MCS is usually not caused by one single toxic or exposure. Therefore, we generally need to deal with several areas or a history of exposures when trying to heal our MCS, not just one. The first obstacle we face is being able to act intelligently and immediately to change our current situation and becoming more ill. This is frequently very difficult because initially we may not be sure of all the things that are causing us problems. We may not be able to understand and identify those things which are making us ill. We may suspect one or several things, but there is usually a longer list of unknowns we need to find out about and deal with. Educating ourselves on toxics and affecting circumstances is perhaps the most difficult area to tackle, along with what our options are for dealing responsibly with all the areas of risk.

Dealing with MCS is a radical change in consciousness and lifestyle; because we have to restructure our life to deal with areas we have previously not been interested in or aware of. This can be a very difficult adjustment and an overwhelming task, that may take time and training to accomplish successfully.

AVOIDANCE
The first and most important move when we become conscious that our health is at risk in our environment, is to immediately get away from whatever it is that is affecting us- either to get all toxics out of that environment, or to leave and avoid all the things that affect us. This includes all suspected toxics, not just what we may notice. There are scores of toxics that we may not notice that affect our health. The more we are exposed, the more damage we do to our system, and the more reactive we usually become. Although we may need to educate ourselves about this area for months to come, and this is a process that may take years to fine tune, I cannot stress the critical need to act on this immediately, on a day to day, moment to moment level.
Generally when we are feeling ill, we like to crawl in to our room and sleep or shut everyone out. This may be exactly the wrong thing to do. Motivating ourselves to do something different and create when we feel lousy is very difficult. It takes strength, courage and intense will power. We must focus clearly on our goal in a time when it is difficult to focus.
Commitment to avoidance always takes us a long way down the healing path, and the consciousness that is developed to act to avoid toxics will be most important for us for years to come. Being able to act quickly is empowering and the more toxics we are able to avoid, the quicker our body will be able to respond. The body is a fantastic healer if we are just able to give it a chance.

EDUCATION
Secondly we must educate ourselves about this world of MCS. What it is, all the things that cause it, all the methods that have worked to cure it, what to do, how to do it, where to go, and on and on. This is a whole new world with very tough ramifications if we make mistakes. We quickly find that we must take full responsibility for all we do, if we plan on moving forward with our life. This is blessing number one. What happens to us is not someone else's responsibility, it is ours. Previously we have not taken responsibility for what we do and that's why we are in such trouble now! There is usually no one set plan that will help us heal. There are typically numerous reasons why we have become ill, and there may be numerous ways that help us recover. We need to find out what these are, and which ones work for us, individually.

We may be affected by literally hundreds of toxics, and in the beginning, we usually don't have the faintest idea what toxics are. They can be external to the body and natural like mold and mildew. They can be manmade, like the scores of carcinogens we find in many household products today, like in building materials, automobiles, foods, clothes and so on. They can be food allergies, parasites and dental fillings. The list is quite long. And we can also have compound reactions from combinations of different toxics. So what is it that affects us? WE need to pay close attention, moment to moment, to our own reactions to find out.

We need to find out about a lot of other things to heal as well. And one of the most critical things for us to find out is what helps us clear, what helps us get toxics out of the body, and what helps us heal. Because this is different according to the specifics of our own chemical makeup and individual health history, this may take some looking and experimenting around with to find out. Try what has worked for others.
Exercise, fresh air, sweat, eat organic, and so on. Check out all the options, all the resources. Weight the data- question and analyze it. Think and pray on it. See what reveals itself as the truth.
Most data will eventually be contradicted. Find that information that does not.

SEEKING THE TRUTH.
This may be our first experience at being highly motivated to trying to find the truth about anything. If so, we may have a hard time knowing who is speaking the truth and who is not. If we expect everyone to be as they say or to be totally honest, and if we have surrounded ourselves with people who are not honest, we are in for big trouble and a rude awakening. We will learn that most people have some ulterior motivation as to what they speak and why they will speak to us at all. Most of the time the reason is money, or self-advancement, control, or some self-motivated reason. But whatever, we must retrain ourselves through practice, about how to personally be honest, so we can attract and associate with, and benefit from those who are honest. Otherwise, information we receive may only be partially true. This is misleading and disastrous to those of us who depend on the complete truth to heal.

This skill may take some time to develop, but I find if I talk to 5 or 6 people, pretty soon it becomes clear what the truth is about a subject, or what is true. And let’s face it, in this field, very few people have a total understanding of the whole picture and more than a personal view of their own experience should not be expected. Even if people work in a trade, it takes time to get a full view of all the facts in that area relative to our perspective, and not just a very limited regular world view. It is all based on personal experience, and that is why our own experiences, being chemically sensitive, dealing with things the whole world thinks is crazy, gives us the experience that others cannot have, no matter how hard they may try. We have the personal experience, the inside scoop, and this is a real gift in a world and society that is based primarily on illusion.

Always seek out experts in an area. Always give yourself time and space to reflect [or pray] about your direction. Give your heart the benefit of the doubt!! That feeling you have inside telling you this or that, could be someone trying to protect you!! If we desire the truth, it will be there for us, but we will have to distinguish between the truth and all the other options as well. Another words, we must take responsibility for our actions and deeds...

The real kicker here is this is such a great opportunity to upgrade our lives; we probably never would have had if we weren't forced to go through this terrible experience! And it becomes very obvious who rises to the occasion to take advantage of the situation to benefit from this experience, and it is very sad to see those who don't.

FINDING PHYSICIANS
Most doctors will have to test or experiment around to find out what is wrong with us. The better the doctor, the less experimenting he will have to do. The more information you can give him about yourself, the quicker he will be able to help. Talk to as many doctors as you can. Find out how much they cost, what their specialty is, what they will actually do with you, and so on. If you think they can help with your particular problems, if you can afford them, if you can see yourself in their program, and you understand it may not work, commit to the program. A half traveled path takes us nowhere.
Remember they are only a part of the healing team, we are the rest. If they fail, they have not failed alone; we have also failed with them in some way. There are no guarantees in this area, and there are many variables regarding what make us ill. This may take time and some mistakes are bound to happen.

