Re: Best part of the U.S. to live

[Guest guest]

A travel trailer will generally have chemical concerns, think of the

materials used to manufacture.

I live in the midwest. After extensive travels I found this is a good area

to remain. Detoxing helped me, your mileage may vary.

On Apr 23, 2010 10:26 PM, " arvon45 " <arvon45@...> wrote:

Hey folks, first time poster. I suffer from MCS and am highly sensitive to

toxic mold. The last couple of years I have noticed that when I come back

from nothern Wisconsin, I immediately don't feel as well as soon as I push

into northern Illinois. I get a sore throat. geta little brain frgo. The

clarity reduction is noticeable. The pollution of the Chicagoland area

combined with the humidity and presticides seems to be too much.

To make a long story short, I am looking at places across the country. As of

now I am investigating northern Wisconsin, northern MInnesota, Montana,

Arizona, New Mexico and the drier portions of California(Lake Tahoe south to

San Diego). When I factor in wildfire smoke, I am leaning more towards

southern Arizon and northern Wisconsin.

I have heard that Washington is problematic from all the moisture. I am also

worried about the heat in southern Arizona. Although a dry heat, I'm not

sure that multiple days of 110 degrees is really that great of a thing.

I was wondering if any of you had feedback. We have also thought about just

getting a travel trailer and living that way.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Sorry to meet you in this manner.  I too have MCS and the mold thing.  If it

were me I would do the trailer and go that route until you find a location that

works for you.  MKE SURE IT IS MCS safe and mold free. 

 

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: arvon45 <arvon45@...>

Sent: Fri, April 23, 2010 10:53:33 PM

Subject: [] Best part of the U.S. to live

 

Hey folks, first time poster. I suffer from MCS and am highly sensitive to toxic

mold. The last couple of years I have noticed that when I come back from nothern

Wisconsin, I immediately don't feel as well as soon as I push into northern

Illinois. I get a sore throat. geta little brain frgo. The clarity reduction is

noticeable. The pollution of the Chicagoland area combined with the humidity and

presticides seems to be too much.

To make a long story short, I am looking at places across the country. As of now

I am investigating northern Wisconsin, northern MInnesota, Montana, Arizona, New

Mexico and the drier portions of California(Lake Tahoe south to San Diego). When

I factor in wildfire smoke, I am leaning more towards southern Arizon and

northern Wisconsin.

I have heard that Washington is problematic from all the moisture. I am also

worried about the heat in southern Arizona. Although a dry heat, I'm not sure

that multiple days of 110 degrees is really that great of a thing.

I was wondering if any of you had feedback. We have also thought about just

getting a travel trailer and living that way.

[Guest guest]

I think most everyone agrees it is the smallest airborne particles are the ones

that cause problems with health as they get breathed in, right into your blood

stream, so with that in mind, you can get information on small particle rates on

the american lung association website.

From what I remember a good place is on the east side of the Rockies. The

mountain range prevents those areas from getting polution from California area,

but don't go so far east that you get into the industrial midwest area, and

certainly not into the humid south. In CA if you can afford to pay for ocean

front property, you should be okay since winds come from the west and should be

clean of chemicals and small particles. The ocean front areas are not listed on

american lung assoc because I think they list by state and not areas within

states.

>

> Hey folks, first time poster. I suffer from MCS and am highly sensitive to

toxic mold. The last couple of years I have noticed that when I come back from

nothern Wisconsin, I immediately don't feel as well as soon as I push into

northern Illinois. I get a sore throat. geta little brain frgo. The clarity

reduction is noticeable. The pollution of the Chicagoland area combined with the

humidity and presticides seems to be too much.

>

>

[Guest guest]

hi all,

i think this is an interesting topic of discussion, perhaps the west

coast waterfront is pretty clean, although pollutants blow over from

china, yet I think those travel high up and perhaps don't hit the coast,

just the first mountain range? also, anywhere you choose to try and

live, even on the coast, there can be heavy pesticide usage. i am

wondering if there are any pesticide/fungicide free zones anywhere in

the u.s./world? also of course there is the mold issue which is

everywhere. and after being sent to arizona and a relatively high/dry

local which didn't help i am wondering if high elevation is even good as

my kid was since diagnosed by dr. rea as not getting enuf oxygen into

his tissues, he's now on oxygen therapy, so did the high altitude hurt/

help? One thing is for sure, living next to the freeway in Dallas is

not clean air...and we saw a naturopath in AZ who says it's actually a

fallacy that there is less mold there in that dry climate, hard to know,

hard to be smart, so many many conflicting viewpoints....we met a

neighbor while in AZ who said he had a friend (not MCS) w/a lot of $'s

who has spent several years traveling around the world trying to find a

" clean " place to live WITHOUT SUCCESS, in other words there is no clean

place left, weep weep....

Eventually and hopefully sooner rather than later I hope to return to

No. Cal. and see if we can find a relatively pesticide free area away

from the big city, a relatively mold free house, strip it down

furnishing wise and air filter the heck out of it, bring the sauna

there, and continue to try and detox my kid and rebuild his health.

I think I posted yesterday that his mycotoxins urine levels had changed,

so maybe the CSM and ziem pills dr. gray had him on were helping

although this hasn't translated into any symptom changes...

