By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
We have a lot of white dust around the walls of our basement. It sits in little piles on the floor, and we believe that it's caused by the high water table in our area. A few years after moving in, our son developed asthma, and we've wondered if this could be an allergic reaction to the white dust. Can you give us any information that would help? - Kathleen
Dear Kathleen,
Without having seen the white dust, I presume that it is a substance called efflorescence, a formation of mineral salts often seen on concrete and masonry surfaces where moisture seepage occurs. Efflorescence is primarily a cosmetic nuisance that rarely has a significant effect on structural materials, and I've neither read nor heard of any health problems related to its presence. Preventing the continued formation of efflorescence may not be possible without significantly altering the drainage conditions on the property.
To determine whether any environmental conditions in your home could be affecting your son's health, you should consult a certified industrial hygienist. They are generally listed in the yellow pages as industrial hygiene consultants.
Copyright 2004-2006 Barry Stone. Distributed by Inman News.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted our "