Comments on: My healthy home search checklist http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/ A blog and social network about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:29:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Gwyn http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-21592 Gwyn Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:17:53 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-21592 This list is wonderful and covers a lot of areas. Living in the Southwest, one has to worry about heavy metals like arsenic in the water or lead in the land. Many people living in more isolated areas end up hauling their own water which would be difficult for someone with MCS. In the mountains, the proximity to mining and fracking is a concern and woodsmoke in the mountains can be a deal breaker. This list is wonderful and covers a lot of areas. Living in the Southwest, one has to worry about heavy metals like arsenic in the water or lead in the land. Many people living in more isolated areas end up hauling their own water which would be difficult for someone with MCS.

In the mountains, the proximity to mining and fracking is a concern and woodsmoke in the mountains can be a deal breaker.

]]> By: Amy http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11895 Amy Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:13:35 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11895 Dee, I do not know much about the whole house UV air filters, besides what Susie mentioned. With many of those machines creating ozone it really is not a healthy option for someone with MCS, so never looked much further into it. I use an Austin Air filter that has worked great for me, and since I have a small space there is no need for a whole house filter. I will keep an eye open for a place to open up in my building for your daughter! Dee,

I do not know much about the whole house UV air filters, besides what Susie mentioned. With many of those machines creating ozone it really is not a healthy option for someone with MCS, so never looked much further into it. I use an Austin Air filter that has worked great for me, and since I have a small space there is no need for a whole house filter.

I will keep an eye open for a place to open up in my building for your daughter!

]]> By: Amy http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11891 Amy Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:05:15 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11891 Love the other things to look for...So, happy you have this site up Susie! So great that we can help eachother with the things that we have learned. yes, new construction near by is a huge thing to consider! I had a problem with that at my last place. Not only with noise and exhause fumes from trucks, but the dust that it creates. Not healthy and really who wants to dust? :) Susan E. thanks for bringing up CO. It is for sure one to watch out for. So sorry to hear that it was one of the sources of your MCS. One of the other things, that I probably do not have to mention is being sure not to be near a laundry mat. It amazes me how far fumes can travel. I have heard of many people asking the renting agent or the seller if they can spend a night in the house, to see if it feels right before they move in. Can't hurt to ask and it can save you a big headache. Love the other things to look for…So, happy you have this site up Susie! So great that we can help eachother with the things that we have learned.

yes, new construction near by is a huge thing to consider! I had a problem with that at my last place. Not only with noise and exhause fumes from trucks, but the dust that it creates. Not healthy and really who wants to dust? :)

Susan E. thanks for bringing up CO. It is for sure one to watch out for. So sorry to hear that it was one of the sources of your MCS.

One of the other things, that I probably do not have to mention is being sure not to be near a laundry mat. It amazes me how far fumes can travel.

I have heard of many people asking the renting agent or the seller if they can spend a night in the house, to see if it feels right before they move in. Can’t hurt to ask and it can save you a big headache.

]]> By: Susie Collins http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11849 Susie Collins Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:05:25 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11849 Dee, Info on UV air filters here http://www.air-purifier-power.com/uv-air-purifier.html . Info on PhotoCatalytic Air Purifier here http://www.air-purifier-power.com/photocatalytic-air-purifier.html . They are not the best. There is no reliable evidence of complete ultraviolet effectiveness in air purifier applications. Many of these UVC and Photocatalytic systems produce ozone, which can create new harmful chemicals that stick around in your home. True HEPA and carbon filtration are much more useful and safe for removing dusts and VOC's, which are the main concerns of people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Dee, Info on UV air filters here http://www.air-purifier-power.com/uv-air-purifier.html . Info on PhotoCatalytic Air Purifier here http://www.air-purifier-power.com/photocatalytic-air-purifier.html . They are not the best. There is no reliable evidence of complete ultraviolet effectiveness in air purifier applications. Many of these UVC and Photocatalytic systems produce ozone, which can create new harmful chemicals that stick around in your home. True HEPA and carbon filtration are much more useful and safe for removing dusts and VOC’s, which are the main concerns of people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

]]> By: Dee L. http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11839 Dee L. Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:44:43 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11839 Amy...we are so proud of you!!!! so wonderful you have done this. Yes that compromise thing is hard isn't it. I have a question..see a place next door for rent..daughter lives there..Seriously thinking more all the time I need to go this alone. Amy..you know anything about these whole house air filters? with the UV and catalyst? Amy…we are so proud of you!!!! so wonderful you have done this. Yes that compromise thing is hard isn’t it. I have a question..see a place next door for rent..daughter lives there..Seriously thinking more all the time I need to go this alone. Amy..you know anything about these whole house air filters? with the UV and catalyst?