But, retested his C4a which is now approaching 11,000 and his MSH which

has now dropped even further down to 8.... Is there any come back from this??

I want to hear from people who have found " clean " areas to live, open to

just about any place that might help healing, although prefer west coast...

Best, Sue

>I think most everyone agrees it is the smallest airborne particles are

>the ones that cause problems with health as they get breathed in, right

>into your blood stream, so with that in mind, you can get information on

>small particle rates on the american lung association website.

>From what I remember a good place is on the east side of the Rockies.

>The mountain range prevents those areas from getting polution from

>California area, but don't go so far east that you get into the

>industrial midwest area, and certainly not into the humid south. In CA

>if you can afford to pay for ocean front property, you should be okay

>since winds come from the west and should be clean of chemicals and

>small particles. The ocean front areas are not listed on american lung

>assoc because I think they list by state and not areas within states.

>

>

>>

>> Hey folks, first time poster. I suffer from MCS and am highly

>sensitive to toxic mold. The last couple of years I have noticed that

>when I come back from nothern Wisconsin, I immediately don't feel as

>well as soon as I push into northern Illinois. I get a sore throat.

>geta little brain frgo. The clarity reduction is noticeable. The

>pollution of the Chicagoland area combined with the humidity and

>presticides seems to be too much.

>>

>>

>

[Guest guest]

You must at all costs avoid the Lake Tahoe area, it is the home of some very bad

mold that some people who know, know to avoid. California is also thought to be

bad. Arizona is dry but has Valley fever. I recommend NM. Some people have found

the area west of Albq to be good. I live in SW NM, in the desert, and the

weather is at least good enough to be outside most of the time. Valley fever

does not seem to be a problem. There is a great deal of wilderness and public

land for getting away from bad air, and the camping is free or cheap, something

that cannot be said for other parts of the country, where it can cost an arm and

a leg. They also have public health insurance, so you do not have to wait for

fed. programs to get going.

>

>

> I was wondering if any of you had feedback. We have also thought about just

getting a travel trailer and living that way.

>

[Guest guest]

ok, i am working backwards here in my e-mails, now i see your whole post...

Arizona, we spent 4 mos. in sedona, don't go there, it is beautiful but

in a bowl that collects pollution, also it is resorty so they care about

how it looks and spray pesticides, i had horrible hayfever there, we

were in a supposedly allergen free rental but i think it was pseudo

allergen free, my sick kid felt better once we left, also wildfires and

spraying of forests in that area....

Dr. Gray, a mold specialist doc we consulted in Benson, AZ says the air

quality is good down there, and the elevation higher so cooler than

tuscan, but when i look on line at air quality measures, that area

doesn't show as very clean air (does anywhere??). also, i googled about

mexican factories and there are 100's/1000's south of the border and the

air pollution blows over, the us border patrol doesn't even try to catch

the illegal air pollutants crossing the border ha ha... none the less,

you might look around patagonia and neighboring towns, supposedly some

green housing in this area...

I haven't looked, but if decided to try higher drier elevation, i think

i would take a close look at santa fe area, we will drive back thru

albuquerque so perhaps will detour that way....

still, i love northern ca and my family is there, so we will try going

back, my kid doesn't seem to get well anywhere, so may as well live

where we like.

If you are looking at Tahoe, I have been told that the pollution from

Bay Area blows right thru the mountain pass to Reno, and of course Reno

is dirty, so try and take that into consideration when finding a Tahoe

locale...

I would think that San Diego would be really dirty, again right across

the border from polluting Mexican factories + it's a big huge city and

in fact I believe basically one big city straight from san diego to L.A.....

I am really starting to wonder if being in a wetter climate is worse for

mold?? I know this is the conventional wisdom, but a lot of the indoor

mold is coming from poor construction, chinese dry wall, water leaks

under the sink, etc. that can happen anywhere, and when it rains it also

has the benefit of washing pollutants away, etc. ?????

really like dr. rea by the way but feel like i am living in a very

strange alternate reality/parallel universe here in the Dr. Rea " enviro

housing " next to freeway which is not exactly " enviro " in many ways

although some people who have been here a long long time say it is

" safer " and the only place they have found that they can

tolerate.....the clinic has it's funky aspects too....if I stay long

enuf I could write a book, and some people have been here long enuf to

write that book....they report that a few people get well enuf here to

return to normal lives, more get measurably better but not " cured " , and

some only a little better or not at all....

Sue V

>Hey folks, first time poster. I suffer from MCS and am highly sensitive

>to toxic mold. The last couple of years I have noticed that when I come

>back from nothern Wisconsin, I immediately don't feel as well as soon as

>I push into northern Illinois. I get a sore throat. geta little brain

>frgo. The clarity reduction is noticeable. The pollution of the

>Chicagoland area combined with the humidity and presticides seems to be

>too much.

>

>To make a long story short, I am looking at places across the country.

>As of now I am investigating northern Wisconsin, northern MInnesota,

>Montana, Arizona,

New Mexico and the drier portions of California(Lake

>Tahoe south to San Diego). When I factor in wildfire smoke, I am leaning

>more towards southern Arizon and northern Wisconsin.

