IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH BY IMPROVING YOUR HOME ENVIRONMENT

Sick homes, sick people

by David Abbot

The American Lung Association in Seattle says that the air inside most American homes is far more polluted than most outdoor air. And I agree: every client of mine who had chronic health problems was being exposed to chemical and/or biological toxins in their home, that are known to cause or trigger those health problems. Reducing or eliminating exposure to those toxins can be the fastest, easiest, and safest way to improve your family's health.

One client's memory lapses forced her to retire early from her accounting career. Mayo Clinic doctors said she had brain lesions, but they did not know the cause or how to treat her condition.

I asked her, "Between the time you were healthy and the time you began feeling sick, were you exposed to pesticides?"

"Yes, I use them to get rid of insects."

"Well, unfortunately, insect and human nervous systems operate through the same biochemical mechanisms, so any pesticide that kills insects by attacking their nervous systems will also harm humans. The Washington Toxics Coalition in Seattle and The Poison Control Center can verify this."

"You're saying those pesticides caused my brain lesions?"

"An environmental medical doctor could probably determine whether you have those pesticides or their metabolites in your blood; but you and I already know two things: you have severe nervous system damage, and you expose yourself to pesticides that cause nervous system damage."

"Now, as an accountant, you know that when you understand the basic facts of a problem and state them clearly, a common-sense solution pops up. Does any particular solution come to your mind right now?"

"I should stop using pesticides."

"That is a very smart first step. Washington Toxics can give you non-toxic or less-toxic ways to deal with insects; their staff scientist has a Ph.D. in toxicology, and he really understands these things."

Another client, who was a college student, had fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic respiratory tract infections, and difficulty focusing on her studies. Her doctor had her on steroids, inhalers, and antibiotics, but she was not improving.

Inspecting her apartment, I found a leaky pesticide container. Pesticides that come in bags always leak toxic fumes; you can smell those fumes wherever bags of pesticides are stacked in hardware stores. And compressed cans of pesticides that have been used at least once usually leak, too.

Also, her furnace was backdrafting combustion fumes. Properly installed and maintained closed-system furnaces and water heaters create carbon monoxide, but they vent it safely, outside the house. But all other furnaces and water heaters can backdraft. And almost every clothes dryer and gas stove I have seen backdrafts even when "properly" installed and maintained and used, because they have serious design flaws. (This subject is too complicated to fully explain in a short article; if you phone me, we can talk about it.)

Four months after that young woman got rid of the pesticide and had her furnace fixed, her doctor took her off all medications because her fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue were 80% better, her respiratory infections had disappeared, and she was getting better grades in college with less effort.

A doctor did not understand why his son was developing asthma. The boy used toxic paints and glues that can cause asthma.

Think about it: how can anyone respond to proper medical care if their home continually re-exposes them to the toxins that cause or trigger their illness? Few doctors have environmental medicine training. And even if your doctor has the training, if you have a chronic health condition that does not respond to treatment, it might be wise to have your home inspected. This is common sense: in order to diagnose you, your doctor has to examine you; and in order to diagnose your house for the presence of toxins, your house must be inspected, by someone who understands building materials and methods, and who has enough construction experience to recognize mistakes that are commonly made in building and remodeling houses. Knowledge of cleaning and personal care products, lawn care products and equipment, anatomy, physiology, and toxicology is also helpful.

Very few doctors refer patients with chronic health problems to residential environmental inspectors. But all doctors treat patients whose conventionally-built homes expose them to chemical and/or biological toxins that may be damaging their health.

To protect your family's health, educate yourself, and ask questions until you get answers that make sense to you.

Author David Abbot has thirty-six years' experience in construction, and is a former general contractor. For twenty-one years he has studied how building materials and methods influence human health. He is also a Form School feng shui consultant and teacher. David does talks for groups of people, and consultations. He can be reached at 206-940-6101.