Wood finish

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I am a new member of the group.I have CFS and MCS.

I have a question to ask you.In 2000 I moved to a new flat.Flooring was wood and I wanted it to be polished. Floor was polished.A month later I moved in. That night I got sick.Terrible head ache,nausea,vomiting..I felt like dying. I could not stay in and I moved out again. I stayed somewhere else and a month later I came back.The smell of the varnish was in my nose for about 6 or 8 months time(Other normal people was not smelling it. It was only me probably due to my MCS.)It, for very long time gave me feeling of slight stomach turn.I don't know what type of polish was used. I am suspecting it to contain some formaldehyde or something similar as my reaction to it was similar to formaldehyde reaction.After I moved into that flat my illness progressed and I happened to be almost bed-bound.I could not take any action on this subject because I was so sick.Now it is Nov 2003. Almost 3 and a half years have passed. I don't feel the smell anymore but still,I started to think if I should remove this polish away. Of course this will be an expensive process for me plus I am so tired that it will be very difficult for me to make the necessary arrangements.Plus I still need something to place on the wood for easiness of cleaning. This will probably be old fashioned rubber covering(oil-cloth? Don't know the English word for it.). This ttype of covering also may not be so good for me but there is no other material I know I can use. I am trying to find out if this will worth of doing it.How long does it take for the formaldehyde (or another similar organic substance)to go away from these type of wood polishes? Would you think most of it is gone or would you think it would still be dangerous for me? Any ideas on the new covering material?

Thanks very much.

Nil