>

>I have heard that Washington is problematic from all the moisture. I am

>also worried about the heat in southern Arizona. Although a dry heat,

>I'm not sure that multiple days of 110 degrees is really that great of a

>thing.

>

>I was wondering if any of you had feedback. We have also thought about

>just getting a travel trailer and living that way.

>

[Guest guest]

Jeri,

There are special made MCS travel trailers .  They also build them.  I just

did not know if I could post the link to that. 

 

 

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: Jeri Zerr <jerizerr@...>

Sent: Sat, April 24, 2010 12:34:32 AM

Subject: Re: [] Best part of the U.S. to live

 

A travel trailer will generally have chemical concerns, think of the

materials used to manufacture.

I live in the midwest. After extensive travels I found this is a good area

to remain. Detoxing helped me, your mileage may vary.

On Apr 23, 2010 10:26 PM, " arvon45 " <arvon45 (DOT) com> wrote:

Hey folks, first time poster. I suffer from MCS and am highly sensitive to

toxic mold. The last couple of years I have noticed that when I come back

from nothern Wisconsin, I immediately don't feel as well as soon as I push

into northern Illinois. I get a sore throat. geta little brain frgo. The

clarity reduction is noticeable. The pollution of the Chicagoland area

combined with the humidity and presticides seems to be too much.

To make a long story short, I am looking at places across the country. As of

now I am investigating northern Wisconsin, northern MInnesota, Montana,

Arizona, New Mexico and the drier portions of California(Lake Tahoe south to

San Diego). When I factor in wildfire smoke, I am leaning more towards

southern Arizon and northern Wisconsin.

I have heard that Washington is problematic from all the moisture. I am also

worried about the heat in southern Arizona. Although a dry heat, I'm not

sure that multiple days of 110 degrees is really that great of a thing.

I was wondering if any of you had feedback. We have also thought about just

getting a travel trailer and living that way.

[Guest guest]

Mayleen,

Sure you can post the link.

KC

>

> Hey folks, first time poster. I suffer from MCS and am highly sensitive to

> toxic mold. The last couple of years I have noticed that when I come back

> from nothern Wisconsin, I immediately don't feel as well as soon as I push

> into northern Illinois. I get a sore throat. geta little brain frgo. The

> clarity reduction is noticeable. The pollution of the Chicagoland area

> combined with the humidity and presticides seems to be too much.

>

> To make a long story short, I am looking at places across the country. As of

> now I am investigating northern Wisconsin, northern MInnesota, Montana,

> Arizona, New Mexico and the drier portions of California(Lake Tahoe south to

> San Diego). When I factor in wildfire smoke, I am leaning more towards

> southern Arizon and northern Wisconsin.

>

> I have heard that Washington is problematic from all the moisture. I am also

> worried about the heat in southern Arizona. Although a dry heat, I'm not

> sure that multiple days of 110 degrees is really that great of a thing.

>

> I was wondering if any of you had feedback. We have also thought about just

> getting a travel trailer and living that way.

>

>

[Guest guest]

havine schlepped around on the west coast...this is what i have found to be bad

for chem injured....

sdan deigo is a damp and moldy environment. i am not reactive to mold the same

are, it has to be pretty obvious, and san diego was bad, moneterry in nor ca

sucked,

i was able to survive of all places burlingame in the hotel at that asirport,

even with the planes taking off, never bothered me

phoenix/scottsdale HORRIBLE!

south jersey is bad way to humid

so far vegas is the only place i am half able to survive...go figure since

according to ins companies its in the top 10 for mold!

angel

Re: [] Re: Best part of the U.S. to live

hi all,

i think this is an interesting topic of discussion, perhaps the west

coast waterfront is pretty clean, although pollutants blow over from

china, yet I think those travel high up and perhaps don't hit the coast,

just the first mountain range? also, anywhere you choose to try and

live, even on the coast, there can be heavy pesticide usage. i am

wondering if there are any pesticide/fungicide free zones anywhere in

the u.s./world? also of course there is the mold issue which is

everywhere. and after being sent to arizona and a relatively high/dry

local which didn't help i am wondering if high elevation is even good as

[Guest guest]

I cannot provide exact details as I lost touch with these friends, but they were

suffering from everything from mold exposure to mcs and lyme. The purchased a

new air stream. They had to do some things to contain some minor off-gassing I

think from the cabinets (maybe non-toxic sealants like AFM). They felt that the

fact that it was mostly made from metal was a big help in their safety. They had

lived in it on and off for quite some time and had no real problems. I think

their were some concerns about where they'd park as if they were near some place

where there were fumes outside or people spraying they had to be careful about

that. They had a small healthmate jr. running all the time in their bedroom. I

know that they could barely tolerate hotel rooms and did very well after they

did whatever they did to their airstream. Sorry I don't have more exact info.

Hope it is helpful.

--- On Sat, 4/24/10, Jeri Zerr <jerizerr@...> wrote

 

A travel trailer will generally have chemical concerns, think of the

materials used to manufacture.

[Guest guest]

Yes and the air streams are the ones usually worked on to make safe for mcs. 

Aluminum, steel  along those lines.  It is just not affordable for everyone. 

