When B. W. was a five-year-old boy he came with his parents to consult with Dr. Elliott about his asthma. The most recent flare-up had occurred during a school field trip to the local swimming pool. Upon further questioning, a pattern emerged revealing a relationship between water and the triggering of the child’s asthma. Dr. Elliott suspected that the chlorine in the water was acting as an irritant to his airways. She suggested that thefamily swim in a public pool that had switched to ozone for water purification. In that particular pool, chlorine was used as a supplement, but only in very small quantities. They were happy to note that their son could now swim comfortably with his friends without difficulty breathing. The family went on to purchase filters for their showerheads that effectively removed chlorine from their showers. They also removed all chlorinated cleaning products from their home. Now that there was
• adequate mechanical ventilation and dehumidification
• a watertight enclosure around the pool area that retards vapor diffusion to prevent water damage to the surrounding structure
• surface finishes that are impervious to water and easily cleaned
• a rigorous maintenance program to remove condensation and mold growth as soon as they appear
Because of the intensive upkeep required to maintain a pool or spa so that it does not negatively impact indoor air quality, we do not readily recommend including an enclosed body of water inside a healthy home. How — one less triggering agent for the asthma, Dr. Elliott could more effectively focus on strengthening the boy’s lungs.
Discussion
Chlorine is a poison used to kill bacteria in water. It is absorbed through the skin, inhaled into the lungs, and ingested. At room temperature, chlorine is a gas with a pungent smell. It is very reactive, combining readily with most elements to form compounds, many of which, such as chloroform, trihalomethanes, and organochiorines, are known to be carcinogenic. Symptoms commonly resulting from swimming in chlorinated water include runny nose, red eyes, cough, asthma, joint pains, swelling, nausea, urinary discomfort, rashes, and hives. We suggest that you use a less toxic disinfectant for your pool.
ever, if an indoor pool is planned for the home, consider taking advantage of the large body of heated water as part of the design for a comprehensive climate control strategy. The water can act as a reservoir for solar heat storage and humidification.
It may be desirable to conduct diverse quality control tests or product analysis while selecting materials and throughout the construction process. This testing can help ensure that materials and installations are as specified. Planning in advance for many of these tests is recommended. Waiting until the last minute will result in costly construction delays since many of these procedures will require that you order test kits, hire specialists, or wait for laboratory results.
In choosing healthy materials, you and your architect will base decisions on information supplied by the manufacturer, such as product literature and an MSDS, as well as on the appearance and smell of the products. While certain hazardous substances, such as lead, asbestos, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are no longer a concern for products manufactured in North America, precautions may be required if you are using recycled or imported materials. Available tests are included in Chart 13.1. Materials tests you may want to consider are discussed below.
pH Testing for Concrete Slabs
Concrete must be properly cured to ensure its strength and durability. Improperly cured concrete may exhibit a strongly alkaline pH, which can cause adverse chemical reactions when certain adhesives and flooring materials come into contact with the concrete. The pH of cured concrete must be under 9 to be considered acceptable. A pH test is performed by dampening an area of concrete with distilled or deionized water. The dampened area is then tested with pH paper or with a special pH test pencil available from the Sinak Corporation. The color change that the paper or pencil mark indicates is the pH level.
Formaldehyde Testing
Although many manufacturers are now using less formaldehyde than they once were, it is still a common additive in many products. The cumulative effect of several products containing only moderate amounts of formaldehyde can cause severe health consequences. Our approach is to avoid this chemical whenever formaldehyde-free substitutes can be located.
A simple do-it-yourself spot test can be used to ensure that products containing formaldehyde are not used. A drop of test solution is placed on the material in question and allowed to stand for two minutes. If the drop changes from clear to purple, formaldehyde or other harmful aldehydes are present. The shade of purple can range from a faint pink to a dark plum, depending on the concentration of aldehydes. The test must be read at exactly two minutes because the drop will eventually turn purple even if no aldehydes are present. The solution leaves a purple stain on porous materials and should be used in a place where will not be visible.
Surface Sampling for Fungus
Materials damaged by mold growth should be rejected, but not all stains are from mold. Laboratory analysis will probably be required to determine if mold is a problem, but there are several do-it-yourself methods for collecting mold samples.
Bulk Sampling
Collect a small amount of the material in question in a doubled plastic bag and send it to the laboratory. A teaspoonful of the suspected material is probably enough.
Tape Sampling
Press a piece of clear cellophane tape onto the surface to be tested. The best place for sampling is at the edge between the stained area and the dean area. Then stick the tape to a plastic bag