]]> By: Kimberly Shaw http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11824 Kimberly Shaw Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:13:37 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11824 Great list, thank you for sharing! Great list, thank you for sharing!

]]> By: Susan E. http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11757 Susan E. Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:03:34 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11757 You mention one carbon gas but not the other. Sometimes this is just a typo. CO2 is carbon dioxide. We breath it out and plants "breathe" it in. It's necessary for their photosynthesis. CO is carbon monoxide. This is not a win-lose or win-win planetary chemical like CO2. There has been precious little ever found to be positive for CO. CO2 has gotten a lot of bad press lately, and it and about 3 other gases have been in measurements of outdoor air quality for some time. CO, however, is the one that doesn't smell and can kill you. It's frequently found in small amounts almost everywhere, but furnaces, gas appliances, car cabins and exhaust and any form of combusion can create it, even restaurant grills. Please put it on your list. It also happens to be a major cause and etiology of MCS. You can find that info if you do your homework, but trust me. It's my major source of MCS. It's a long story. Please look into what you can do to measure, alarm and best yet, get as far away from it as you can. Thanks for a great starter list. You mention one carbon gas but not the other. Sometimes this is just a typo.
CO2 is carbon dioxide. We breath it out and plants “breathe” it in. It’s necessary for their photosynthesis.
CO is carbon monoxide. This is not a win-lose or win-win planetary chemical like CO2. There has been precious little ever found to be positive for CO.
CO2 has gotten a lot of bad press lately, and it and about 3 other gases have been in measurements of outdoor air quality for some time.
CO, however, is the one that doesn’t smell and can kill you. It’s frequently found in small amounts almost everywhere, but furnaces, gas appliances, car cabins and exhaust and any form of combusion can create it, even restaurant grills. Please put it on your list. It also happens to be a major cause and etiology of MCS. You can find that info if you do your homework, but trust me. It’s my major source of MCS. It’s a long story. Please look into what you can do to measure, alarm and best yet, get as far away from it as you can. Thanks for a great starter list.

]]> By: judith hombravella http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11751 judith hombravella Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:43:08 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11751 great post thank you very much great post thank you very much

]]> By: Noel http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11747 Noel Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:15:01 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11747 great list! it's so hard to find a safe and healthy place to live. I always look for a place with hardwood floors (no carpets, ugh), no mold or water leakage issues, a washer and dryer that aren't shared with people who use scented detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets, and no perfumey or incense burning roommates. i also have to smell out the windows to see if the neighbors' dryers give off that awful chemical fume. great list! it’s so hard to find a safe and healthy place to live. I always look for a place with hardwood floors (no carpets, ugh), no mold or water leakage issues, a washer and dryer that aren’t shared with people who use scented detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets, and no perfumey or incense burning roommates. i also have to smell out the windows to see if the neighbors’ dryers give off that awful chemical fume.

]]> By: Denise http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11733 Denise Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:46:25 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11733 Also, wood smoke/burning and cigarette smoke. Also, wood smoke/burning and cigarette smoke.

]]> By: Denise http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/10/10/my-healthy-home-search-checklist/comment-page-1/#comment-11732 Denise Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:39:12 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=7105#comment-11732 Great list. Here in Honolulu with aging housing and increasing density another issue is the building of additional houses (with vehicles coming and going (or just idling) and noisy and polluting generators and other equipment running for 1-7+ years). Additional houses are built on existing lots, that often already have a house and there is also the seemingly never-ending additions and/or changes to existing buildings. Often zoning allows building right up to the lot line!! Noisy pool filters and a/c units of neighbors are also factors to consider. Also, will one, or more, of your neighbors be going and/or coming during the night and wake you up when s/he starts or parks her/his vehicle? Great list. Here in Honolulu with aging housing and increasing density another issue is the building of additional houses (with vehicles coming and going (or just idling) and noisy and polluting generators and other equipment running for 1-7+ years). Additional houses are built on existing lots, that often already have a house and there is also the seemingly never-ending additions and/or changes to existing buildings. Often zoning allows building right up to the lot line!!

Noisy pool filters and a/c units of neighbors are also factors to consider.

Also, will one, or more, of your neighbors be going and/or coming during the night and wake you up when s/he starts or parks her/his vehicle?

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