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Biointegral Resource Center (BIRC), PO Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707,510-524-2567. Useful source of information on pesticides and alternative pest treatments. Moses, Marion. Designer Poisons: How to Protect Your Health and Home from Toxic Pesticides. Pes­ticide Education Center, 1995. A sobering expose of specific pesticides and the chronic health ef­fects that can result from their use, […]

Integrated Pest Management All creatures have their rightful place in na­ture. However, for most this place is not within the walls of human habitations and hence the need for humans to exercise pest control. While many pest control companies advo­cate regular prophylactic spraying of homes with toxic chemicals, this approach can have devastating consequences for […]

In October 1987, the EPA installed carpet at its headquarters in the Waterside Mall in Washington, DC. A total of 1,141 complaints were received re­garding adverse health effects related to the new carpet.3 These complaints included decreased short-term memory, loss of concentration, confu­sion, anxiety, headaches, joint and muscle pains, rashes, digestive disorders, reproductive abnor­malities, asthma, […]

B. J. is a two-year-old boy who was in excellent health until the age of 10 months, when he sud­denly developed seizures. These episodes of rigid­ity and tremors occurred up to 40 to 50 times a day. The baby was subjected to a series of invasive diagnostic evaluations by many different special­ists. The blood tests, […]

Although easy clean-up, economy, and a soft walking surface have made sheet vinyl a popu­lar flooring for kitchen and utility areas, vinyl flooring is associated with health hazards. The vinyl chloride fumes it emits are a known car­cinogen. In addition, in hot or humid climates requiring air conditioning the vinyl will trap moisture, which can […]

Use only solvent-free adhesives or 100 percent silicone. Refer to the section on wood adhe­sives in Division 6. Finishes for Wood Flooring When finishing or refinishing a wood floor on­site, it is advisable to specify “dustless” sand­ing, as explained above. This technique will help lower the amount of dust generated, but a thorough vacuuming with […]

Wood is a healthful choice for flooring pro­vided that the subflooring, adhesives (if used), and finishes are carefully chosen to be health­ful as well. In standard construction, unfin­ished wood floors are commonly nailed to a formaldehyde-emitting underlayment and then finished with solvent-based finishes that will outgas for many months. Noxious glues may also be used […]

Prior to purchasing a home, a family contacted John to conduct radon testing with electronic monitors, following the EPA’s protocol. Closed — house conditions were established 12 hours prior to testing and were maintained throughout the tests. During the testing, one of the electronic monitors located in the dining room indicated 12.5 picocuries of radon […]

Sealing grouts will make grout joints easier to clean and more resistant to water penetration and staining. When water penetrates grout joints, it makes them susceptible to mold and bacterial growth. Even grouts containing mil — dewcides can eventually become moldy. Be­sides sealing grouts in wet areas, the key to mold-free grout is maintenance. Bathrooms […]

Organic mastics are either water — or petro­leum-based adhesives that consist of a bonding agent and a liquid vehicle. For petroleum — based mastics, the vehicle is a solvent, usually toluene. These formulations are highly toxic and flammable and are not recommended for use in a healthy home. Organic mastics enjoy widespread popu­larity because they […]