“Home Sweet Home.” Most of us take the safety and accessibility of our homes for granted. We view our home as a safe haven where we can escape the world to rest, relax, recharge our batteries, and reemerge to pursue our work, social, athletic, and religious dreams. But are our homes truly safe?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the air in our homes and other buildings may be more polluted than the air outside. Indoor air is often hermetically sealed and contains both biological and chemical contaminants. Many of the chemical contaminants are inherent to the building materials, furnishings, and even the cleaning and personal care products we choose.

Anne Steinemann of Washington State University recently discovered the presence of numerous toxic and carcinogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in every fragranced laundry and air freshening product she tested.¹ These chemicals were not listed on the product labels and many were listed on the EPA’s “no safe limit” list. In other words, no exposure, no matter how small, is safe for anyone.

Yet these “air fresheners” are found in homes and offices. It’s interesting to consider that air fresheners don’t actually freshen the air. They just add a scent on top of problem air, adding to the pollution. Easy solutions are removing the “air fresheners”, cleaning to eliminate odors, and opening windows for better air circulation.

Fragranced laundry products frequently permeate the air for two or more blocks from the source, especially during the dryer cycle. The chemicals fused into the air by these products put children, pets, the elderly, asthmatics, and the chronically ill at serious risk. Steinemann said, that of the identified VOCs, “ten are regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, with three classified as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). Results point to a need for improved understanding of product constituents and mechanisms between exposures and effects.”¹

People with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) are the canaries in the coalmine, the individuals who first fall ill from these chemicals, serving as a warning to the rest of us. Pets and small children are also at greater risk due to their smaller size. The increasing rates of childhood illnesses such as autism, asthma, sudden infant death, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are other red flags of warning.

For people disabled by MCS, “Housing may be the single most crucial element in survival and possible improvement. Yet it is almost impossible for people with MCS to find places to live that are truly safe for them,” according to Pamela Reed Gibson, PhD of James Madison University.²

MCS is a condition in which any exposure, no matter how small, causes negative health effects akin to poisoning by a much larger dose. Medical treatment requires a “clean room”, or chemical free home that is devoid of VOCs and petroleum based products found in carpets, new furniture, new paint, varnishes, wallpapers, paneling, new construction, plastics, linoleum, gas heat, gas appliances, pesticides, fertilizers, personal care, laundry, cleaning products, and molds.

A home in which previous tenants used fragranced household cleaners, air fresheners, and laundry products, is often completely inaccessible as these fragrances can permeate everything, remaining in walls and appliances.

According to every respondent in a recent informal survey of people with self-reported MCS, chemical free housing is crucial, a “lifeline” to enable recovery and normal living. A chemical free home can be the difference between being well enough to be able to participate in social and work activities, and being totally disabled.

One respondent, Kate, says, “If I had chemical-free housing I would be able to live. I would be able to have a life, instead of having to move every few months and getting sicker and sicker each time. I would be able to contribute to the community and world if I didn't have to focus on my illness so much.”

Carole shared, “‘if I had chemical-free housing, I would be able to be my optimum self and work.” Limiting exposures in the home environment can help to reduce overall exposures, improving health sufficiently to allow short trips to grocery stores and other public places.

When asked what the biggest obstacles were to finding chemical-free housing, respondents indicated:

“Finding something that meets all the criteria required to be 'safe' and still be affordable.”

“Affordability, Availability”

"Lack of unscented, well-maintained and unrenovated properties, in any price range, far enough from neighbor's dryer vents to be safe."

“I react to people's scented products such as perfumes and cleaners as well as building materials such as treated wood floors, rug, etc.”

“I think the biggest obstacle for me is mold. Money is also an obstacle. It is hard to keep fragrances out too since they are on everything.. .including grocery bags.”

“Fabric Softener has become the biggest obstacle to me for safe housing.”

Fabric softeners and other laundry products often present the largest challenge to living in a community area. Fragrant fumes from laundry products are pumped into the air from dryer vents around the clock in most neighborhoods. Steinemann’s study is conclusive proof that these fumes are dangerous not only to people with MCS, but others as well.

Fortunately, the answer is simple. If everyone made a health choice for their family by switching to fragrance free products, many of the chemical contaminants in our homes and neighborhoods would be eliminated. By thinking carefully about renovations and choosing non-toxic materials to bring into our homes, everyone benefits.

For those already afflicted with MCS, our survey showed the solution involves a move toward safer, chemical free housing complexes and realtors who are aware of their needs.

In addition, neighborhood ordinances banning the cosmetic use of herbicides and pesticides, the emissions of hazardous chemicals from fragranced laundry products, and the burning of wood and garbage would provide outdoor air that can be enjoyed by everyone, including pets, children, asthmatics, and those with MCS.

References

¹Steinemann AC. Fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients. Environ Impact Asses Rev (2008), doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2008.05.002.