Usually out of funds by the time you get to that point.  It is a good option. 

Think of it as a travel experience to make it more acceptable. Most of all

safety for your health.   YMMV 

  

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: Sam <yaddayadda53@...>

Sent: Sat, April 24, 2010 9:51:04 PM

Subject: Re: [] Best part of the U.S. to live

 

I cannot provide exact details as I lost touch with these friends, but they were

suffering from everything from mold exposure to mcs and lyme. The purchased a

new air stream. They had to do some things to contain some minor off-gassing I

think from the cabinets (maybe non-toxic sealants like AFM). They felt that the

fact that it was mostly made from metal was a big help in their safety. They had

lived in it on and off for quite some time and had no real problems. I think

their were some concerns about where they'd park as if they were near some place

where there were fumes outside or people spraying they had to be careful about

that. They had a small healthmate jr. running all the time in their bedroom. I

know that they could barely tolerate hotel rooms and did very well after they

did whatever they did to their airstream. Sorry I don't have more exact info.

Hope it is helpful.

--- On Sat, 4/24/10, Jeri Zerr <jerizerrgmail (DOT) com> wrote

 

A travel trailer will generally have chemical concerns, think of the

materials used to manufacture.

[Guest guest]

I have heard the same.  NM as being one that has at least 5 MCS communities. 

I have a list if anyone wants it you can email me.  Just have to find it.  But

I will look again. I know Kingston was one.  I think the key is avoidance. 

Stay indoors when it is moldy humid out.  Avoid high winds,  things you have

to learn to stay safe.  Mold is so hard to avoid.  Always have masks

available.  At least your respiratory will be safer. 

 

NM has VF as well .  There is a map online of the regions with VF.  Ar, NM,

Ca, Tx,   scroll down

http://members.tripod.com/b_u_d/vf.htm

http://www.valley-fever.org/valley_fever_org_endemic_areas.html

Scroll Down

http://www.vfce.arizona.edu/

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: carondeen <kdeanstudios@...>

Sent: Sat, April 24, 2010 10:59:56 AM

Subject: [] Re: Best part of the U.S. to live

 

You must at all costs avoid the Lake Tahoe area, it is the home of some very bad

mold that some people who know, know to avoid. California is also thought to be

bad. Arizona is dry but has Valley fever. I recommend NM. Some people have found

the area west of Albq to be good. I live in SW NM, in the desert, and the

weather is at least good enough to be outside most of the time. Valley fever

does not seem to be a problem. There is a great deal of wilderness and public

land for getting away from bad air, and the camping is free or cheap, something

that cannot be said for other parts of the country, where it can cost an arm and

a leg. They also have public health insurance, so you do not have to wait for

fed. programs to get going.

>

>

> I was wondering if any of you had feedback. We have also thought about just

getting a travel trailer and living that way.

>

[Guest guest]

I spoke with the national expert on Valley Fever and posted on City Data when I

was considering the Las Cruces area.

The expert told me it's simply a matter of population density. The reason Tucson

and Phoenix have so much VF is the millions of people there. There are not many

people in southern NM, and in addition I was told on city data that many of the

poor hispanics who get VF in NM go to the free public hospital in El Paso. That

area has VF but Texas refuses to report ANY valley fever.

Southern NM may not be as bad as Arizona, but it has VF, and probably more than

reported, since only noticeably bad cases get reported anyway. Dust storms can

blow through there to the point where they close the highway btw Las Cruces and

El Paso for instance.

I would feel somewhat safer in southern NM but not invulnerable. I was also told

by the national expert that your risk of getting it is about 1 in 3 over the

course of a decade. It increases over time.

I am still very interested in these areas for many reasons, they are beautiful,

but VF scares me, I must admit.

> >

> >

> > I was wondering if any of you had feedback. We have also thought about just

getting a travel trailer and living that way.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes Kingston is supposed to be good. Snowflake AZ is another MCS community

(Mormon mostly tho).

But areas change depending where you are. Close to a city might be bad, out in

the country not so. A moldy home is going to be a disaster anywhere.

We are in the Atlanta area now and it's a subtropical climate where most homes

have mold issues. Anyone who doesn't pay attention to mold is going to get mold,

period. Two friends of mine don't have mold...every other place I've been does.

But the ones who don't, their houses are great.

Atlanta as a city is fairly polluted and there is way too much EMF smog. But an

hour south of the city is a 40,000 acre greenbelt, and the air there was

incredibly wonderful...and in the north Georgia mountains an hour to 90 minutes

north of the city it's also great.

