems could be solved by them. However, I want a definitive answer as to what exactly the problem is, not a treatment without a diagnosis. Is it dust? Are there minute amounts of mold not detectable yet? </p>

<p>I could get her allergy tested (I have an awesome allergist, but his approach is very, very thorough, and takes more time than she’d have while she’s home from school), but she has a very real phobia of needles. For one or two reactions a year, it doesn’t seem worth it, and frankly, I cannot force an almost 20-year old to go to the allergist. She does see a pulmonologist once a year for her asthma follow-up and med refills, and we always tell him about these episodes, but he’s not an allergist, nor a basement issue diagnotician. </p>

<p>I guess what I’m looking for, is some sort of environmental agency/company that can come in and test the basement for allergens. But not a company who does this with the sole purpose of trying to sell us some product. I want proof of what it is we’re fighting, before trying to fix it.</p>

<p>I would really appreciate any suggestions the CC folks might have. Like I said in my title, think of it as a form of detective work.</p>

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<p>Could it be the carpet?</p>

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<p>second the suggestion of the carpet/ and/ or the dirt, dust particles trapped in the carpet fibers. You probably have 7 years of dust, dirt etc buried in the carpet. Has it ever been deep steam cleaned? If not, do that first. Or rip it out and see if that makes a difference. I bet it will.</p>

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<p>I saw a report on TV recently about people have allergic reactions to building materials that were imported from China over the last 10 years. Turns out they used non standard chemicals in the manufacturing process. Sorry, I can’t remember the channel.</p>

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<p>I’ve got an allergy child, too - dust, mites, certain weeds, pet dander, etc. Too much exposure and the asthma kicks in, though it’s been less intense with adulthood. When he’s off to school, his room at home gets shut up, then a good clean right before he’s due back. Like you, hot water is this mother’s helper. One thing that makes a HUGE difference for him is running a truly good air purifier in his room for a couple of days before he gets home.</p>

<p>When it comes to basements, there probably just isn’t good air exchange. Could be mold, could be dust, could be some obscure construction material. So you can try to find a way to test the basement OR you might consider a good air filter to run in the basement much like you do the dehumidifier and see if that is helpful. It won’t answer the what is it question, but it might reduce the reactions. (I REALLY hate those allergy ER visits!)</p>

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<p>Have you checked for radon?</p>

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<p>the carpet has been cleaned; we get it cleaned about once a year. Also, the entire basement is cleaned every two weeks when the cleaning lady comes, just like the rest of the house.</p>

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<p>OK… could be onto something with the air exchange. Although the furnace is in the unfinished part of the basement, there are no exchanges or duct work to feed cool air or heated air into the basement. We have an air cleaner (Space-Guard) that filters the air from the A/C and furnace for the rest of the house, but no filter to clean out the air in the basement.</p>

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<p>I have two children with allergies, one of them more serious. I happened to come across a website years ago that was put up by Jeff May, a home inspector in the Boston area. He specialized in allergy/mold/etc. problems in homes and commercial buildings, and he has taught many classes in the area. This site was full of articles and other information. I ended up booking him for a telephone consultation when we moved into this house, and I consulted him another time when we were about to put in central air. It was the best money I ever spent, and the most information-packed minutes I ever had. Here is his current website:</p>

<p>[May</a> Indoor Air Investigations LLC 978-649-1055](<a href=“http://www.mayindoorair.com/index.htm]May”>http://www.mayindoorair.com/index.htm)</p>

<p>and it looks like he’s published some of his material in book form.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Could there be mold in the dehumidifier container and/or hose? Since you have to use a dehumidifier, there might also be mold that doesn’t smell or is not in sufficient concentration to cause an odor.</p>

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<p>basement usually equals mold.</p>

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<p>NYmom - that’s the kind of info I’m looking for, but someone in the Chicago area. Maybe he can recommend someone here. I also forgot to add that we’ve also had our ducts sealed to cut down on dust, etc; but, again, there’s no exchange in the finished part of the basement.</p>

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<p>What would House do? Sorry, been watching the House marathon. Send her down to the basement with a clean cotton blanket that has not been in the basement and see what happens.</p>

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<p>If the house is only nine years old, the likelihood of mold is lessened – I mean, it’s not like a 200-year-old house. I agree that the carpet could be causing it.</p>

<p>Question: When else does she have an allergic reaction, besides in the basement? I’m thinking that perhaps the problem is what the carpet is made of, but she would presumably come in contact with whatever that is from time to time. Maybe.</p>

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<p>The other thing I could think of besides carpet and unfiltered air is the ceiling tiles. As people walk upstairs, the tiles may release tiny particles that remain suspended in the air. Just a thought.</p>

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<p>I’m no expert, and I hear and respect what you’re saying about not wanting to go to an allergist and phobia of needles, but I think you’re going to be “flailing in the wind” until your daughter sucks it up and goes to your awesome allergist. I say this, in part, because I recently went to an allergist for the first time myself (and I’m no fan of needles either), and it simply was not that bad or that time consuming. The allergist had an initial meeting with me (about a half hour), told me what medications, etc. I should not take for the week before I came back for the testing, and then the testing took about 1.5 hours. I did both the grid poking of the back and the series of needles inserted slightly under the skin of the arm. Had the results on the spot, and a plan to combat the environmental conditions (before even considering going on the shots regimen) that day. I think you’ve got to “narrow the field” to get your arms around what you are dealing with. As for the carpet, you might take a look at getting InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles for your basement – they contain an antimocrobial that can be helpful. Look at flor.com (there is even a Martha Stewart line of carpet tiles!). Hope you figure it out.</p>

