Expert: Rob Gibson - 3/28/2001

Question
I am in Illinois.  We have lived in our current home since 1992, it was built in 1979.  Since moving in we have done lots of remodeling (totally remodeled the kitchen and two of the bathrooms, replaced carpet and flooring in about 3/4 of the house, things of that nature) Most of this was done quite a while ago, the most recent thing, ripping out the carpet in dining room and replacing with pergo flooring was completed last summer, a few months before these symptoms started.

Recently, probably starting around last Sep or Oct, my husband started developing asthmatic type symptoms.  Tightness of chest, sore throat, trouble breathing etc.  My children and I were not affected until probably around late January.  Now we seem to all have cold/allergy type symptoms that dont seem to want to go away.  I have noticed a general feeling of fatigue most of the time, no energy to do anything constructive.  My husband is gone from the house 14 hours a day, and the kids both are in school all day but I am most of the time home all day.  I would have thought that being that I am here all the time, that I would have been affected the worst, yet it seems to be my husband that is.  He says he clears up when he goes on business trips but as soon as he gets home it starts right back up again.
We have a rabbit and a guinea pig that are kept in a cage in the laundry room (rarely come out of the cage), and so my husband had some allergy tests done last fall to see if that was what was causing him to have the problems.
My husband is convinced something here is making us all sick, but I dont even know where to BEGIN to look.
On the outward appearances, everything looks normal.  I purchased two small air cleaners, one for the basement office (where I spend a great deal of time) and one for our bedroom.  We use those 3M air filters for the furnace and change them frequently, I have a HEPA filter on my vacuum.

Is there a way to 'test' the general air quality of the home to find out if theres something there making us sick?
I hope I have included enough information.

Answer
Thank you for your challenging question

First of all I must say this is not my area of expertise.

My experiences in dealing with health, housing and air quality matters are related to VERY poor quality housing whereby the dwelling in question is virtually falling down or rotten with damp.  In effect the solutions have been obvious!  Your place sounds like it is just causing you ill health and in general terms is sound.

First of all, what happens when you go on holiday?  Are things any better?  If things are the same it is not the house if things are better it still may not be the house.  What are your occupations? Could one of you be bringing somthing home on their clothes?


If you are convinced that the house is causing you a problem I have two ideas

1. Cavity wall insulation based on urea formaldehyde (I think your house is too young to have this but it's worth checking)

2. Is your house built on contaminated land i.e. are you suffering from the effects of gas incursion?

Other than this may I suggest you illicit some help from someone who knows about sick building syndrome closer to home

Sorry I could not be of more help

Yours

Rob Gibson