SELF HEALING.
Much of the healing work is up to us, no matter who else we employ to help. How we regulate our activities, or even if we are able to regulate our activities, is not up to anyone but us. If we control our diet, if we avoid toxics in our moment to moment life, is all up to us. Paying attention to how we feel after we eat something, keeping a diary to be sure our reactions are clear, these are all the parts of healing most people do not focus on as each days new goal. These take time, effort, thought, commitment and responsibility. This is, as I said earlier, is the blessing of the experience. To learn to take responsibility for ourselves is the first sign that we will be moving forward to changing, not only our own problem, but affecting others, and helping to change the world. The real cause of MCS is irresponsible behavior, both on an individual personal level and as a society at large.

And there are so many simple practical things that we should be doing and can be done right now, with no special resources. We don't always need to be thinking "big motion" in order to move forward. The biggest steps we can take, many times happen in our heart and mind, and right in our own little world. For example, the best first steps one can take are to identify all the toxics in our environment and then remove them all, or ourselves from that space. What we eat, and simple cleaning out methods is critical. Exercise of some sort detoxes us from stress and other poisons. Get out and move your body!!! Do anything to start the detoxing and rebuilding. Sauna is good, but salt baths, hot baths and showers are good too. Small steps are very important. We don't jump too high, so we don't fall so far. Always start slow. We are in such a rush; we frequently damage our system in our haste to remove our anxiety. Take tiny amounts of foreign medications or supplements, not large, until you know your body can accept it. Then increase at a comfortable pace.

Learning how the body reacts to toxics may be difficult at first. When we are very loaded, we are very covered, and may not be able to recognize exactly when we are being hit, because we fell so lousy all the time. This means we are suffering under constant exposure and there is no chance for improving. The environment we are in must be immediately changed for the better or left. When the body is given a chance to clear, or is not to be under constant assault from toxics, it improves. We feel better. If we wake regularly feeling tired, we know our sleeping space is bad for us. Something must be done immediately.
If we leave the house and we feel better, we know it is the house, or it is materials in the house.
So, always seek out cleaner environments. Wherever we feel better, we know right away, this is where we need to be. The more time we spend in places where we feel better, the more chance the body has to start eliminating toxins, and feeling better.
The better we feel the more sharp we become in being able to quickly identify being hit by toxics.

Never doubt how the body feels. The human body is a very sensitive instrument that generally gives very accurate information. The trick is to pay attention to all the details and learn to decipher the causes or reasons why.

SPIRITUAL HEALING
Healing the body must also include some spiritual balancing. Since we are spirit in essence, we must have some spiritual base or information of true identity if we are to truly move forward. We need to find out the truth, the absolute truth, and not some illusion or a partial truth. We need true clarity. We need true balance, faith, strength, shelter, and understanding. Without these, we frequently fall down, and will actually go backwards in our material life.
Anger, blaming others, and stress are diseases in themselves. Humility, patience, true caring, inner peace and clarity are all signs of advancement. If we have certain detrimental habits, it is because of our level of consciousness, and we will not heal. If we adopt or live with characteristics that bring us peace and balance, we will create the space to heal. Unfortunately, we as a society have lost touch with reality and bona-fide methods for advancing spiritually, or other words, practical bona-fide methods that help us develop, change and advance. These will become available if our goal is focused on attaining the truth. If we are not serious, we will not be able to see them.

EMOTIONAL BALANCE.
Many people who have MCS have been through some very stressful experiences that influence emotional wellbeing.
It could have been parental or spousal abuse, marriage difficulties, physical or emotional abuse of some kind, or just a stressful lifestyle that is not being released. Whatever the situation, healing will not occur until these things are cleared up as well. Frequently a person in crisis, or people with MCS, will be urged to seek psychiatric help. This seems to me to be a very beneficial thing to do. Since there is a chance that this could be a part of the puzzle, why not address it? If some latent high stress or deeply emotional aspect of our lives has not been dealt with so we are released from it, it can wreak havoc on our life and health. But like any other action we want to be helpful, we should not just pick any number out of the book. Finding the right person who understands the details of environmental illness is key; otherwise the focus will not be on each critical component that creates the overall healing path, but only one area, which is equally detrimental. There are few qualified people in the field, but I recommend friend and associate Dr. Robert Mayer, who is a leader in this field and also has MCS. His whole life has been focused on working in this area and he knows the benefits of clearing this area. He works in N.J. and Manhattan.

In this crisis situation, we should not expect others to understand our feelings, emotions or reactions. If we expect this, we will be sadly disappointed. If you are one of the rare fortunate ones who do have understanding and support, be thankful! Environmental illness defies logic's. If we expect others to understand, or to be able to contribute in a productive way, we are in illusion. I mention this here because the emotional stress of not having support we are used to can be devastating. But, hopefully, this illness helps us to be more compassionate and understanding relative to this issue. We need to be strong, independent, and self-motivated if we are to heal. We need to be able to separate our relationships from this experience as much as possible, and gather the energy and definition of who we are to conquer this on our own, [and with the help of others that we find who are able to be supportive]. Even people who have had this illness for quite some time may not understand it very well. People, who do not have it, cannot begin to understand it.

EXERCISE.
Sweating and movement have helped me, and others heal and become well. Of this there is absolutely no doubt. Every day we must make an effort to be as physically active as possible. Get out into some clean environment and do something you love to do. Walk, run, ski, swim, snowboard, climb trees, play!!! Or any activity is a release of stress and it warms the muscles up, helping move toxics out of the body. In order to heal, we must start building. Go for it!

At our worst, we must be aggressive. If you can only crawl, crawl till you are tired. If you can only walk- walk as much as you can. The point is to use every day to become better, be building every day, in as many ways as possible. Physically as well as mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We are not the physical body- but we do need to take care of it and we do not need to let it run or ruin our life! Take control of it, and take responsibility for it as well!

DIET.
Food allergies, hypoglycemia and other dietary problems are at critical levels in this country these days and interfere with healing and staying well. This is another whole area where much education is necessary. Everyone has their "formula", and there are many different paths. For myself, going organic and tossing away the extra chemical intake was vastly important. How can we clean out the body when we are loading it full of toxics? What we breathe, touch, bath in, and eat all combine together to have a direct effect on our health. It is not just one thing that affects us! These things are all cumulative and inter relate with each other to create all kinds of serious reactions...
Becoming vegetarian has help cut down on the stress load of trying to digest things our bodies are not designed to properly digest. As soon as I made this change, my energy level rose about 4 or 5 times what it had been! When we are sick or the body is out of balance, we need to do as much as possible to focus our energy on healing. I personally received more clarity and the ability to focus as well. Eat smart.

