http://www.care2.com/greenliving/environmental-poisoning-is-your-home-hurting-you.html
Environmental Poisoning: Is Your Home Hurting You?
By Sally Lehrman, Natural Solutions
It’s not easy to know if your home sweet home could be making you sick, because symptoms of environmental illness (a long list that can include irritation of the eyes, throat, skin, and nasal passages, as well as headaches and fatigue) can have many causes. But your house may indeed be the culprit if you notice you consistently feel better outside than indoors, or you start feeling lousy after: moving into a new home; remodeling your current one; bringing in a new piece of furniture; or using a new product.
When 50-year-old architect Paula Baker-Laporte comes home, she pulls off her shoes and enters an airy refuge. Sinking into a window seat, she basks in the New Mexico light that dances across exposed timber frames. She rests her eyes on the greenery of an indoor garden and unwinds as the scent of the evening drifts in.
Life wasn’t always this bucolic. Ten years ago something was wrong, and Baker-Laporte knew it wasn’t just in her head. She felt sapped and exhausted most of the time. She suffered from a chronic cough, recurrent bronchitis, and digestive disorders. Her home offered no respite, and every time she went out on a job–whether to a remodeling project or a house under construction–she felt even worse.
Baker-Laporte’s friend and doctor, Erica Elliott, was stumped. Then, oddly enough, Elliott herself began experiencing similar symptoms. A mountaineer and marathon runner accustomed to vigorous good health, she began feeling increasingly fatigued, compounded by a flu-like malaise that flared up monthly like clockwork.
With the help of a colleague trained in environmental medicine, Elliott traced her own illness to what seemed an unlikely source: the very air she breathed. Whenever the wind shifted outdoors, toxic fumes from the heavy-duty cleaning products used at her medical clinic wafted into her work area; the building’s exhaust was right next to the air intake vent. To add insult to injury, every four weeks a pesticide company sprayed the office baseboards with the neurotoxin Dursban.
As Elliott became more familiar with chemical exposure and its symptoms, she suggested that Baker-Laporte, too, take a close look at her surroundings. Sure enough, the architect soon learned that in the course of her workdays, she was regularly breathing in formaldehyde, a fungicide and component in glues, as well as other airborne compounds that drifted out from new cabinetry, paints, drywall, plywood, and carpets. At last they had a diagnosis: Both doctor and patient were suffering from environmental poisoning. Instead of providing environments that fostered health, Elliott’s clinic and Baker-Laporte’s homes were making them sick.
It was a rude awakening for both. In fact, Baker-Laporte thought she might even have to give up her career. To make matters worse, she was already in the midst of building a home for Elliott. The doctor told Baker-Laporte that they would simply have to change their plans: The Dursban at the office had made her sensitive to all kinds of chemicals, including those commonly found in homes and used in construction materials. “I told her she couldn’t design a regular house, because I couldn’t live in it,” Elliott says.
But instead of giving up on the house or on her career, Baker-Laporte simply redefined her professional identity. “Once I realized these things were harmful not just to me but to my clients, too, building healthy houses became a mission,” she says.
Together the two friends set out on a path that led them to a new way of thinking about where and how we live. Now, nearly a decade later, they dedicate themselves to teaching others how to make their homes into nurturing sanctuaries.
But keeping dangerous toxins out is only half the story. They also emphasize bringing in elements from the natural world that make a home feel peaceful and relaxing. Creating a home, they believe, is like practicing holistic medicine: Just as the best doctors look at the body as an integrated whole, so should we look at the dwellings that contain us.
Next: Hidden Poisons
More from Mel, selected from Natural Solutions magazine (130 articles available)
related stories
- natsol1
-
(8 comments)
-
(49 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
22 comments
add your comment »Judi, I also had dead mice in my Nissan once. I kept smelling dead mouse. Was told by several men that my heater was going and that's what that smell is. Took the car to two mechanics who both took the heater out and inspected and found nothing. My brother in law took the vent under the windshield apart and there they were... An entire nest of Mom and 6 babies skeleton's were found in the outside vents from under the windshield wipers. It was nasty, we cleaned it out with soap and water first and then I put straight vinegar in my windshield washer fluid holder. After an entire summer of straight vinegar by winter it was just fine. Good luck, Marci
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
@Judi G.
