Strange fungus growing in our tea room

[Suzanne]

Hi there

Can you please help me identify this fungus? It was found on Friday 13th December (!) in our tea room at work.
The wall it is growing on is damp caused by a leaky roof.

Is it dangerous at all?

Your help is much appreciated

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi, and welcome to the UK Fungi website.

Your fungus is one of the Peziza "cup fungi" species.
Most likely Peziza cerea (Cellar Cup) or Peziza domiciliana (that one doesn't have a UK accepted English/common name, but in other countries is sometimes referred to as the Domecile Cup).

Both species are commonly found growing in buildings, on damp concrete/brick/plaster/woodwork etc. (even on such things as damp carpets).
The fact that fruiting bodies have grown indicates that the particular area has an ongoing problem with water ingress which will have been present for some time.

Peziza species are not generally considered to be edible, though neither are they toxic/poisonous.
Removing the fruitbodies will prevent further spread of spores, (many thousands of spores will already have been shed), but the main part of the fungus, the mycelium, (from which these fruitbodies have grown), is out of sight, within the fabric of the wall(s) or whatever it is growing on.

More fruitbodies will likely appear at some point unless the source of the dampness is found and rectified.

Regards,
Mike.

[Suzanne]

Hi Mike

Thank you so much for your prompt reply - extremely helpful!

We are working to remove the fungus but this will take some time.

Some staff are concerned the spores may be dangerous - do you know if they are?

Best wishes

Suzie

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi,

I think that unless you were to violently shake the fruitbodies around under your nose whilst slowly inhaling, the numbers of spores you are likely to be breathing in (in that room, from those fruitbodies) will be very unlikely to affect you in any way. - You won't be subjected to any more spores than you would be, for example, when preparing mushrooms for cooking.

That's not to say that constantly being in the presence of certain fungal spores would not be a potential health hazard.
For instance, extended exposure to Aspergillus spores is known to cause serious respiratory illness problems.

Fungal spores are ubiquitous - they are everywhere.
Scientific consensus has it that with every breath a person takes throughout the entirety of their life, they will most probably be breathing in around 10 to 15 fungal spores.

That said, I would still recommend removing those fruitbodies and getting the leaky roof properly repaired to get rid of the dampness.
No fruitbodies = no spores. (The main part of the fungus, the mycelium, contains no spores).
Once the fruitbodies have been removed, a general wipe down of relevant surfaces with typical cleaning products - just as you would in any catering facility, should allay anyone's fears.
If you are working to remove the fungus and can prevent any further fruitbodies from growing, no more spores will be produced.

Regards,
Mike.

[adampembs]

MIke is right, of course. Just to add that the only spores to worry about are of human disease causing fungi (not this species) or some Aspergillus (which affect some susceptible people, not all) Any spores in the lings will eventually break down or be removed by the body.
A walk through the woods in autumn will cause us to inhale many thousands of spores but is usually a lot better for our health than staying indoors.
Here is a link to a Wikipedia article on Aspergillus fumigatus (one of the few fungi of concern in this regard) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillus_fumigatus