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KEY COMPONENTS FOR HEALING.
Some of the key elements is healing are:

* Avoidance of toxics.
* Education and seeking the truth.
* Positive action.
* Developing strength, clarity, purpose, faith, commitment,
and responsibility, [the ability to respond].

ADDRESSING ALL AREAS.

Total healing is only achievable through dealing thoroughly with all the areas that make us ill. Otherwise, we find people who are treating certain problems only to degrees or proportionately, but not really dealing with the total list of problems. Total healing means correcting all the problems, so education about all the issues and some testing to reveal actual concerns is really critical. The most obvious areas are,

* eliminating toxics from our lives, both internal and external
* dealing with dietary problems and food allergies,
* cleaning out, detoxing [the organs of] the body
* changing our consciousness, from which all our productive
actions come.

TOTAL HEALING.
What does this really mean?
There are varying degrees of illness and damage to a body. Toxics exist in different strengths and potencies. This makes a time schedule or recovery plan difficult to asses. Does a body ever recover from exposure to heavy poisons? Does a body ever stop reacting to exposures to poisons?

This may be the real issue. We are not in the consciousness that we are constantly being exposed to heavy poisons.
This is the real situation on this earth right now. Should we be expecting our body NOT to react to dangerous poisons? We are constantly eating, breathing, and being exposed to dangerous poisons. Some smell bad, some even smell good; some we can't smell at all. Most people don't think of them as poisons. We have been fooled into thinking they are not dangerous! We have been taught to accept whatever is thrown at us is safe and we have blindly accepted what people are telling and selling us. But the chemicals used in our daily household products are very, very, serious toxics that are destroying living cells, organs and organisms of all levels of life, all over this planet. This problem is already well out of control. The problem is, we haven't recognized the seriousness of this, and we try to deal with Chemical Sensitivities as some sort of odd temporary individual illness. I think the question of healing is more a question of whether or not we humans can live unaffected in an environment full of toxics. My answer is, some people live unaware or visibly affected, and that others cannot. The fortunate ones can't. They have been given a view of the truth, and now have the opportunity to change it by becoming more responsible. The others live a world of illusion, danger, and false security.

When I was my sickest, I was lying in bed for weeks unable to function. Now I work every day, renovating houses, Airstreams and vans, drive here and there all over the country, go into stores, sick buildings, sit in front of the toxic computer, and so on. I still suffer from exposures to scented items, auto exhaust, and all types of toxics. But I also live my life. I have another life that is part of my balance and part of my strength and healing. I am an avid snow boarder and surfer, I live on a small rural farm- grow organics, mow fields, cut trees; I sculpt- paint, make video tapes, and write. I help people in crisis. Life goes on.

Am I healed? I believe I am. My understanding of the issue is, our bodies are not supposed to be living normally amidst overdoses of poisons. If we try to, eventually we will have problems. Life is about balance and responsibility. This is the issue. And when we start addressing all those things that are out of balance in our lives, we start to heal.

MY PLAN FOR TODAY

I thank God for waking to another day in which I can try again to take responsibility for myself and what I do, to recognize the rhythm and song of His plan, and to be able to please Him in some small way.

1. I must remember who I am. I am a very important entity- and I have very valuable characteristics that can help me, and others to heal the planet. My resources are sense of humor, creativity, inner strength, perseverance and newly found vision of the truth about what is going on with toxics and their dangers. I pray for patience, humility, balance and vision.

2. I must remember everything happens for a reason, and for my benefit. I need to pay close attention to correcting my mistakes so they do not repeat themselves.

3. I must clear my mind of all anger and despair, which are diseases themselves that cover my consciousness. I must focus on what I can do to move forward with my new responsibilities. My healing is totally up to me.

4. I must take care of my body in a different way than I used to now. Each of my daily activities must be planned for and set up to avoid making me sick. Each activity must be planned to make me better.

5. I must focus on as my goal and only job for the day, to set up and follow a regiment that helps me feel better, be a more balanced and caring person, and heal. This must be my one main activity.

6. I must remember to do everything to separate myself from all toxics, and all potential toxics - anything that is questionable to the wellbeing of my health must be eliminated.

7. I must, no matter how bad I feel, focus on pushing myself to accomplish some activities that help me clear and build my strength and body healing.

8. I must be patient and forgiving to others who do not understand. I cannot expect others to understand that which they have no experience of. If they are to learn, I must try to teach them, perhaps not through words, but through my personal example, in an patient, inspiring, caring, way.

9. I must remember though I may be stressed and in crisis, I still must take full responsibility for all my actions. I must calm myself and focus on each activity I do, so it can be done completely and without risk, and without affecting others adversely.

10. I must be patient with myself and my progress. I cannot change everything in one day. I do as much as I can, then I will rest. Tomorrow is another day.

11. I must remember that this experience, with all its difficult details, is an invaluable part of who I am and what my development and advancement are about.

12. I must remember I am not alone and that I am not unloved or uncared for.

13. I must remember that there are answers for all our questions and solutions for all my problems if I sincerely want the truth.

14. I must not be too proud to ask humbly and sincerely for the truth, and to be thankful for all that I have been given, even if I do not see the value it brings at this moment.

Riding up the chair lift at a ski resort in Vermont, another snowboarder and I were talking about healthy building. He was involved with environmental analysis, and wanted to know how we tested air quality. The usual answer to this question typically produces fear in the imaginative mind [and wallet] of anyone facing an air quality analysis procedure, but my answer was a bit out of the norm.

Although we are up on all the various ways of testing air quality, and are friends with professional people who do air sample testing around the country, we need to ask some serious questions before we can determine what method is the best to use.

The reason why we ask questions before we sign up to do random air sampling, is there are several reasons why people want to test air.
1. Why sample the air, or what are the exact problems?
Are people getting sick? What are the symptoms etc.?
2. What do you want to determine, or what is the purpose and goal of your testing?
Do you want to identify the exact amount of contamination? Do you want to fix the sources, or are you trying to prove there is no problem? [Usually the latter means some kind of legal dispute].
3. How much do you want to spend?

There are numerous items to test for and usually different ways to do testing. For certain contaminants there are reasonably priced tests, and some of these can be done by the home owner. Testing for dust mites, or lead pipes or so on, can be fast, easy and economical, while raw air sampling to determine toxic type and quantity can be very costly.