²Gibson, PR. Understanding & Accommodating People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Independent Living. The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research. 2005. Retrieved on August 16, 2008 from: http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/bookshelf/MCS.html

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Healthy Housing Resources for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Healthy housing is the single most important part of recovery for people with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and other environmentally triggered illnesses. Housing, however, is the least supported medical requirement within the “medical field” and as such leaves many with questions about how to make their homes safer at their own expense.

Resources have for the most part been few and far between. Those who have had MCS for several years know that the availability of anything healthy was tremendously difficult in the past. It is slowly getting better, month by month and year by year. But, it is still not as easy as walking into a big box store and picking up the healthiest products available.

We can, however, thank the commercial construction industry and their enamor with green building guidelines for helping to bring more and more healthy building materials into the mainstream. Green building guidelines help define the hows of green building and one of the requirements is low VOC and healthy building materials with low off gassing. This has led to a revolution in paints, for example. Two years ago I would have been able to name just a couple of low/no VOC paints. Now, almost every company has some form or other of low VOC paint. This shift is based solely on the educated consumer and their demand for these types of products. This commercial boom for green/healthy materials is trickling into the residential market and we are seeing the slow greening of that as well, which will only bring more healthy building materials to the larger market.

It’s certainly not coming fast enough for many people with environmental sensitivities. And certainly the builders themselves could use several months of training to make them competent enough to use some of these! Some builders are getting on the bandwagon and learning more and more about this market as they see it as a niche for them, with green being on everyone’s mind.

Building Biologists like myself have been helping people for years. Building Biology is the German school of thought that looks at the built environment and how it impacts people’s health. There are Building Biologists all over North America helping people to make their homes healthier. Green building consultants look into the health side of things, as well as the environmental impact, and they can also be a resource to find materials.

The numerous people I have worked with typically know what they can and cannot tolerate. Oftentimes they have the list already put together and it’s just a matter of finding products that don’t have those ingredients.

Sometimes it is more difficult and requires more effort. People with MCS can now, depending on severity of conditions, do a lot of research on the internet and find more and more retailers selling healthy/green building materials. These stores are well versed in better options, which MCS people can try, and the success rates of their products being tolerable is significantly higher than in a regular lumber store.

Sometimes there are even choices. What a novel idea! Many of these stores have electronic newsletters so you can learn about new products. The great thing about these stores is they have done their homework and KNOW about the products they sell.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) web links, samples to take home and sniff, and direct contacts to the manufacturer are all quite common sources of information that can easily be used by potential purchasers. It’s still a small field. I’ve had some stores send me elsewhere to get the product I need for a client. You won’t get that service in a big box store.

All of these points lead to the hopeful conclusion that there are more ways to find healthier building materials, more people interested in carrying the products, more of the general public interested in buying these items, more items available to choose from, and ultimately more opportunities for MCS people to be able to renovate/rebuild/build their safe sanctuaries and work towards living in homes that can help instead of make them worse.

These are the main concerns for housing that people with MCS should be aware of. And more importantly, these are the items people making the effort to create healthy housing need to understand.

Outside

· Pesticide free

· Fertilizer (chemical) free

· Gas lawn mower free

· Electric BBQ instead of gas

· No pressure treated decking

Entrance

· Doormat, shoes must be removed in house

· Place to hang outdoor clothes, especially if contaminated

Kitchen

· Gas free appliances ideal

· Externally venting range hood

· No microwave

· Minimal pressboard, and exposed pressboard sealed up with safe sealant

· No water damage under sink

· Holes in walls for plumbing sealed up

· Older, off gassed appliances typically better than new

· Storage containers are ideally glass

Floors

Solid surface, ideally older hardwood, or new linoleum, cork, or other Eco Logo, low/no VOC finished floors

No carpets

HEPA vacuum, or central vacuum that vents outside or is HEPA filtered

Walls

Wall finishes that are low/no VOC

Outlets and floor/wall joints are airtight and sealed to prevent airflow into living space

Heating and Cooling

Ideally there is a whole house HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter system installed with a carbon prefilter

HEPA room air filters are basic requirements in rented spaces

Filters are monitored and changed regularly

Electric heat is preferable to combustion gases

Ductwork needs to be cleaned without chemicals

Some ductwork, may need to be washed with safe cleaners

Forced air is the least desirable and radiant heat is ideal

Pets

Typically not possible

Water Filtration

Ideal water filtration is reverse osmosis, with UV light or distilled

Basic carbon filtration may be acceptable to some

Well water must be tested for contaminants

Filtration units must be changed regularly

Shower filters in cities are ideal

Electro-magnetic fields

Access to electrical panel may be necessary to shut off power

Properly labeled panel is tremendously helpful

Quality surge protectors on all electronics

Kill switches can be installed to control space at panel

Stephen Collette BBEC, LEED AP

owns Your Healthy House www.yourhealthyhouse.ca

and is a Building Biology Environmental Building Consultant in Lakefield, ON. 705-652-5159.

