Expert: Marc Rubin, RPh Asthma Educator - 1/2/2009

Question
Please advise if you can. My house had a small fire Sunday nite. I suffered plastic smoke inhalation and ended up in the ER. The symptoms did not get better and I saw a doctor this afternoon. He prescribed me an inhaler, steroids, antibiotics and a cough syrup. The insurance adjuster tells me that simply dry sponging the walls and then washing them down is going to be good enough for industry standard unless I can prove otherwise.
I have chronic bronchitis and this is not helping me in the least. My wife has acute asthma and cannot enter the house without an attack. I believe as did my doctor that the house should not only have the walls cleaned but sealed with a shellac type sealing primer and then repainted to ensure that there will be no smoke particle or carcinogen issues later on. I am not asking for much, simply the hallway, kitchen and living room that were smoked out. It s freezing temperatures here so to keep the pipes from freezing the furnace has been left on and the smoke residue was spread thru the whole house. Again the adjuster is saying that I must provide documentation stating that my health issues and wife’s may be affected by residual plastic and wood smoke.
If you can offer any advice or opinions on the matter of medical issues and being unsafe to not ensure our health prior to reoccupying the house please do advise.
Thank you so much in advance for any consideration.
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.


The plastic smoke inhalation and accompanying ARD were received while putting out the fire while waiting for the fire department mitigating costs. We are insured with State Farm, our policy is replacement value not actual cash value. I have worked in fire and flood restoration for thirteen years in the past and understand the long term effects of smoked plaster walls that only get chem sponged and washed. We are asking that the hallway, kitchen and living room get not only sponged and washed but sealed with a shellac to stop anymore residual carcinogens and smoke particles from bothering or re agitating me or my wife's disorders. We are not asking for all roms to be taken care of as such, only those with direct contact with the smoke. Our bedrooms and bathroom doors were shut.Our central heat has still been on blowing the residual and actual smoke thru the heating system due to below freezing temps causing our inability to shut it off. one restoration company agrees with me as well as that our furniture should be replaced as it will bother our medical disorders, state farms premiere contractor however disagrees with my doctor and the other contractor. we are not looking to sue them or try and get money...just want to make sure we dont have future health issues from this.

Answer
I advise that you talk with State Farm to get an independent inspection done. The premiere contractor is in no legal position to make a statement of medical necessity, ultimately works for SF, and wants to continue that relationship. I'd contact the city health department to see if they could be of assistance.

I'm surprised that SF would go against medical advice. Is this physician your allergist, or pulmonologist. This would carry more weight. Also, you could probably check to see if the regional branch of the American Lung Association would get involved on your behalf.

Normally, I'm not one for duct cleaning, since in short order they are dirty again. BUT, in this case, it would be imperative that they get cleaned out.
Regarding the paint, it could be sealed with Kilz, which I believe comes in a low VOC form. Shellac would be more likely to be a lung irritant until cured. You can check this out at a professional paint store.
Finally, reflecting back on your letter, you stated that the adjuster said you must provide documentation stating the health issues being affected by the smoke. I'd question who the company will accept as providing expert testimony, since they are disregarding the concerns of your physician.
 Good luck. Tell the agent I'd be more than happy to have a dialog with him. Let's see, go over all the major triggers for pulmonary disease: mold, smoke, chemical irritants, dust...., he needs a basic course in asthma education.

Sincerely,

Marc