Quite honestly, most people have problems with a list of items that is usually longer than several contaminants. Having a person show up to do sampling in itself can be very costly, never mind the cost of each individual test, and individual tests are necessary to determine each separate toxic. To start a project of exploring all the potential toxics in air in a given location at a given time, by testing with equipment, is very expensive, and it can a belong drawn out process. And in the end, it may be very inaccurate as well, because only some of the toxics may be tested for and others may be missed!! Then there's the whole issue of correcting any problems. The past experiences many people have had, usually scare the heck out of any administrator- the case histories are usually nightmares. This is highly unfortunate as there is another simpler way to identify and solve these problems.

Typically when there is an indoor air quality problem there are a number of sources. Usually there are several giants and then a host of lesser or secondary ones. Generally, no air quality problem exists independently to another; they are intertwined, sometimes playing off one another creating other problems. One may contribute to another, actually creating compound reactions, sometimes setting a scenario where people have reactions to a toxic, when before, without the presence of the other one, they would not. Because we think odors or toxics need to be primary or large in quantity to have a detrimental effect on health, we automatically dismiss the idea that lesser toxics may be causing or contributing to a problem as well. Already, our assumptions have set an unscientific method or analysis that will lead the process to failure.

Most people who are concerned about air quality usually don't know what the problem could possibly be, and sometimes doubt there could be a problem at all... So they think to only way to find out what the problem could be is to do air sampling of some type. A basic general air analysis would cost a minimum of $500 for starters. Then, to identify each separate toxic, might cost $75 to $150 per test or more. This kind of testing, especially when there is no idea of what could be a problem, is just out of reach financially for most people. And one of the biggest problems that air sampling companies have is a total lack of knowledge of what toxics come from what materials. In fact we have heard more than one testing company say “well, we can tell you what the toxics are, but there is no way to identify the sources"!!! Do you believe it?
This is too much. The sources are documented in paper after paper, book after book. But you have to know where to look and you have to be able to understand the connection between the clinical data and individual circumstance case data. This takes time and experience to give a person the depth of vision to make an accurate assessment. The answers are all there. Clinical Toxicology books are very expensive, but they are extraordinarily detailed about toxics from all types of materials, appliances, industries, products and so on. Medical doctors use these [occasionally] to determine exposure characteristics. We use these books to document toxics people are commonly exposed to in their homes and industry.

If a legal battle is pending, this obviously is the most credible method, by most standards, to gather exact data. But if we are interested in general air quality, and in the identification of exact sources, we strongly suggest an inspection by an experienced person who can identify the sources of toxics without doing the costly testing. In either type of case, even if you need to do air sampling, getting an inspector to identify sources, should always be the first step.

In most cases, visual identification by an experienced inspector can uncover sources of toxics in any environment. In fact in many cases, a good inspector can do a fairly accurate inspection over the phone! After asking simple questions that identify equipment, materials, and either personal items, or the various components of the business [if it is a commercial space], certain sources usually are blatantly obvious. There is no question that an onsite inspection needs to be done to be really accurate, but the fact is that many materials and pieces of equipment are common indoor air quality culprits.

Since I am a universal reactor and have many years in the building trades, doing sick building inspections, locating safe housing for sensitive people, designing, building and renovating, examining equipment and privately testing both materials and equipment from the perspective of sub odor level toxics, toxics in residential and commercial buildings are a very simple subject to me. To anyone unfamiliar with these areas, this subject may be very confusing. But experience is the key in any field, and without a combination of varied experiences, there is no way an inspector can just pick this skill up.

I am always aghast at the typical way administrators go about trying to identify indoor air quality problems. Usually the process takes months, costs thousands of dollars, ends in a terrible legal battle, with enemies made on both sides of the fence, and yields little or no results. The reason I am mentioning this is because of the lack of results and the amount of suffering and expenditures that result from inept people and processes. Public buildings, especially schools, office buildings, and small businesses, are the biggest problems, usually because no one has

1. Accurately planned or redesigned the ventilation system - or maintained it properly,
2. Chose the proper materials to renovate or build with, or
3. Set up and ventilated all the various pieces of equipment or work areas properly.

The end result is,
1. [in schools] children, administrators and teachers who are exposed to low level toxics who become sicker and sicker, fed drugs [ kids ] and turned into legalized addicts to get them to concentrate, or who are singled out and labeled as "bad seeds"- or
2. workers[ who by the way, their employers, like school administrators, are completely responsible for the health of those who are in their care or employment] who are exposed to toxics that destroy their health, and may destroy their capability to earn a livelihood, their relationships, and many times the rest of their family and children.

Indoor air quality is a simple thing to understand, if you can grasp the concept of low level or sub odor level toxics, and how they can devastate our health. Once that concept is understood, or even better- experienced, then identifying the sources of indoor air quality toxics in any environment becomes a whole other science. If this is not understood, identifying sources of toxics will not even be possible. Most people are just becoming aware of the incredible toxicity of sub odor level chemicals. Recent admissions by industry that fuel oil, oil and bunker oil is carcinogenic below odors that we can detect, is quite startling to most people. But this is the 90's. And these are the type of toxics we are dealing with. We have abused chemicals like these for many years, polluting our food, water, homes, and air. Sooner or later our bodies and the planet, must start reacting to and rejecting them. These are not supposed to make us feel good! They are deadly poisons that need to be handled delicately and responsibly. And we have not done so.

If you are facing the difficulty of analyzing toxics in your home, here is the list of ten common toxics that are generally the most problematic. The list does not exist in order of the most severe, as any one of these can be deadly if they exist in the right amount and under the proper circumstances. Because there are so many types of houses and methods for building, the actual details and circumstances surrounding each individual case will determine the impact and the health risk factor for each toxic.

1. LOCAL AIRBORNE TOXICS.
This category of exterior toxics includes wood smoke, industrial emissions, auto and truck exhaust toxics, and local pesticide and herbicide spraying. Although in certain parts of the country, certain types of these toxics are not found, in others, they exist in very serious quantities and frequency. For example, sometimes spraying is not much of a concern in certain parts of the country, but because it is so dangerous, it receives our undivided attention. The principles that make it a major concern locally, also affect other toxic drift patterns and contamination at long distances.
Toxic drift is a subject met with relatively little concern for most, but the fact is we live is a world community where no area remains unaffected and independent. For example, nuclear tests in Nevada in the 40's left Vermont with one of the highest levels of radioactive iodine in the country. Our concerns are not just about spraying but for any other source of local contaminants as well, including manufacturing toxics, road toxics from inter states and heavily traveled roads, landfills, and more localized pollution perhaps from individuals such as wood smoke, fabric softeners, paint odors and so on. Many times it is not the amount that is the problem, but how close and what the particular circumstances are.

