Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 10, 1999 08:11pm | #1

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   I second the motion. Also, while it may be difficult to find a "healthy home" specialist, an excellent allergy or immunological specialist should be able to help. I think formaldehyde is thought to act as an "activator" for other allergies. Good luck to your sister.

2. 
   Jeff_Shulman | Sep 10, 1999 09:40pm | #2

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   We searched for advise before we moved into our new tract built house. The advise we got (and followed) was to "bake" the house (empty) for at least a week with all windows closed, cabinets opened, and the thermostat set as high as possible. If I recall we were told to try for 100 degrees but the thermostat maxed out somewhere in the low 90's. This was to forcably outgas as much of the formaldehyde as possible. We also have NO carpeting in the house (floors are 80% hardwood, 20% vinyl). New carpeting is one of the largest sources of VOC's in houses. We made sure we got a pre-finished HW floor applied with the lowest level toxic adhesive (the builder had to rip up several rooms of flooring and our staircase when we discovered they didn't use the proper glue and tried to not use the specified pre-finished HW floor on the stairs. Keeping our real estate attorney infromed and the builder advised that we were keeping our attorney informed did wonders to be sure this happened. We made sure it was in our contract.)

   After that you fully air out the house for a couple days and always keep some window(s) partially opened for fresh air. We did have a few pieces of finish molding shrink and crack but no other damage. (Of course, your mileage may vary depending upon the quality of the construction and materials used).

   We're coming up on two years in the house with no ill effects. If we were ever to have a house built to our specs we would fully specify the materials used. Alas we haven't won the lottery yet so this is unlikely to happen ;->

   Jeff

1. 
   Rainie | Sep 11, 1999 04:20am | #3

   *My sister suffered for years from environmental allergy's and was down to only eating organically grown mushroom and chicken and rice bread only. She did recover.We, as her family, were to a point of sending her to a Northern Canadian Retreat for exactly this. They introduce the person back into the environment slowly.You will Find many many link if you type in "environmental allergy's" into the search engine by Yahoo. There are Environmental Health Organizations all over Canada and the U.S.Move her out of the home is definately her first step.Toronto also has a few homes being experimented with that are for this purpose. Totally towards environmental allergy's. You are not alone.Hope some of this helps and I wish you luck.Rainie

3. 
   Guest_ | Sep 11, 1999 08:50am | #4

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   There is an architectural/design firm in Ottawa Canada that specilizes in designing for environmental sensitivity. . . they were featured in an article in FHb some years back, check the backissue archive.

   Ditto on moving your sister out, fast!!!
   -pm

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 11, 1999 11:03am | #5

   *I believe that one of the largest culprits in the alergic reaction arena is new carpeting. You may want to change that to something designed as a "green" product. There is also the possibility that your sis's allergic reactions timing are coincidental to her moving into the house and it may have nothing to do with the house. Is there an increased stress factor with moving? This can also play a part in a scenario such as this. perhaps agian it is not the house but the surroundings (outside plants, growths, pesticide or fertilizer in neighbor's yard etc..). Have you tried a quality air filteration system in the house? A good test may be to relocate Sis to another area for a short time and see if there are any marked improvements in her condition.Wishing you luck and Godspeed in your sister's recovery,Pete Draganic

4. 
   Jo_Ortlieb | Sep 12, 1999 02:03am | #6

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   Where did your sister go to get help and what was the out come.

5. 
   Guest_ | Sep 12, 1999 08:12pm | #7

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   here are few links to get you started. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome is not new, however you are correct, not much is known (yet). Good luck...

   http://www.hhinst.com
   http://buildingscience.com
   http://www.alaw.org/ioa.html
   http://www.nibs.org/nibshome.htm

   scc

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 15, 1999 12:25am | #8

   *A heat recovery ventilator wouldn't hurt.

6. 
   Terry_Vinet | Sep 15, 1999 12:51am | #9

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   Check out http://www.durisol.com. The "Healthy House"in Toronto was built with this material. Good Luck.

7. 
   Guest_ | Sep 16, 1999 06:58am | #10

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   The clinic for enviromentally sensitive people is in Dallas, Texas, but I don't know its name.

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 20, 1999 01:01pm | #12

   *It drives me crazy to hear about stories such as this. Although we don't really know why Dick's sis is sick, it is very possible that her house has caused it. And it makes me MAD because it didn't really have to happen. It is perfectly possible to build a house that, when finished and the paint is dry, will cause no problems for those with lots of allergies and chemical sensitivities. As builders, we all have a responsibility to build safe structures, so lets educate ourselves about the alternatives, and, more importantly BE OPEN TO THEM. There's no room here to be resistant to change. Consensus seems to dictate that we do not know a lot about this subject. I say that we know enough to warrant action, and I also say that the general public knows way more than they think they know. The knowledge is out there! As previously mentioned, formeldehyde and other various VOCs are the major pollutants in a structure. These come from the glues in sheetgoods, carpets (usually the glue used in the backing) and of course all the surface treatments we use(paint, varnish, etc.) Most of this can be addressed by carefully choosing materials and techniques. If you gotta use paint, then use true VOC free paint and other surface treatments from AFM (American Formulating and Manufacturing) I don't have their#, but you can get AFMs stuff on the west coast at Real Goods in Hopland CA and Eugene OR. The Eugene# is 541-334-6960. Environmental Building Supply in Portland, OR is probably the best source for these kinds of products. I don't have their# either, but you can find it, right? Don't buy into the big paint company's "enviropaints" Benjamin Moore is good stuff, but they don't hold a candle to AFM when it comes to healthy products. Don't believe Glidden either. Request info about this from AFM, they can do it way better than I can. They are extremely friendly. One final word for those who are wondering...the price is comparable to the best stuff out there, and so is the quality! DO it, man! Nothing to lose and lots to gain. And, Dick, get a doctor that gives a hoot. Oh, there are some good books out there too. The Natural House Book has been out for a long time now (10 years!), and it has just been updated in the last year. Its excellent. Lots more out there, you just have to look for them, and I can't remember the titles right now. Time for bed!

8. 
   Dick_Rockenbach | Sep 20, 1999 01:01pm | #11

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   My sis has become alergic to everthing since she moved into her new home last year.She is now to the point wher she is down to only a few foods she can eat. Fish, peas, and a few more and the few she can eat are dwindling. She is down to about 80 lbs and has been to Mayo's and to other specialists and know one knows anything. It's like they are giving up on her and she is starving to death. She will most likely build a new home soon a green or healthy type home. It appears formaldryhyde is one things that has really started this mess. One: does anyone know any Docs that specialize in this? Two: what are sources for healthy homes smarts?