For many Pittsburgh residents, wet basements pose health risks

For some residents of Pittsburgh, wet basements seem like a fact of life.

It’s a hilly city with dense clay soils that drain poorly. During heavy rain, water runs downslope and can pool around foundations and seep into basements.

And as climate change causes more extreme storms, the problem is growing.

Linnea Warren May, a researcher at Rand, surveyed residents of two predominantly Black Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

May: “We found that around three-quarters of the homes sampled across both neighborhoods had ever experienced basement wetness.”

In many cases, the problem is not large amounts of standing water.

May: “It’s just sort of a persistent ongoing damp condition.”

But coresearcher Jemima Ohwobete of the University of Pittsburgh says chronic moisture creates the perfect environment for mold, which can trigger asthma attacks, allergic reactions, or rashes.

So the researchers measured concentrations of mold and other microbes in residents’ homes and shared information about steps people can take to reduce basement wetness and mold exposure.

Ohwobete: “We breathe in these things every day, so understanding what is there, who is vulnerable to it, and how to protect ourselves is very, very important.”

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media