Have you had the upholstry cleaned? If you bought it new, there could be some chemicals in there that are bothering you (like the ones that contribute to that "new car smell"), and even if you bought it used, there could be stuff in there from the previous owner. Lots of people (especially smokers) use air fresheners in their vehicles, and I know that both smoke and air freshener residue would make me feel ill.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Exactly why we need public healthcare that is tax supported. All of these influences on our health should born by the society in general including all the companies that produce these unkown of unintended side effects on everyone else as well as our own contributions and that of society in general that allow or doesn't enforce regulations. It is not just each individuals responsibility to be averaged via insurance with their profit motive and excess overhead. Do we really expect the poorer among us to pay for the effects we as a society allow them to suffer as well as ourselves.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Judy G. - It sounds like now that you've cleaned up your car, you need to clean up your own body! In other words you need to detox. Check with a holistic practioner who is familiar with detoxing environmental stressors. You can even have lab tests done to monitor your progress. I know detoxification has been controversial from the comments on this website, but let me tell you from experience as a holistic nutritional therapist that it can be very effective. If you're sure it's coming from your care and only happens when you've used it, you should consider selling it and getting another vehicle. Just a thought...
Good luck! Kristi
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Please help -- hope someone has info on this - I continue to get very dangerously ill in my 2006 VW Beetle -started rather suddenly - long story - animal nest found around air filter, got new one, had cleaned,not better - other mechanic took apart, found HUGE animal nests inside and a very dead mouse -- said all of this was blowing thru my vents right into my face and mouth and made sense, explained it - but I am not better- it is clean in there now, supposedly -- I really trust this 2nd mechanic -- could the toxins still be in the air in my car or any other ideas because it is always worse later in the day after car has been driven , or restarted within same day -- I have driven with windows wide open (yes in rain and cold!) and sometimes it helps sometimes not at all --- I become from from dizzy and sick - feeling to without ANY strength to grasp steering wheel or press down on accelerator, and my head drops it is terifying and dangerous -- have been to Drs. who pretty much say don't drive, get a new car - not easy!! Still pursuing answers but anyone out there had similar experience? I am FINE when not in the car, and not afraid to drive, etc. -- this is absolutely something going on in the car, we have narrowed it down to that and I am ultra-sensitive and allergic -- ideas?? Thank you so so much! God has saved me too many times with this --- I am off work yet again now because just canot go into that car -- and work is hard to come by as it is -- thanks again - Judi
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Mold and indoor air pollutants can be very dangerous as the EPA states indoor air quality is 5-20 times more polluted than outdoors. Everyone should get their home or office evaluated, especially if you are demonstrating symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, nose bleeds, respiratory issues, allergic reactions, diarrhea, fatigue and eye or skin irritation.
If you have additional questions, I would suggest giving AirMD a call. AirMD is an environmental-testing company that offers several types of green, indoor environmental evaluations including, mold inspections, air testing, Chinese drywall testing and water testing. AirMD is based on scientific analysis and also offers a natural, organic line of chemical-free cleaning solutions called PURE AirMD. For more info, visit http://www.airmd.com/.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Before we built our house we lived in a house with forced hot air. Talk about sinus infections and coughing! Every year when the heat would go on I'd get 'sick.' Luckily we put radiant heat in our new house. AHHH :)
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
With the now PROVEN links of indoor pesticides to children's Leukemia, ADHD, children's cognitive development, and Parkinson's disease,I am amazed that people still use chemicals inside their home when there are alternatives that work!!! There is a product at www.pestoffense.com called the pest offense that has worked great for over a year now in my home to keep rats, mice and roaches away and I am sure there are equally as good outdoor alternatives!!!
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Hi Scott S. Unfortunately, the site for the home tour just went under construction. I'll put the link back in when they are up again! Thanks for pointing it out...Melissa
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
It would be nice to see a version of this for apartment dwellers. a lot of the things listed here are impractical/impossible in an apartment. I just moved into a newly renovated apartment, and the only thing I've been able to do about the off-gassing of the carpet and paint is to have the carpet steam cleaned.
Most of the time in an apartment, you don't have the option to just rip up the carpet and go with hard flooring, as a lot of buildings require that a certain amount of floor area must be carpetted for noise insulation. The most you can do as far as planting things outside goes is to put out potted plants.
Don't get me wrong - I'm grateful for those tips I can use - but I'd like some advice on how to work with the environment I'm in and can't change.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: