This Ill House

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http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/051802/dsd_9424326.html

Saturday, May 18, 2002

This Ill House

Chronic sinus and respiratory problems can be caused or aggravated by the

air you breathe indoors

By Marcia Mattson

Times-Union staff writer

Our homes are our castles. And like the musty, dank castles of old, the air

quality in some homes can leave a lot to be desired -- especially for people

with allergies, asthma or chemical sensitivities.

Just think of all the potential irritants in a home: pollen, mold, dust

mites, animal dander, feathers, insect droppings, bacteria and chemical

fumes.

Making homes more breathable is a bigger priority than ever as more people

suffer.

Take asthma, a chronic inflammation of the air passages that makes it hard

to breathe. It's on the rise in developed countries, including the United

States. More than 8.6 million U.S. children under 16 have been diagnosed

with the condition.

Air quality

May, a Cambridge, Mass., home inspector who just wrote the book My

House is Killing Me!, attributes the asthma rise to children staying indoors

more in irritant-laden homes and schools that recycle " canned air. " May,

whose book is full of air quality tips, believes most cases of chronic sinus

or respiratory problems or asthma flare-ups could be eased or corrected if

proper attention was paid to air quality in homes.

Dorothy Gossett said she is proof that improving air quality can make

symptoms better. Gossett, who has asthma, recently moved into a new house

in the Mandarin area, so she had the opportunity to add air-friendly

features. " I have nothing in the house that would stir up an asthma problem

with me, " Gossett said.

Last year was the first year she didn't have a cold. She usually struggles

through three episodes a year.

Gossett added non-fabric vertical blinds to her new home, instead of cloth

draperies. She has no carpet. Her sofas are now leather, so dust mites can't

penetrate the covering to make a home in them.

May is not the only one advising people how to clean up their air quality.

Allergists, public health officials and organizations such as the American

Lung Association have lots of tips for fostering fresh air.

Ventilation

Ventilation is the most important issue in indoor air quality. A good

ventilation system strikes a balance between keeping pollutants and moisture

out of the house while allowing fresh air to enter and circulate.

" You always need fresh air coming in. You just want to control where it

comes in, " said Larry Golden, who owns CMSS/Services, a Gainesville company

that works on air quality design issues with architects, builders and

developers as well as the American Lung Association in ville.

But that's easier said than done.

Leaks in duct work are probably the biggest source of indoor pollution

problems, said R. Nowlin, environmental specialist for the Duval

County Health Department.

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Dorothy Gossett has both asthma and several pets, including dogs Cheyenne

(from left), , Bradley and Whitney. So when she moved to a new home,

she took steps to make it more air-friendly, such as opting against carpet

for her floors.

-- Crista Jeremiason/Staff

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A house needs to maintain a positive air pressure so outdoor air can only

enter the building through the proper intake vents. But duct work leaks can

create negative pressure so the house sucks in moisture, pollen and other

pollutants. Damp, dirty duct work can grow mold, bacteria and yeast.

Here's a tip: If you turn on your heating and cooling system and it blows a

bad odor into the house, there's microbial growth in the system, May said.

He and other experts recommend checking duct work regularly.

Also, change air filters monthly. May said " media " filters trap smaller

particles than regular filters. But he recommends against electronic or

washable filters because people usually forget to do the maintenance on

them.

" The only type of filter to use is a throwaway filter, " May said.

The American Lung Association recommends people with asthma, allergies or

breathing problems add a HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arrestant) system to

filter tiny particles from the home's air handling system.

A dirty blower and coil will just blow contaminants into the house, so they

should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Also, make sure the air

system's drain stays open and clean. Don't close the heating or cooling

vents in unused rooms, and keep interior doors open so air can flow

properly. Don't forget that window air units need cleaning, too.

Another tip from May: Use body powder that contains talc rather than corn

starch, which is food for contaminants.

" It sucks into the air unit and mixes with water, and you've got dough, " May

said. " Would you make pizza dough in your bedroom? "

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Pet dander (dead skin) can be an irritant, so bedding materials should be

washed weekly or enclosed in allergen-free covers.

-- Crista Jeremiason/Staff

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Fuel-burning fireplaces, range hoods and dryers should be sealed and vented

to the outside. But many new homes don't have exhaust fans in bathrooms or

kitchens anymore, and some houses only have one air return, which can cause

air flow problems, Nowlin said. People in such homes may want to consider

adding these items.