So I think you have to experience areas for a while...before you decide. So the

travel trailer idea sounds very good. You can also retrofit hightop vans, or

cargo vans, if you are handy or can hire someone handy. Or you can gut an old

schoolbus and make an RV>

>

> I have heard the same.  NM as being one that has at least 5 MCS

communities.  I have a list if anyone wants it you can email me.  Just have to

find it.  But I will look again. I know Kingston was one.  I think the key is

avoidance.  Stay indoors when it is moldy

[Guest guest]

Back to this topic, I'm trying to find that 'small particle map' at the American

Lung Association, but here is some of their information on air pollution per

city. I'm so disgusted by the amt of 'official' lying going on though that I

take all info with a grain of salt, i.e. could location be deemed better than it

is so business isn't affected... but anyway, with that caviat:

http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/city-rankings/

I can't find map I thought they had but here are lists. I pay more attention to

the fine particle list but ozone is important too. I notice FL and HI, and I

would imagine this is due to ocean breezes, but I wouldn't live in FL myself due

to probably mold in air conditioned houses and storm ravages houses there and

the humidity. I note MT and CO and WY as being states east of the Rockies which

I imagine keeps pollution from CA out and before you hit the industrial midwest,

but I don't know about crops, fertilizers and pesticides. What are their

products there? Wiki-answers says livestock, produce and tourism. AK obvious:

snow on the ground and surrounded by water.

http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/city-rankings/cleanest-cities.html

>

> To make a long story short, I am looking at places across the country. As of

now I am investigating northern Wisconsin, northern MInnesota, Montana, Arizona,

New Mexico and the drier portions of California(Lake Tahoe south to San Diego).

When I factor in wildfire smoke, I am leaning more towards southern Arizon and

northern Wisconsin.

>

>

[Guest guest]

please keep us posted on your search. in looking at southern arizona, i

would be interested in what you learn re: pollution, i was looking at

this area briefly myself and found info about high levels of pollution

blowing across the border (no pollution border patrol....) from the

1,000's of south of the border factories that u.s. corporations set up

to lower labor costs and avoid environmental controls....

also related to this subject. dr. gray and i think conventional mold

avoidance thinking is that a high dry climate is best, but when we

visited a naturopath in the phoenix area, she says this is a fallacy,

that mold thrives in the arizona dry climate, as soon as it rains, the

mold takes off like crazy... also, regarding high altitudes, when we

came to dr. rea's clinic, he tested my son's veinous blood gas levels

which were too high which means not enuf oxygen is getting to the

tissues, and put him on 2 hrs of oxygen a day....so I am wondering if

high altitude is even the best thing for mold and mcs patients, many of

whom have vasculitis (inflammation/swelling of small blood vessels

restricting blood flow to tissues)... before leaving Dallas, I plan to

ask Dr. Rea his opinion on best climate for my sick son, but at this

point am leaning towards going back home to northern calif, ideally

finding a dry mold-safe place to live, stripping it down to the bare

essentials (no carpets, no upholstered furniture, etc.) and air

filtering the heck out of it.... in any case, so far no change in

locale has helped him so we may as well be where we want to be and with

rest of our family...

sue v

>Back to this topic, I'm trying to find that 'small particle map' at the

>American Lung Association, but here is some of their information on air

>pollution per city. I'm so disgusted by the amt of 'official' lying

>going on though that I take all info with a grain of salt, i.e. could

>location be deemed better than it is so business isn't affected... but

>anyway, with that caviat:

>

>http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/city-rankings/

>

>>http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/city-rankings/cleanest-cities.html

>

>

[Guest guest]

Regarding the mold problem-I live in Queens, NY. We are far enough from the big

city to have mostly really clean air days (Long Island by the shore is even

better, upstate is great too) but the mold problem here really centers on the

house itself.

If the house is really old (my Mom's was built in the 1920's from cinder block

and real plaster walls so thick you can't put a nail in it) then chances are if

you're basement is dry your house is safe. It's the materials used in newer

housing that cause most of the mold problems here.

I know this is a generalization but in general if you keep an eye on maintaining

the structure of your house, New York is a pretty good state to be in. I've

thought about this alot because I had to do alot of remediation on my basement

but now that is has been repaired and sealed tight, I'm starting to wonder

whether a move would put me in a safer place. I'm far enough from the city and

highways to be surrounded by trees and grass, so for me it's a matter of the

devil you know versus the devil you don't know.

>

> please keep us posted on your search. in looking at southern arizona, i

> would be interested in what you learn re: pollution, i was looking at

> this area briefly myself and found info about high levels of pollution

> blowing across the border (no pollution border patrol....) from the

> 1,000's of south of the border factories that u.s. corporations set up

> to lower labor costs and avoid environmental controls....

>

>

[Guest guest]

Tjree of the sickest people that I had met at Dr. Reas were from Arizona.

Phoenix and Golden Valley, dont know about the third one. They were all sick

from mold.

>

> please keep us posted on your search. in looking at southern arizona, i

> would be interested in what you learn re: pollution, i was looking at

> this area briefly myself and found info about high levels of pollution

> blowing across the border (no pollution border patrol....) from the

> 1,000's of south of the border factories that u.s. corporations set up

> to lower labor costs and avoid environmental controls....

>

> also related to this subject. dr. gray and i think conventional mold

> avoidance thinking is that a high dry climate is best, but when we

> visited a naturopath in the phoenix area, she says this is a fallacy,

> that mold thrives in the arizona dry climate, as soon as it rains, the

> mold takes off like crazy... also, regarding high altitudes, when we

> came to dr. rea's clinic, he tested my son's veinous blood gas levels

> which were too high which means not enuf oxygen is getting to the

> tissues, and put him on 2 hrs of oxygen a day....so I am wondering if

> high altitude is even the best thing for mold and mcs patients, many of

> whom have vasculitis (inflammation/swelling of small blood vessels

> restricting blood flow to tissues)... before leaving Dallas, I plan to

> ask Dr. Rea his opinion on best climate for my sick son, but at this

> point am leaning towards going back home to northern calif, ideally

> finding a dry mold-safe place to live, stripping it down to the bare

> essentials (no carpets, no upholstered furniture, etc.) and air

> filtering the heck out of it.... in any case, so far no change in

> locale has helped him so we may as well be where we want to be and with

> rest of our family...

