Q.  I moved out of my house when the environmental assessment discovered sulphur dioxide in my air vents. I've had no end of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain. How do I fix my house?

The symptoms here don't sound like the symptoms I'd expect from Sulphur Dioxide - they don't seem to be breathing related.  I suspect the assessors instruments were confused by high levels of carbon monoxide. I'd check the CO levels next and then, if they're high, get the furnace checked. 

Q. They recently started using a new airfreshener in the washrooms at work and my eyes get so sore. My office is opposite the washroom so I can't get away from it. What can I do? 

I'd start by trying to deactivate it. Sometimes these are free standing units that you can open and remove the battery, or simply throw in the garbage. If it's a bigger issue you might want to talk to the building manager - the recommended air exchange in sealed buildings is 15 ft3 per person every minute. This level of air exchange might even remove the need for an air freshener. There are some highly toxic chemicals in 'air fresheners', so finding a way to get rid of it is the right thing to do even if you get some push back! 

Q. I'm a student and I rent a room sandwiched between the laundry and the home office in the basement. There's a constant chemically smell. How can I fix it.

This doesn't sound like a good arrangement - the office probably has wireless internet, printer inks etc and the laundry is often a significant source of chemicals from cleaning products. Unless your landlord is open to working through this, you should probably look for alternative accommodation. In the mean time keep the door to your room shut and the window open.

Q. I recently had a carpet fitted through the hallway and into my grandson's bedroom. Since then we're all coughing like crazy and the vacuum is plugged from all the fluff. (R.T. Birmingham, England)

It sounds like something is wrong with the carpet...big time. Call the person you bought it from and have them replace it. Even when it's new a carpet shouldn't shed enough to block the vacuum. In the mean time don't let your grandson sleep in the bedroom! and shut the door.  

Q. I'd like to install a new carpet in my bedroom is there anything I can do to reduce the nasty smell! (L.D. Montreal, Quebec)

Avoid anything with a rubber backing and then sleep in a different room for a couple of weeks while the carpet's offgassing is at its worst. You could go over it with a steam cleaner filled with plain water and a little vinegar. This will suck up some of the chemicals and loose fibers. Ventilate the room regularly and when you begin sleeping in the room again ventilate it before bed every night.

Q. I recently bought a new 'computer desk bunk bed unit for my son. Why is he having such a hard time sleeping on it?

There may be two culprits here. It won't do him any good to have a computer under his bed. They're full of lead, mercury, cadmium, fire retardants and epoxy and they produce electromagnetic fields that reduce melatonin - the hormone that controls sleep. If the bed is made from particle board there may be a lot of formaldehyde offgassing into the air he's breathing. I'd start by unplugging the computer at night and increasing the ventilation in his room - especially at night. I'd also check the negative ion level as these will be depleted by the computer..

Q. Is there a significant difference between polyester bedding and cotton bedding?

Polyester as a fabric has several negative qualities in terms of the sleeping environment it creates. The main component of polyester is ethylene glycol - the same chemical that carries a poison warning on screen wash!. As a fabric it carries a charge and offgasses when warm. The offgassing has been associated with a reduced sperm count to point that the WHO explored it as a possible form of contraception. There's little research into a link to breast cancer but I'd avoid it in bedding and underwear if at all possible.

Cotton on the other hand is a crop that uses significant amounts of pesticide. Many of these chemicals are designed to not be water soluble so that they don't wash off in the rain. The chemicals remain in the cotton fabric and take time to wear off. Adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the final rinse helps to loosen retained chemicals from the fibers.

Q. I'm expecting my first baby in the fall and I'm preparing the nursery. Do I need to remove the carpet - it's only a year since I had it fitted?

Carpet has gained quite a bad reputation because it traps dust and offgasses into the air. It sound like your carpet has had plenty of time to offgass any chemicals and you may well welcome its noise dampening qualities - you won't startle the baby if you drop something. The main thing is to keep it clean - the charge held by the synthetic fibres will attract dust. So just vacuum it frequently using the HEPA filter bags - that will prevent the dust being kicked back into the air.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace the advice of a well chosen medical doctor.