2. WATER
Most of the water in this country is contaminated with some sort of pollution, either natural, say from cows contaminating farm wells, or manmade, from toxic waste sites to general industrial water pollution. From the aluminum silicates that are used to reduce particulate cloudiness in treatment plants to natural bacteria, it is very hard to find good clean water, especially if water is handled by man in any volume. One of the most over looked concerns with water besides drinking is the capability of the body to absorb toxics through the skin when bathing. Though many people try to filter their drinking water, the vast skin membrane of the human body absorbs large quantities of toxics from water when bathing.
We forget natural clean water is cleansing and healing. Scientists like to believe it is possible to make clean water, and although it can be done to a certain degree, we can never make healing water, or recreate what has already been given to us naturally.
Check with your local water board for results of their monthly testing. If you live in Honolulu, there is a list of contaminants in the water that is over a page long, including pesticides and other super toxics. This type of contamination is a very serious problem, simply because water is not the only source of these contaminants, and there are scores of other toxics that are related chemically.

3. PESTICIDES
In our discussions with numerous applicators of termite treatments, we have discovered that there is no set method of regulating how much goes into the soil, and this is why tremendous amounts of these poisons are dumped into the ground during one application. The transferability of these poisons in the air through the soil, through concrete, concrete block and so on is very easily achieved and should be expected, as soil gases are drawn from sometimes great distances around a home through floors and walls. Our chemist friends tell us the permeability of 1 foot thickness of concrete should be likened to a wet sponge. Pesticides pose one of the most severe health risks to humans. Exposures can cause serious physical damage and death.
Pesticides are present in many other items in the home, including bedding, mattresses, foods, carpets, imported furniture and any other items that are imported, as well as other household products.
Lawn care, garden and bug repellents are products that should not be used around the house, especially if you have kids. These sit on the grass, get into the water, and are easy for kids and others to get into their system. The smells are enough to damage neighbor’s health and the run off contaminates the water.

4. H.V.A.C. TOXICS
Again, this area is generally more of a concern in the cooler climates, but it is very common in most parts of the country.
There is so much damage done by fuel spillage, it is a constant problem in our homes today. ALL gas appliances leak gas and unless enclosed in an air tight room or installed outside should be avoided. Heating oil is typically spilled during tank filling, as supply pipes are frequently installed improperly or overflow indicators fall into disrepair.
Frequently heat exchangers in forced hot air systems develop cracks and leak toxics into the air. Old or poorly tuned furnaces can belch toxics, which venting pipes and bells can allow to leak or blow-back when chimneys do not draw properly due to heavy negative pressure in the cellar or house. Dirty or contaminated duct work is another major concern, as so much ducting and equipment is made with exposed fiberglass on the inner walls. Moisture and dirt in duct work and evaporation pans for cooling can prove to be perfect environments for legionella and mold or mildew.
Ducts are lined with fiberglass, a known carcinogen, which can be distributed throughout the building and easily breathed in. Mold can grow on debris caught in the fiberglass and all sorts of bacteria can result. Equipment is also designed and built with toxic adhesives, rubber and plastics that contaminate breathing air.

5. STANDARD BUILDING MATERIALS
What can I say here?? If people knew all the toxics used in standard modern day building materials, they would all be living in caves! And the fact that the businesses making and selling these materials have been so irresponsible in not cautioning us about this, is a worldwide tragedy. This is a difficult area to address in one paragraph, but great care should be given to what materials are used and how they are used. The danger lies in not just what makes up a material, but in how it is used. Always plan on paying more for better materials and insisting on the higher quality items.
Asking sales people if their products cause health problems is like asking a drunk driver if he can handle the road.
Get good advice here!

6. CARPETS – FLOORING.
Almost all carpeting is toxic and will develop more problems from being exposed to humidity and moisture, human and animal dander and dirt over time. To say nothing of what happens during the aging process, as toxic particulate matter that makes up the carpet breaks down and becomes distributed into the breathing air. On top of it all, or actually underneath it all, the under-laments used to support carpets are generally recycled waste materials which are usually more dangerous than the carpets themselves, and will remain so for all the years it is in existence. This stuff is just eternal non-biodegradable toxic waste for the planet like many other synthetic plastics.

Most new carpet is very bad. Mid- life carpet is better. And old carpet is typically very bad.
If you have to use carpets, go for older Orientals or handmade throw rugs, or low pile commercial carpet- like polypropylene blends.

7. CABINETS - FURNITURE
Most synthetic wood products are made with materials that are highly dangerous to living organisms. They are generally a potpourri of chemicals we would die from if exposed to in any concentrated quantity. But because some sales person puts a sticker on it that says “solid wood product" we believe him!! Oh boy. There usually is only a small limited amount of solid wood trim somewhere when you see this note, not any quantity and certainly not the whole item, so beware. And solid pine? Remember new growth pine is loaded with active terpenes which are chemicals that cause people all types of problems, especially if they are sensitive. Melamine, Fiberboard, pressed board, Medex, Masonite, CDX plywood, T-111, all these are only a few of the many types of prefabricated boards that cause health problems from glues and binders and toxics in the wood materials [which are basically recycled waste products].

8. PERSONAL ITEMS
From detergents, cars, clothes, computers, deodorants, soaps, any scented items including perfumes, personal hygiene items, garbage bags, you name it- it's all filled with and gives off dangerous toxics! When are we going to realize this? In this section, as in others, we have an overlapping of concerns, such as old clothes and stored goods, either in closets or cellars that are filled with mold. Clothes and personal items that may become contaminated with perfume from scented soaps, or moth balls, and so on. Dry cleaned clothes, rubber or leather items, furniture that has been treated with scotch guard or stain master, and imported furniture from overseas that has sealers or paints on them.