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<p>the pad under carpet could be the culprit- or even the chemicals that are used when they clean the carpet.</p>

<p>newer houses may have problems with outgassing-
there also could be some sort of leak in walls that hasn’t come through the drywall yet.
Do you have gas heat? Gas heat can cause problems for those who are allergic</p>

<p>my mother has severe asthma & she uses an air cleaner which she says helps.
I agree that many will want to combine assessment with selling a product, but by digging around you can gather information to find the best approach before you hire someone.</p>

<p>I have allergies/asthma and have recently been taking benadryl everynight, which really helps with my reactions during the day. The vet also recommended it for my dog.
;)</p>

<p>[Asthma</a> and Allergy Foundation of America - Information About Asthma, Allergies, Food Allergies and More!](<a href=“http://www.aafa.org/print.cfm?id=9&sub=19&cont=253]Asthma”>http://www.aafa.org/print.cfm?id=9&sub=19&cont=253)</p>

<p>I think it would be worth it to find out exactly what she is allergic to.
she should try an elimination diet first- it would be a pain, but wouldn’t involve needles</p>

<p>I actually felt more comfortable with a naturopath, and I took milk thistle,
which helps support the liver ( which is where toxins are processed), but if she is allergic to the daisy family- you would want to check with a dr.</p>

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<p>well, if the carpet has been steam cleaned with one of those commercial van-based systems, it is possible that the carpet padding underneath wasn’t BONE dry afterwards. Then it becomes a natural nesting place for mold to begin. If any other type of cleaning system was used, other than the commercial van method, the carpet might not have been thoroughly cleaned. As much as you don’t want to, I suggest you remove the carpet entirely, put in area rugs and see if that takes care of the problem.</p>

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<p>razordad - when I say my allergist is thorough, I’m not being casual. He has a very different approach to allergy testing, that can’t be accomplished in one or two visits. I went to a traditional allergist who did the testing on the back, and came back with one or two mild allergies. </p>

<p>Went to my current allergist who believes traditional allergy testing is negligent. He tests for the same allergens, but does so at different concentrations. He starts at the lowest concentration of an allergen, and if you don’t react to that level, he tests you on the next level strength. From what I remember, there were basically four strengths that he had to give you before ruling out that you were not allergic to that substance. He starts out with the usual suspects, and you’d get five pokes on each arm (they put pen marks by each poke so they can know what you react to) at the lowest level. If you don’t react, then the next visit, they test you for the next strongest level. Again, if no reaction, then at the next level, they test you for the next strongest level. At any time, if you have a reaction, they cease testing for that substance and make note at what strength you showed an allergic reaction to. Some substances I reacted at the lowest level. At others, not until highest strength; and others, not at all. Which level the allergy showed up also tells him where to start with the allergy shots with each particular substance. It took quite a few visits to just get through the testing, as you can see, especially if they’re testing 20 or more antigens. This is why she’d never have enough time to get this done before going back to school. I also had reactions a day or two after having the test, with some substances. I’d be fine there in the office… no reaction, then realize a day or two later, my arm would be itching right in a spot that they teste me for something. </p>

<p>Regarding shots (I spent seven or eight years getting them), he has a very prescribed formula for the desensitization. I eventually got away from weekly shots, to bi-weekly, to monthly, to every six weeks, until I was done. His office will only give shots when a physician is physically present in the office, and you are required to stay for 20 minutes afterwards to make sure there’s no immediate severe reaction. He thinks it’s a huge liability risk for people to get shots and leave immediately. </p>

<p>He’s actually in semi-retirement, and I know looked for years to find someone to join his practice, someone who abscribed to his style of practice. He’s been on several professional boards and organizations relating to allergy and immunology. Unfortunately, he set the standard very, very high for any allergist I, or anyone in my family might see in the future (once he’s retired for good). </p>

<p>OK… back to the mold issue. I’ve had people tell me that, if you have a mold problem, then you would see it growing somewhere in the basement. We have not seen it anywhere.</p>

<p>NJres - funny, D2 and H are doing the House marathon today, too. I wish House was a real person who could come to my basement and make a diagnosis.</p>

<p>EK4 - re the chemicals for cleaning the carpet. They use the same cleaning products on the basement carpet as the rest of the house. I specifically hire carpet cleaners who do not use the quicker drying chemical cleaning processes. And we always run fans and the dehumidifier after they’ve been cleaned so as to dry out the carpet quicker. But sometimes it takes a full couple of days for all areas to completely dry out.</p>

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<p>marite - that’s definitely something to look at. I originally wanted drywall ceilings (for just this reason - I wanted completely sealed walls), but was talked into hung ceilings for easy access to stuff between the basement ceiling and first floor floor (and we have been grateful at times for that easy access, especially when we wired the house for a whole-home stereo system). </p>

<p>Veryhappy - the three things she really needs to stay away from are: our basement (or whatever is down there that causes this reaction), penicillins and sulfas, and cats. Those are the substances to which she reacts pretty badly. The antibiotics are easy, cats are pretty easy (although she’s been known to get itchy eyes if exposed to cat hair that’s on someone else’s clothing and she comes into contact with it), but this unknown entity is difficult to identify. </p>

<p>It’s funny, because at school, where she’s lived now in two much older dorms (thankfully her allergies/asthma have allowed her to get a waiver to keep an AC window unit in her dorm), she doesn’t have any problems. But there are only a couple of area rugs in her dorm room. I don’t know how much they clean the floors, though. Based on the dust bunnies I have seen, I know they have some dust in the room.</p>