Homes with attached garages or gas appliances should have carbon monoxide

detectors. And don't leave a vehicle running in an attached garage for any

period of time.

Also, keep the heating and cooling system's fan on the AUTO position during

air conditioning season because that position dehumidifies better than the

ON position.

Mold and dust mites thrive in moist air, so a home's relative humidity

should be kept at 40 to 60 percent. To control humidity, clean up and fix

water leaks within 24 hours, prevent sprinklers from spraying water on the

side of the house (it can penetrate the walls) and make sure the entire

exterior shell of the house was wrapped with an air/vapor retarder.

Decorating

Wall and floor coverings, furniture and cabinetry all can help or hinder a

home's air quality.

Good flooring choices are smooth, easy-to-clean materials such as tile, wood

or linoleum. The American Lung Association recommends eliminating carpet,

which can't be completely cleaned, can harbor dust mites and mold, and may

emit volatile organic compounds that irritate some people when first

installed.

If carpet is installed, choose a low-pile, 100-percent nylon style and use a

urethane padding. The American Lung Association says carpet should never be

applied over a concrete slab unless the slab first received a moisture

barrier. Otherwise, mold may grow. Also, avoid vinyl wallpaper. It doesn't

breathe, so moisture caught behind it may allow mold to grow.

An emerging problem is people who have developed multiple chemical

sensitivities. An odor that may be pleasant to some people, such as a mild

pine tar odor in linoleum, may irritate others.

" People have developed so many sensitivities, you have to go to the

individual level, rather than generalizations, " Golden said.

He recommends bringing a sample of a material home and placing it in the

bedroom for a couple days to see if it triggers a reaction.

Furniture or cabinets made with particleboard may contain formaldehyde,

which can be an irritant. The American Lung Association advises avoiding

particleboard items or sealing them with a water-based sealant if possible.

When using paint, choose one with no or low volatile organic compounds, to

reduce the paint's chemical emissions.

Nowlin said more people are choosing lightweight window coverings that can

be washed rather than heavy drapes that require dry cleaning.

Leather or vinyl make good furniture coverings because dust mites can't

penetrate them, said ville allergist Mizrahi.

And think twice before adding used furniture to your home. May said it can

harbor mildew or dust mites and should be cleaned before it enters the

house.

Cleaning

The way a house is cleaned can help or hurt the air quality.

Vacuums, for instance, stir up dust particles. So consider a vacuum that

uses a HEPA bag or a central vacuum system that vents outside the house.

When dusting, use a damp cloth. A dry cloth will just stir up allergens.

May has been asked countless times to track down the source of a foul odor

in a home, only to find the culprit is a dirty kitchen sponge.

" Anything that has food on it and is wet can get pretty significant bacteria

growth, " he said.

A basic rule: " If you're wiping things down, don't use things that stink. "

But you don't have to throw out your sponge, either. Soaking it for 5

minutes in ammonia will kill the bacteria and odor, May said.

Don't allow smoking in the house. And don't burn a lot of candles, incense

or other smoke and soot-producing products. Lay low on the air fresheners

and deodorant products, too, because they can be irritating.

There is rising concern about the use of strong cleaning products, and some

research indicates people may be contributing to the asthma increase by

making their homes too clean so their immune systems aren't exposed to

bacteria or other factors that may train the immune system to work properly.

Obviously, it is important not live in dirt, and to wash, mop and vacuum.

But there's concern that products such as antibacterial soaps can kill

" good " germs and help " bad " germs become antibiotic-resistant. More research

is needed.

In the meantime?

" You don't want to use more chemicals in your house than are needed, " said

T. Tofflemire, an environmental engineer with the Duval County Health

Department.

Prolonged exposure to some cleaning products may cause dizziness, nausea,

allergic reactions, eye, skin and respiratory irritation and possibly

cancer.

Mizrahi, the ville allergist, said people whose airways are already

raw from allergy or sinus problems are more likely to be irritated by strong

chemicals.

Make sure to follow the manufacturer's directions for chemical products. The

American Lung Association has a list of suggested safer alternatives. (see

sidebar).

Pests

Dust mites, microscopic relatives of ticks, are the No. 1 allergen in

Florida, Mizrahi said.

The mites eat skin flakes and can produce allergic reactions, particularly

if they are living in bedding.