>

> sue v

>

> >

> >>http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/city-rankings/cleanest-cities.html

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

very interesting....

>Tjree of the sickest people that I had met at Dr. Reas were from

>Arizona. Phoenix and Golden Valley, dont know about the third one. They

>were all sick from mold.

>

>

>>

>> please keep us posted on your search. in looking at southern arizona, i

>> would be interested in what you learn re: pollution, i was looking at

>> this area briefly myself and found info about high levels of pollution

>> blowing across the border (no pollution border patrol....) from the

>> 1,000's of south of the border factories that u.s. corporations set up

>> to lower labor costs and avoid environmental controls....

>>

>> also related to this subject. dr. gray and i think conventional mold

>> avoidance thinking is that a high dry climate is best, but when we

>> visited a naturopath in the phoenix area, she says this is a fallacy,

>> that mold thrives in the arizona dry climate, as soon as it rains, the

>> mold takes off like crazy... also, regarding high altitudes, when we

>> came to dr. rea's clinic, he tested my son's veinous blood gas levels

>> which were too high which means not enuf oxygen is getting to the

>> tissues, and put him on 2 hrs of oxygen a day....so I am wondering if

>> high altitude is even the best thing for mold and mcs patients, many of

>> whom have vasculitis (inflammation/swelling of small blood vessels

>> restricting blood flow to tissues)... before leaving Dallas, I plan to

>> ask Dr. Rea his opinion on best climate for my sick son, but at this

>> point am leaning towards going back home to northern calif, ideally

>> finding a dry mold-safe place to live, stripping it down to the bare

>> essentials (no carpets, no upholstered furniture, etc.) and air

>> filtering the heck out of it.... in any case, so far no change in

>> locale has helped him so we may as well be where we want to be and with

>> rest of our family...

>>

>> sue v

>>

>> >

>> >>http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/city-rankings/cleanest-cities.html

>> >

>> >

>>

>

>

[Guest guest]

My 'take' on this is probably due to the constant air conditioning in buildings

and we know in what bad shape many air conditioning systems are. A friend of

mine was visiting here from Phoenix, picked me up in her car, she had driven

here for the summer, and ugh! I wanted to hang my window out of the car like a

dog, and offered to drive her the next time. The odor was soooo strong of mold

in car. She and her husband have both had cancer, at the same time. Her

husband died of it so she is a widow now, and is hoping she is cancer free.

While driving the moldy smelling BMW, I said my ex and I used to have one of

these, I loved it, she said it used to be her husbands. She sold hers and took

his. Eeeks. I mentioned mold thing to her about my house but I have learned

the hard way never to call other people's things smelly so I didn't.

>

> Three of the sickest people that I had met at Dr. Reas were from Arizona.

Phoenix and Golden Valley, dont know about the third one. They were all sick

from mold.

>

[Guest guest]

It may be that *when* they get a chance to grow, molds are more toxic in the

desert because they need to competitively inhibit other molds, and get the water

while they can. Also all that new construction, in Phoenix and Tucson, probably

cheap stuff that molds easily. Swamp coolers, flat roofs that leak during

monsoons, etc.

We're in Atlanta now and it is the moldiest city I've ever been in. By that I

Mean, it's so lush, verdant and HUMID (humidity is going up to 90% every night),

that probably all kinds of molds happily flourish together in one big blossoming

ecosystem. Every building I walk into has mold. Our hotel has mold. Homes have

mold. Basements have mold. My freinds have a home without mold, but only because

they bought it new, run a dehumidifier, have a daylight concrete poured basement

that they won't finish so it won't mold (if you finish it with drywall, it'll

mold no matter what). The molds are highly allergenic for me and I'm not doing

well, but they're not TOXIC. The mold in my NY prewar was toxic, really bad.

> >

> > Three of the sickest people that I had met at Dr. Reas were from Arizona.

Phoenix and Golden Valley, dont know about the third one. They were all sick

from mold.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Up in the mountains is not any better because often there are mountain streams,

and the extra moisture from those streams can cause fungus to grow on the sides

of the house, and inside.

Also, mountains can create little dust-bowls, where pollution from cars and

chimneys get stuck.

Near the coast is not good because hurricanes often come by and rip the roofs

right off of houses and cause mold damage that is often simply re-roofed right

over the existing problem.

Stay away from air-ports, cause theThe mold is in the air guys. Think about it.

How bad was the mold 40 years ago?

There are more polluted places, and less polluted places.

