Think your house is haunted? Try exorcising those dust devils. That feeling of foreboding you get every time its time to clean to commode may a manifestation of malignant mold.
Researchers from Clarkson University, in Potsdam, N.Y., are studying the connection between reported hauntings and poor air quality.
Shane Rogers, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering is leading a team of undergraduates in conducting the study.
The story went viral in early summer when a member of the team tipped off an acquaintance who was a reporter. That led to national coverage, Rogers told the online radio show Paranormal Review Radio in May.
Rogers, an admitted longtime fan of ghost stories, said he is not looking to debunk legends; rather, he is seeking to provide insight on why certain places are perceived to be haunted.
However, the links between exposure to toxic, indoor molds and psychological effects in people are not well established, according to Rogers.
"Hauntings are very widely reported phenomena that are not well-researched," he said, noting hauntings are often reported in older buildings and structures that may also have poor air quality, making them "prime" spots for mold.
"Similarly, some people have reported depression, anxiety and other effects from exposure to biological pollutants in indoor air," Rogers said. "We are trying to determine whether some reported hauntings may be linked to specific pollutants found in indoor air."
Rogers said human experiences reported in many hauntings are similar to mental or neurological symptoms reported by some individuals exposed to toxic molds.
Since the 1970s, some researchers believe ergot poisoning, which affects rye, was responsible for the so-called possessions that led to the Salem Witch Trials.
By comparing samples from places with reported hauntings to samples from places with no reported hauntings, Rogers' team hopes to identify factors unique to the haunted locations, a press release from the university states. They are looking for commonalities in mold taken from places believed to be haunted compared to the controls, as well as analyzing the types of toxic molds that may cause psychological effects in humans.
"What I do hope is that we can provide some real clues as to what may lead to some of these phenomena and possibly help people in the process," he said.
Attention being given to the study could have benefits for true believers, too. While on Paranormal Review Radio, Rogers listed some of the potentially dangerous air contaminants ghost hunters may encounter while in old buildings. In addition to toxic molds, they include solvents left stored in basements, carbon monoxide build-up from old and non-maintained boilers, and allergens in dust.
Rogers said his team will be collecting data for at least another six months, possibly another year before any study results are released.
"We have been to some interesting places, but are still in need of more data and additional locations to complete our study objectives," Rogers wrote in an email. "If there are folks out there who believe their place to be haunted, we would be happy to discuss with them sampling their location as well.
"We would consider a trip into Massachusetts, anywhere in the state would be fine," he added. "Boston is only 6 hours from us."
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