Some hints to foil them: Encase mattresses and pillows with dust- or

allergen-proof covers. Wash bedding once a week in hot water. Replace wool

or feather-stuffed bedding with synthetic material. And only have stuffed

animals and toys that are washable.

May says you don't have to wash your bed quilts every week, and in fact

probably don't want to because quilts are so hard to dry. Heavy things like

that can be stuck in a hot dryer instead to kill most irritants, he said.

The presence cockroaches can make allergies or asthma worse. Keep food and

garbage tightly covered, clean kitchen countertops and floors at least once

a week, and plug holes where cockroaches enter.

Pesticides for cockroaches and other pests can cause problems, too. The

American Lung Association suggests trying solid poison baits, boric acid or

traps before sprays.

" Sometimes people do very foolish things with pesticides, " May said. " A lot

of these pesticides you can spread around are very toxic. "

He inspected a home where a man had sprinkled his carpet with inon, part

of a family of insecticides the federal government is banning because of

their potential to harm children. Another man had poured quarts of

chlordane, a now-banned pesticide used in the 1960s through 1980s to repel

termites, all around the foundation of his house. After he sold the house,

the new owners became sick.

May discourages the use of moth balls and bug sprays in the house, and

recommends storing lawn care products, which may contain pesticides, and

pool chemicals in a separate shed rather than an attached garage.

If you do use pesticide sprays, only spray the infested area, don't spray

where food is prepared or stored, or where children play, crawl or sleep.

Keep people out of the room while spraying and air out the room.

Pets

People with allergies or asthma should keep pets with fur or feathers out of

the house, or at least out of bedrooms because their dander (dead skin) can

be an irritant.

Washing a pet weekly can help reduce the amount of dander shed into the

house.

Also, consider non-toxic products for flea control.

May advises using washable blankets for pet bedding, and then washing them

weekly. Pet beds usually come with washable covers, but the bed itself can't

be washed and becomes infiltrated with dust mites. Even if the pet is washed

regularly, it can keep getting dust mite droppings in its fur from its bed.

But new research suggests children raised from birth in a house with dogs,

as well as children raised on farms, are less likely to develop asthma. The

reason may be their immune systems are exposed to animal dander early enough

to develop a response that neutralizes it as an irritant.

Researchers at the University of Arizona found children raised from birth

with dogs, particularly indoor pets, were less likely to develop asthma.

Swedish researchers had the same finding with cats, and German researchers

found kids raised on farms also had less asthma.

" Certainly, I would say it is not appropriate to ask people get rid of pets

at the time children are born, " said Marilyn Halonen, professor of

pharmacology and microbiology and immunology, and a research professor of

medicine and associate director of the Arizona Respiratory Center at the

University of Arizona's College of Medicine.

But Halonen noted it has been traditional for doctors to advise new parents

to get rid of Rover or Fluffy.

Researchers think the protective factor may be a bacteria in the dogs'

feces, said Anne L. , research professor of pediatrics at the Arizona

Respiratory Center.

Other studies have not reached the same conclusion about dogs in homes. But

they also didn't track infants right from birth -- instead relying on

recollections of having had pets, said.

noted this applied only to families in which neither parent had a

history of asthma.

And if a child already has developed asthma, it's not a good idea to have a

pet in the home, added.

INSET:

BEFORE YOU CLEAN, CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES

Instead of moth repellent, place cedar chips in cotton sachets.

Instead of roach repellent, use chopped bay leaves and cucumber slices.

Repel flies with a well-watered bowl of basil.

Baking soda will work as a rug and carpet cleaner.

Mix one part vinegar and one part water to clean glass.

Leave a cup of vinegar overnight in the toilet bowl, then scrub the next

day.

Make a grease cutter by mixing one cup of lemon juice to one cup of water.

For scouring powder, add enough water to baking soda to make a paste.

One teaspoon of white vinegar or baking soda per washing machine load will

work as a stain remover.

For floor and furniture polish, mix two parts vegetable oil to one part

lemon juice. For leather furniture, mix one cup vinegar to one cup linseed

oil.

To clean brass or copper, mix lemon juice and salt to form a paste; or a

lemon wedge dipped in baking soda; or hot white vinegar with salt; or hot

ketchup applied with a rag.

-- Marcia Mattson/staff

Marcia Mattson can be reached at (904) 359-4073 or at

mmattson@...