Are You Home Sick?

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• Carbon monoxide: Quantum Group,
Inc., 11211 Sorrento Valley Rd., #D, San
Diego, CA 92121, 619/457-3048.

• Formaldehyde: Air Quality Research Inc.,
901 Grayson St., Berkeley, CA 94710,
415/644-2097; Applied Technical Services,
Inc., 1190 Atlanta Industrial Dr., Marietta,
GA 30066, 800/451-3405 (404/423-1400 in
metro Atlanta).

• Lead: Urbco Products Company, 31
Haynes St., Worcester, MA 01603,
08/755-1860; Applied Technical Services,
Inc. (see Formaldehyde).

• Water (for most contaminants):
Water-Test Corporation, 33 S.
Commercial St., Manchester,
NH 03108,800/426-8378; National
Testing Labs, 6151 Wilson Mills Rd.,
Cleveland, OH 44143, 800/458-3330.

PREVENTION

HELPING PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALready developed sensitivity is beyond the scope of this article (see the sidebar "Further Reading" for more detailed sources of information). Our goals are to tell you about some of the pollutants that may be in your home, to help you recognize symptoms they may be causing and to explain some ways you can cut your exposure to such pollutants.

It's important to understand that the development of chemical sensitivity is often a result of a combination of physical and mental factors, not just exposure to one chemical. The overall stress level on the body —which includes pressure from toxins of many varieties, infectious health problems, environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, and even the psychological strain of work or home life—determines the likelihood of whether a person will react severely to a chemical. Lead, for example, isn't considered a sensitizing chemical, but its toxic effects might make one more likely to react to other chemicals. Therefore, the best way to prevent sensitivity from developing—and, in fact, the usual way to treat the problem—is to reduce overall exposure to substances and conditions that stress the body.

Of course, though we're convinced that many people suffer unawares from environmental illnesses, we don't mean to imply that all or even most sickness is environmentally caused. Always rule out more-conventional health problems first! Physicians are still the authorities when it comes to diagnosing and treating illness, and you would be foolish to look for environmental causes of your problems without first having a thorough medical exam.

CLEANING UP

To reduce indoor contamination, concentrate on
removal, isolation, ventilation and climate control.

THERE ARE FIVE BASIC WAYS TO reduce or eliminate an indoor contamination problem: source removal, source isolation, ventilation, climate control and filtration. Each has its applications for certain situations, so let's look at them in more detail.

Source removal is the best solution to most chemical-sensitivity problems. But as Lynn and John Bower's story points out, this isn't always easy or inexpensive.

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HOMES THAT HEAL '

Athena Thompson

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