9. MOLD, MILDEW, YEAST
As man becomes more sensitized by chemicals, we also become more sensitive to natural contaminants such as mold and mildew. In many places around the world, people are dying from exposure to these toxics. And not only are they toxic when they are alive, but many become more of a problem when they are killed, and create gases that can be very reactive, both on the inside of the body, and on the outside of the body.
Mold is a huge problem all over the world. Unfortunately, many people do not consider mold to be a health threat. But I can assure you, it is. Not only by itself, but it can also team up with other toxics, like natural gas, to create compound toxics or extra strong toxics that can double whammy our system.

10. FOOD.
Although this is somewhat out of the housing category, it cannot be denied that we are eating toxic chemicals, which seriously affects our overall health, and our ability to stay healthy. The same chemicals we find in many toxic compounds and building materials can be found in processed foods and beverages. It should not be forgotten that many of these chemicals are exactly the same, and even more deadly when we eat them. Poisons like toluene are used to clean beverage containers before they are filled, but there is no requirement for this information to be passed on to us.

CONCLUSION.
There are scores of seriously toxic chemicals and toxic materials all around us today. Sometimes as a result or regular exposures, we may become sensitized to certain ones. Sometimes we become sensitive to many.
Everyone has different body chemistry and may be sensitive to particular things, while others are not.

The key is to;
1. Pay attention to what is happening to others- their activity brings a certain result;
2. Study all the available information out there, so you know the truth;
3. Tune into our own bodies, and pay attention to things we may be reactive to,
4. Practice avoidance of all toxic materials,
5. Take good care of our body with plenty of fresh clean food, air, living environment and exercise.
Do not stay anywhere the body does not feel good!!!!

Good health is becoming very hard to maintain with all the threats in our modern society.
We can all help teach others how to live a healthy lifestyle, by being a good example ourselves!

For years we have been experiencing through our clients the devastating effect of gas heating equipment and appliances on their health. Serious problems are standard, not only for people with severe sensitivities, but for people with simple common allergies such as asthma. Being exposed to low levels of raw gas or partially burned gas from stove and hot water heater pilots is enough to cause asthma attacks and consistently worsening symptoms. In the world of the chemically sensitive, we have had clients with seriously reduced lung capacity from exposure to one single hot water heater [ in the cellar ] for a prolonged period of time. This is not an unusual situation according to our data base which is derived from numerous interactions with clients from around the country.

Inspections we have done for many years have revealed gas appliances usually leak. Because of my sensitivities, this has always been a major problem for me, so discovering gas leaks in appliances have not been a difficult task. Many appliances spill toxic fumes from partially burned fuel as well. Put these together in a tight house and you have a major health problem.

Incoming gas lines are under pressure. Gas lines attach to control knobs which regulate gas flow into the appliance. These knobs must be able to turn and move. So, many times the seals for these control knobs leak gas. It is possible that replacing these seals may reduce or possibly eliminate leakage for a period of time. Since our findings show that all appliances we have inspected leak, I would not bet the farm on how long seals last. Gas furnaces, stoves and hot water heaters are the chief culprits.

We recently did an inspection in a house where the gas hot water heater had been turned off about ten years ago, and the hot water was supplied by a boiler. The control knobs for the old hot water heater had been leaking gas for all those years. Our client was not convinced that gas was a problem, but she had not been able to live in the house for the last 5 years. Her health became worse and worse over the years until she finally was unable to live in the house, or any other house with similar contaminants.

Another serious problem with hot water heaters is the typical venting setup is an open bell type design exhaust vent. This allows exhausted fumes to easily enter the interior air space as house pressure demands. Fumes rise out of the appliance and instead of going up the chimney; they can easily escape through the 4 inch air space between the exhaust pipe and the appliance. Who in their right mind would design an exhaust stack that is opened directly over the appliance? With the energy crunch and super tight houses a primary goal for builders and clients alike, all we need is a clothes dryer or some vent fan to be running, and you have serious spillage caused by negative pressure in the house- guaranteed. To say nothing of the influence of opening doors and windows, fireplaces, attic fans, whole house fans and other constantly changing situations that cause "natural pressure changes or venting, creating negative pressure to develop in the building.

Gas hot air furnaces, as well as hot water heaters, stoves and clothes dryers all have opened flames in most cases. We have heard many stories of buildings blown from their foundations when oil based sealers are used in renovating homes with gas appliances, when no venting or exterior air supply is allowed. This is an exaggerated result of what happens as air circulates around the building and the furnace, gas stove, or hot water heater pilots or flames, but it is a good example of how air travels around and how serious gas and open flames can be. Gas furnaces have rows of pilots that fire up when heat is demanded. Some units have several sets of these burners. The same problem of spillage is applicable to this scenario when pressure changes just a little bit in a building. Instead of fumes going up the chimney, they are pulled out and spill all over, out into the breathing air of the house. Opened flames can also cause chemical interactions with live toxics such as wet paints and other compounds, that release newly created toxic fumes into breathing air. Some of these toxics can be absorbed into walls and other porous materials and be around for extended periods of time.

The subject of closed combustion units is very misleading. People believe this type of furnace or boiler design eliminates potential problems. But currently the LENNOX Company is replacing certain types of furnaces that are leaking toxic fumes into the air. Spillage from the raw gas is still a problem, even in brand new units. This gas can still enter the air distribution system and contaminate the entire house. Since gas rises with warm air, it can easily make its way into any part of the house through walls, up stair ways and so on.

When people tell me they have gas appliances in their home and they are suffering from allergies and sensitivities, my initial reaction is to tell them to get out of the house right away. Immediately ventilate the space with as much clean exterior air as possible, for as much time as possible. This environment can be severely risky to your health.

I personally will not have gas appliances in my house. But if you have to have them, be sure to have an electronic ignition type stove and always have lots of ventilation. If you live in a super tight house, this will be a problem. As I said, even though you may not have a pilot burning, this is only half the problem and gas will be leaking from control knobs.

QUESTION; won’t the gas company inspect your house and tell you if the unit leaks?

HEALTHY HOMES ANSWER MAN; they say they will, and they will come right over, but the answer will probably be NO. Here's the reason- the equipment they are using is not sensitive enough to detect gas leaks at the level that is dangerous. In fact, not too long ago, a client didn't believe the gas was leaking in here house. The gas people came numerous times and always told her "no problems". One time when I was there she called and they come over. I smelled the leaks- he checked with his advanced sophisticated BACHERACH gas detector and found nothing. The type of testing equipment he was using is good as standards go. But not good enough. If you read the specifications on that exact type of tester- you will see that it has a plus and minus 5 % accuracy. This is the manufacturers way of letting you know, even if the equipment is rated to detect down to 0 parts per million, it may not be accurate to up to 5 parts per million! Ohhhhhh.....I get it!!!!