There are definately safer houses/RV's and deadly houmes. I recommend checking

out the roof, the gutters, the crawl-space, the AC ducts, all of the wood around

the base of every window for " softness " , ANY suspect smells, wall-paint that has

those ceiling stereophonic balls in it (to conceal mold cracks), discolored

sections of roofs, signs of leaking around toilets and pipes, nails sticking out

of the roofing shingles, areas on the roof that cave in too much when weight is

applied, ask if there has been any roof repairs done - ever. Often roof repairs

consist of covering a rotten-through section of roof with TAR! Look for

" mildew " , another word for mold. Ask about mildew. Often landlords are more

likely to admit to " mildew " than mold. Dont get caught up in semantics. They

are both fungus, and can both be dangerous. Any mushrooms growing nearby? Any

green stuff on the sides of the walls outside, or on the patio, or stairs? Any

discolored wooden panels on the roof, visible from inside the attic? Especially

examine areas around the chimney and the boots around the vent-pipes. Are the

roofing shingles themselves moldy/discolored? These can all be signs to look

for. Talk to the neighbors, and try to bargain a trial period in to the lease.

If it's not the mold, it's the loud booming neighbors upstairs who party till 4

a.m. I really wish there were some vigilante justice-league that would

seriously put an end to these torturous, nightmarish,

hell-apartments/land-lords.

As far as a good camper to move in to. If you can move in to a 1978 Taurus, and

it has always had a solid roof/plumbing, I'd bet on it, since I lived in one for

4 years to 5 years and was very, very content and healthy with this model.

Highly recommended. Only 20'. Looked like a POC, but it was worth it. Be

careful w/ mobile home vinyl siding too. I saw a mobile home that had all it's

vinyl siding removed and it was nothing but a box covered in mold. It was

disgusting. If you can remove some of that siding to see underneath a section

of it, I'd recommend it. Roof repairs can sometimes be seen from examining the

roof on mobile homes, as well. Again, I'd prefer panelling over dry-wall any

day, and if you have carpeting, both get an xj-2000 ionic air purifier, and

vacuum your carpet every day until you are no longer allergic to it, and when

you reach that point, vacuum it once a week minimum, and that alone will make a

huge difference. I, however, do not have time for all that, so I just vacuum it

a lot, and then cover the whole carpet with tarp and sweep instead. Hopefully,

it is not brand-new and has out-gassed for a few years. If nothing else, tarp

the bedroom carpet that you sleep in and close the doors. Consider putting a

filter on the outside-part of the A/C vent coming in to your sleeping-room.

I once lived in a trailor that had bad mold. It had a super-powerful air-vent

fan on the ceiling. I put helpa filters in every outside window and sealed them

there with duct-tape and kept the fan on full-time. The wind-tunnell was so

powerful it would suck the doors shut in a big slam. There was a constant

source of filtered fresh air coming in to the trailor. Did it make a

difference? NO. Not a bit. My guess is the only real way to make a difference

is to cut out all the moldy wood and scrub the dry wood underneath with borax,

use a powerful humidifier, and stop all moisture leaks. I do not know if this

would truly do the job, since I did not own most of the places I have lived in

and was not legally capable of doing what needed to be done.

Did I miss anything on how to detect a moldy house?

As for the best place to live in the US, I doubt there is such a thing, as far

as any State. But the best place to live is probably a home that is as

mold-free as it gets, a newer home too, after 2002, should have better standards

also, and less chances of missed shingle-replacement maintenance.

Cheers,

research 1844

[Guest guest]

I agree totally that it is the home you live in, not the specific place.

Although I would caution that " new construction, " especially here in NY is

sometimes cheap and shoddy and I wouldn't buy new even if I could. Around here

old and solid works best-cinderblock and plaster walls-no sheetrock-that would

be my ideal home.

>

> Up in the mountains is not any better because often there are mountain

streams, and the extra moisture from those streams can cause fungus to grow on

the sides of the house, and inside.

>

> Also, mountains can create little dust-bowls, where pollution from cars and

chimneys get stuck.

>

> Near the coast is not good because hurricanes often come by and rip the roofs

right off of houses and cause mold damage that is often simply re-roofed right

over the existing problem.

>

> Stay away from air-ports, cause theThe mold is in the air guys. Think about

it. How bad was the mold 40 years ago?

>

> There are more polluted places, and less polluted places.

>

> There are definately safer houses/RV's and deadly houmes. I recommend

checking out the roof, the gutters, the crawl-space, the AC ducts, all of the

wood around the base of every window for " softness " , ANY suspect smells,

wall-paint that has those ceiling stereophonic balls in it (to conceal mold

cracks), discolored sections of roofs, signs of leaking around toilets and

pipes, nails sticking out of the roofing shingles, areas on the roof that cave

in too much when weight is applied, ask if there has been any roof repairs done

- ever. Often roof repairs consist of covering a rotten-through section of roof

with TAR! Look for " mildew " , another word for mold. Ask about mildew. Often

landlords are more likely to admit to " mildew " than mold. Dont get caught up in

semantics. They are both fungus, and can both be dangerous. Any mushrooms

growing nearby? Any green stuff on the sides of the walls outside, or on the

patio, or stairs? Any discolored wooden panels on the roof, visible from inside

the attic? Especially examine areas around the chimney and the boots around the

vent-pipes. Are the roofing shingles themselves moldy/discolored? These can

all be signs to look for. Talk to the neighbors, and try to bargain a trial

period in to the lease. If it's not the mold, it's the loud booming neighbors

upstairs who party till 4 a.m. I really wish there were some vigilante

justice-league that would seriously put an end to these torturous, nightmarish,

hell-apartments/land-lords.

