Synopsis:
It's a world we barely see, but it is teeming with life. In the dust of a typical house, carpet beetles, mites, silverfish, and other creatures live and die, producing allergen-laden dust. Meanwhile, stinky mold, bacteria, and yeast lurk undetected in heating and cooling systems. Debris dispersed into the air from these organisms can cause runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing, headaches, and breathing difficulties. Some people, especially those made highly sensitive by allergies, suffer from devastating health problems and the worry that, as one such sufferer lamented, "My house is killing me!" Scrutinizing house dust and air samples with a microscope, indoor air quality expert Jeffrey C. May has spent his career helping people identify what's causing their chronic health problems. In this thoroughly revised edition of My House Is Killing Me! Jeff and Connie May draw on the dramatic personal stories of their clients' suffering and relief to help readers understand the links between environmental factors and human health. Explaining how air conditioning, finished basements, and other home features affect indoor air quality, the authors offer a step-by-step approach to identifying, controlling, and often eliminating the sources of indoor pollutants and allergens. If we could see this contamination, the Mays observe, the air would look as murky as stagnant water, and we would know not to breathe it. This new edition includes - more than 60 color photographs - expanded coverage on the dangers posed by volatile organic compounds produced by such common items as paint, carpet, and household cleaning products - a focus on a range of respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD, skin problems, and Legionnaire's disease - new information about the risks of spray-polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation - a discussion of recent research which indicates that many cleaning products, including those labeled green or eco-friendly, contribute to indoor an
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