I went down after watching this poor guy seat it out for half an hour trying to figure out why his miracle tester would not detect a leak, and cupped my hands around the knob.
BEEEEPPPPP!!!!! Off goes the alarm!!

QUESTION; of all the appliances, which are the worst?
ANSWER MAN; They can all be very bad- and the type of house and site issues influence how bad a little bit of gas can be- but typically gas hot water heaters are the worst, furnaces second. If you have a gas hot water heater- I would get out of the house immediately, and replace it with electric before I came back. If you have kids with allergies, this can be one of the main trigger items for asthma and mold allergies. It can be very dangerous for kids.

A client once brought to our attention the possibility that adhesives from self-sticking tapes and labels causing health problems. Because of the experience we have had with these adhesives over the years, we decided to pull together our data and to set up a number of tests to clarify any gray areas. From our clinical toxicology books and toxicology of commercial products books we had already found data that indicated chemicals used for these adhesives in fact quite toxic. So, for the last 16 months we have been monitoring test samples of tapes and labels to find out what happens to adhesives under various conditions. Included with our findings from controlled test samples is data accumulated from various tape performance used or analyzed during projects over the last 5 -6 years, including numerous samples collected from as far back as 35 years ago. Because so many people with extreme sensitivities are using different types of self-adhering tapes, [primarily aluminum but not limited to it], for containing toxics and to create temporary safe housing environments, this has been a major concern for us. Sensitive people tend to suffer more and have more pronounced reactions to smaller quantities of toxics. People with extreme sensitivities are not the only ones at risk, as the chemicals used in making adhesives of this kind are very prevalent in numerous household products, making regular exposure a risk for many people.

Our data includes the following sources and methods.
1. Data from our own personal in field experiences, which includes information from years of real estate and sick building inspections, renovations, and new work in a number of different areas. Included in this data is information we have collected while working in clean room environments with self-sticking tapes.
2. Data from documented, published articles in magazines and journals, Clinical Toxicology medical books, toxicology of commercial products books, etc.
3. Data from our personal client base from all over the country, primarily very chemically sensitive peoples experiences with these specific materials,
4. And data from our own private testing which focuses on various methods of containment testing under varied conditions.
Our containment vessels include glass jars and glass boxes of various sizes, metal boxes, and small rooms constructed of inert materials, where temperature, air flow and moisture are all controlled.

In our analysis, we included a number of self-sticking labels of a popular brand, several brands of duct tape, masking tapes, clear "scotch tapes", double sided tape, clear packing tape and aluminum faced tapes. Our test samples were taken from a large number of sources, not just fresh samples assembled for testing, but some duct tape, clear tape, and masking types as old as 25-30 years, and samples obtained over the last 10 years of duct work building and renovation for chemically sensitive people, especially aluminum faced types, but not limited to just these. Our fresh samples were put in a number of controlled environments, from clean glass jars and specially fabricated metal containment boxes. Contributing to our data base in this area is also all the analysis from years of work we have done on Airstream travel trailers dating from 1954 to the 1990's, turning them into clean rooms. For the last 30 years, they have used masking and duct tape to hang insulation and wiring in interior wall cavities. Our work has made it necessary to do containment testing of these materials, and it has shown how tapes perform over the years in various types of environments and what levels of odors are to be expected.

The toxicity of these adhesives do not diminish over the years or as the adhesive decays. In fact, in most cases, odors increase over time. Adhesives will eventually turn into dust as the backing falls apart, and this dust is still a very active toxic which can affect people who breathe it, eat it or have it absorbed through the skin. This break down takes an average [a minimum] of about 2 years for tape and possibly a lot less for self-adhering labels if the conditions are right. Water will decrease the amount of time the breakdown takes, but the actual top surface tape material and its strength will affect how much and how quickly water may penetrate to the adhesive. If it is exposed to water or humidity, it is somewhat soluble, and it can contaminate water and be redistributed on any surface the water touches. Therefore if labels are being washed off, especially on food containers, adhesives will contaminate the water, which only redistributes the toxics on any surfaces the water touches, so special procedures for total cleaning should be employed. When adhesives are fresh or gooey, they will typically be less soluble in water, but not always. Tape adhesives are quite a bit more insoluble in water, and it will take a complete dry out before they are able to absorb water or dissolve in it. But even when adhesives are strong and sticky and nonabsorbent, water penetration to the adhesive will increase the quantity of toxics off gassing.

Adhesive compounds used for labels and tapes are toxic from their creation. The standard list of toxics include hydrocarbon resins, styrene, isoprene, aromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as toluene, benzene, and xylenes, acrylates and acrylic resin monomers, which are the bulk of these adhesives, and they represent a whole soup of very active toxics. Reactions from these toxics can be as slight as skin, eye, respiratory irritation and headaches, to damage to liver, lungs, kidneys, convulsions and death. [Obviously there is an equation relative to quantity of exposure and sensitivity levels which determine reactions.]

They go through various stages of life, which affect their ability to off gas toxics at a higher rate under different situations. When new or fresh, they adhere lightly to themselves and are typically more water resistant. Once exposed to air for the first time, their bonding capability is at its peak, and most adhesives start to dry out, if not stuck to something tightly from that point on. As long as the adhesive is covered by its top coat or layer of tape, the odors are generally minimal although some are quite strong. Remember that temperature will usually affect the amount of odor we are able to detect, with cooler temps hiding odors and warmer temps allowing toxics to outgas, and when they become exposed to air, such as when they are unwound or when the adhesive is exposed, odors become obvious.

The best aluminum type tape adhesive we have found is used with POLYKEN TAPE, and this has virtually no odor when new. Compared to all other types of aluminum tape, [and most other adhesives] which are seriously toxic when exposed to air, this is unquestionably the best. Other popular types have very strong smelling adhesives that create problems when back side exposure is possible, such as covering holes in air handling equipment, heat ducts and so on, which is a very common use. Since the tape is applied to the exterior surface, this leaves adhesives exposed to in duct air flow and moisture on the inside of the air system.