>

> As far as a good camper to move in to. If you can move in to a 1978 Taurus,

and it has always had a solid roof/plumbing, I'd bet on it, since I lived in one

for 4 years to 5 years and was very, very content and healthy with this model.

Highly recommended. Only 20'. Looked like a POC, but it was worth it. Be

careful w/ mobile home vinyl siding too. I saw a mobile home that had all it's

vinyl siding removed and it was nothing but a box covered in mold. It was

disgusting. If you can remove some of that siding to see underneath a section

of it, I'd recommend it. Roof repairs can sometimes be seen from examining the

roof on mobile homes, as well. Again, I'd prefer panelling over dry-wall any

day, and if you have carpeting, both get an xj-2000 ionic air purifier, and

vacuum your carpet every day until you are no longer allergic to it, and when

you reach that point, vacuum it once a week minimum, and that alone will make a

huge difference. I, however, do not have time for all that, so I just vacuum it

a lot, and then cover the whole carpet with tarp and sweep instead. Hopefully,

it is not brand-new and has out-gassed for a few years. If nothing else, tarp

the bedroom carpet that you sleep in and close the doors. Consider putting a

filter on the outside-part of the A/C vent coming in to your sleeping-room.

>

> I once lived in a trailor that had bad mold. It had a super-powerful air-vent

fan on the ceiling. I put helpa filters in every outside window and sealed them

there with duct-tape and kept the fan on full-time. The wind-tunnell was so

powerful it would suck the doors shut in a big slam. There was a constant

source of filtered fresh air coming in to the trailor. Did it make a

difference? NO. Not a bit. My guess is the only real way to make a difference

is to cut out all the moldy wood and scrub the dry wood underneath with borax,

use a powerful humidifier, and stop all moisture leaks. I do not know if this

would truly do the job, since I did not own most of the places I have lived in

and was not legally capable of doing what needed to be done.

>

> Did I miss anything on how to detect a moldy house?

>

> As for the best place to live in the US, I doubt there is such a thing, as far

as any State. But the best place to live is probably a home that is as

mold-free as it gets, a newer home too, after 2002, should have better standards

also, and less chances of missed shingle-replacement maintenance.

>

> Cheers,

> research 1844

>

[Guest guest]

There are very moldy areas of the country. Dr Rae gives his patients a run down

of chemicals in their area as well as moldiness. During the Fall Texas will

have mold spores in the range of 5000 spores per cubic meter of air and many

times higher, and the Ohio River valley also is very moldy area, partly due to

the river itself, closed in by hills on all sides and all the buildings near the

river have been flooded many times and again closed in by hills on all sides. I

am affected by outside mold counts and so keep track and stay inside as much as

possible during high mold count days, which sore in late summer and fall.

Re: Look for ceiling with " stereophonic balls " What are 'stereophonic balls?

Thanks

>

> Up in the mountains is not any better because often there are mountain

streams, and the extra moisture from those streams can cause fungus to grow on

the sides of the house, and inside.

>

> Also, mountains can create little dust-bowls, where pollution from cars and

chimneys get stuck.

>

> Near the coast is not good because hurricanes often come by and rip the roofs

right off of houses and cause mold damage that is often simply re-roofed right

over the existing problem.

>

> Stay away from air-ports, cause theThe mold is in the air guys. Think about

it. How bad was the mold 40 years ago?

>

> There are more polluted places, and less polluted places.

>

> There are definately safer houses/RV's and deadly houmes. I recommend

checking out the roof, the gutters, the crawl-space, the AC ducts, all of the

wood around the base of every window for " softness " , ANY suspect smells,

wall-paint that has those ceiling stereophonic balls in it (to conceal mold

cracks),

[Guest guest]

I agree that old homes are much better constructed and w/better

materials, but we are being forced to vacate our old well constructed

home built in 1930's and well maintained except we let the hardwood

floors go, BECAUSE they didn't understand about drainage engineering

then, just poured the slab foundation and built the house, so our old

house has mold issues that need remediating, and my sick son is being

advised not to go back to the house by his docs even once the house is

remediated.

I will be looking for rental housing, and am thinking of looking for a

5-10 yo house, yes made out of poor materials but will have mostly

offgassed the nasty new construction chemicals, and hopefully won't have

started leaking to create mold issues, of course i will look for signs

of water damage and rule out any places like that. I will try and get

month to month rent so if it doesn't agree w/my son we can move on....

Is this good thinking or am I missing something?

Longer term, if/when he unmasks enough to see that a certain geographic

location is working for him, we can think about building w/good

materials....or buying an existing mcs home...

sue v

>I agree totally that it is the home you live in, not the specific place.

>Although I would caution that " new construction, " especially here in NY

>is sometimes cheap and shoddy and I wouldn't buy new even if I could.

>Around here old and solid works best-cinderblock and plaster walls-no

>sheetrock-that would be my ideal home.

>