Scotch tapes are a bit deceptive in the same way. Initial odors may not appear to be so toxic, but as they dry out, smells change to be very odorous, especially as tape backing becomes freed of the adhesive. This happens as the adhesive turns basically to dust, but even as it does and the backing pulls away from the adhesive, the adhesive usually will not disengage completely from hard non porous surfaces. This activity is very consistent to other self-sticking adhesives, and it increases the danger of exposure as the complete surface of adhesive is exposed to the air. During this time period, as all sticking quality decreases over the next several months and longer, the adhesive is turning to dust, which easily sticks to hands and can contaminate other surfaces easily. Remember, as this dust flies around or is distributed by contaminated touch, it can become dissolved in moisture or water, which can start a whole new channel of contamination.

Another very real concern is exposure to adhesive toxics when used metal or other items are used again and again, after tape is partially pulled off. It is very difficult to remove all tape and adhesive completely. Frequently metal panels are used for containing odors from floors with carpets in temporary housing renovations, particularly in short term rentals. Because metal panels- stainless steel, aluminum and even galvanized is expensive, panels that have been taped together are frequently reused. When these panels are taken apart, tape is ripped off the old seams, leaving patches of raw adhesives exposed to the air. Although these areas may seem insignificant and small, if this is not cleaned off, it will contaminate the air. If it is allowed to decay, it can turn into dust and fly anywhere over long periods of time. Either way, it will create sub odor level toxics for extended periods of time. This scenario is common for any other applications where tape is used to stop toxics or air flow, such as around windows, on furniture, kitchen and other cabinets, other household furniture and appliances, in cars and so on. Very frequently scotch tape is used for a number of applications like this, and the results are the same. From the point where they are stuck on surfaces, they start to change and dry out, creating more odor and risk as they do.

Cleaning adhesives off surfaces is fairly difficult, as the tape backing, such as aluminum, paper or fabric types such as duct tape need to be removed before the adhesive can be dealt with. Heat usually helps release the adhesive with the backing, but on old tape or labels with dried adhesive, this may not work. It appears that the dryer the adhesive, the more soluble it will be in water. Another words, when adhesives are wet or sticky, they are usually less soluble. Paint remover may be the best way to remove sticky adhesive when the backing is gone, such as with aluminum tape, or when the backing is weak or decayed. Dried adhesive becomes powdery which becomes airborne easily, contaminating air, skin and other surface areas. Special procedures should be set up for cleaning dried adhesives such as a scraper with a HEPA vacuum head to gather dust as it is removed. Porous materials can absorb odors and toxics from the adhesive, making total removal of toxics difficult, although the tape or label may initially release easier. Non porous materials tend to hold adhesives and tape longer, making release more difficult, but total cleaning of surface areas easier, because the surface is not porous and will not absorb adhesive toxics or remover toxics. Remember that using soap and water in a bowl with most adhesives will redistribute toxics into the water, so a separate secondary wash with clean running water is required. Be sure to rinse thoroughly before any drying of the initial wash takes place. Food containers are especially critical to clean in a well regulated manner, perhaps several times to be safe.

Adhesives exposed to heat, water and moisture, even at low levels, become quite active over a relatively short period of time. Polyken tape, which has negligible odors when new, develops a milky color on the adhesive side when exposed to humidity and moisture, and the odor level becomes extremely high and is obviously toxic. We noticed that tape used on metal and glass, even though the adhesion was tight and strong, and decayed from low levels of moisture in one to several months. [Moisture in these instances was condensation formed on the inside of closed glass jars, metal window frames, and glass windows.] So using this tape in any environment where larger quantities are possible, such as on air handling equipment and so on, are a very sizable risk because of the amount of moisture they can be exposed to. Most installers use an aluminum tape with a very active toxic on air handling equipment, which is an unfortunate choice of materials. Since in most applications, the adhesive side is exposed to the air flow through seams and joints or holes in the ducts or panels, this poses a risk to occupants who have allergies or sensitivities. In one case, we discovered a widely distributed type aluminum tape that was used to seal seams in an air handler that had a U.V. light decontaminate fixture, which heated the tape adhesive up to the point that heavy toxics were distributed throughout the building. Even if these toxics are not strong enough to be smelled, they can have an effect on our health.

Heat can cause immediate out gassing from all types of tapes and adhesives, as with any other materials. Normally, odors are not apparent below 50 degrees. From 50 to 70, odors become obvious. From 80 on up, they become stronger and stronger. Self-sticking adhesives become very active in warmer environments, and when used on heat generating appliances, they can be an immediate problem.

I feel quite strongly that any tape should never be used for any length of time where it can be exposed to moisture or where it is not totally sealed tight and flat, on very smooth, non-porous, accepting surfaces. I try to find some other materials to use other than tape if possible. Using it in areas where it is exposed to direct sunlight on or around window areas are also high risk areas. Tape placed on porous materials may have a very short life, as it's adhesive may not hold the tape tightly for any period of time. This makes it possible for air flow to access the adhesive backing on the tape, allowing toxics to become airborne. Some of these materials are wood, cloth, concrete, certain plastics, sheet rock, wet or damp tile and metals etc.

For people with solvent sensitivities, I would avoid their use altogether, especially in locations where people spend a lot of time, or where the tapes and labels are exposed to moisture, heat or condensation. The real problem is these adhesives are dangerous, even though we may not smell their odor. We as a people are becoming aware that sub odor level toxics, which these fall into the category of, can be very dangerous and toxic whether we smell them or not. Remember that there are always a number of variable components to risk assessment and reaction analysis from toxics.

1. The quantity of toxic a person is exposed to,
2. The strength of the particular toxics,
3. The number and types, or the combinations of toxics, [which might contribute to the severity and the compounding of reactions}
4. The length of time a person is exposed to the toxics,
5. And the variable conditions toxics are exposed to or the environment they are used in [such as heat, humidity, moisture, air exposure, circulation, confinement, and so on],
will all affect the amount, strength, and frequency of out gassing from any given toxic.

Then of course, the sensitivity level of the individual will determine whether a person may have a pronounced reaction or not. All situations of exposure have these variables involved, and they all play a major part in determining a person’s reactions. There are very few set rules from person to person regarding reactions, except in major spills of deadly toxics. But reactions from low level toxics are mostly the same in similar sensitivity level groups, whether people are aware of them or familiar with them or not. And continuous exposure to toxics of this nature, even at very low levels, from very small quantities, can bring about increased sensitivity and more serious long term health damage to these and any number of scores of other related toxics.