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A Proposal to the City of Toronto

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Environmental Sensitivities, Electrical Hyper-Sensitivities, and Housing

Background

Safe, healthy housing is the number one health-care need of people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), Environmental Sensitivities (ES), and Electrical Hyper-Sensitivities (EHS).

The failure of housing providers to adequately accommodate the unique needs of tenants with environmental or multiple chemical sensitivities is a human rights issue that is becoming increasingly significant. For people with environmental sensitivities, their health and ability rests with the actions of others, such as building managers, neighbors and other tenants. According to a study headed by the CMHC, 86% of people with Environmental Sensitivities improved significantly after access to safe housing. Some who had a bleak prognosis almost completely recovered.

Almost 3% (over 1 million) of Canadians are disabled by MCS/ ES/ EHS, (even though most doctors are unable to correctly diagnose the conditions) while 58,000 have AIDS. People with MCS/ES must practice chemical avoidance like people with peanut allergies practice peanut avoidance. The ability to control one’s environment is the only way to practice the level of chemical avoidance that is necessary to maintain one’s health and ability.

Fragrance chemicals, tobacco smoke, and other volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) from building materials and cleaning products do not recognize air-space boundaries, as was demonstrated with smoking sections in restaurants. Smoking has now been banned in indoor public spaces, and while some scent-free workplaces exist, there are no protections for people with environmental and chemical sensitivities in their homes and apartments.

Second hand exposures to the above mentioned VOC’s occur everywhere. Fumes from BBQ’s, wood smoke, asphalt, tar, dryer vents, pesticides, fertilizers, vehicle exhaust, etc. occur outdoors and easily migrate indoors without adequate measures. Electro Magnetic Fields and Radiation (EMF/EMR) from cell towers, WiFi zones, DECT phones, transmission lines and transformers travel through walls and affect people with EHS. Some suffer adverse effects from both MCS/ES and EHS, restricting their lives even more in effort to avoid exposures.

MCS/ES and EHS affect every aspect of life. Every single activity or purchase has a cost/benefit analysis attached to it. Ordinary excursions and purchases can be exercises in moving from one assault (exposure) to the next. Attempting avoidance of triggering substances is near impossible away from home; therefore, the quality of the home environment is critical to one’s quality of life. Affordable housing is often situated near industrial sites with high chemical emissions, highways with heavy diesel traffic, garbage dumps, manufacturing, agricultural or golf course fertilizers and pesticides, high voltage power lines or cell towers, etc, or it is moldy, not well maintained, with repairs done using the cheapest (and usually most toxic) materials available. In other words, places that people with chemical and environmental or electrical sensitivities must avoid.

They need to be away from major sources of emissions and pollution, including businesses that deal with volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), like hair salons and public Laundromats. In urban areas, this is very difficult, so the safety of the indoor environment becomes even more important.

When one develops MCS/ES/EHS and needs to find a safer place to live, there is no organized help. There are no registries of safer places, no agents who know what to look for, few landlords who understand that even a small repair or touch up with problem materials could result in months of ill health. Rare are the places with safe tenants (who don’t pollute the air) or buildings with safe maintenance plans. Too many people become very ill searching for a safe home, as each subsequent exposure adds to a cumulative toxic load. Many become homeless, and more than a few commit suicide as a direct result of not having access to safe housing.

People with chemical injury and MCS or EHS currently face obstacles at virtually every turn in life. The severity of MCS/ES/EHS range from mildly disabling to severe and life threatening. Part of the debilitating disability is cognitive, with major fatigue, so that something as simple as making phone calls can become over-whelming. Word recall is difficult, and asking potential landlords questions about maintenance practices and other tenants’ habits, when suffering from exposures, is a sure fire way to be rejected, and not be taken seriously, or risking a visit to an unsafe environment from another’s belief or attitude that it wouldn’t make a difference.

The cumulative effects of these exposures, especially when occurring long-term, are debilitating. The longer one remains in an environment with triggering substances, the more disabling and difficult life becomes. One cannot recover unless exposures are avoided. The sooner one is able to avoid exposures, the more likely one is to avoid complete disability. Early solutions are easy and cost effective, compared to the difficulties encountered once one has severe MCS/ES/EHS.

Clean air, water and food are crucial elements of life. Prevention is the best, most cost effective way of dealing with MCS/ES and EHS. Timely access to safe housing allows people to regain control of their health and abilities. Complete control and separation of air space is required in the homes of people with MCS/ES. Ways to ensure no wireless and cell or transmission towers EMF/EMR encroach into one’s living space are necessary. Plans to minimize harm from exposures must also be made for all shared spaces like hallways and elevators.

Safe housing at the earliest opportunity after injury and diagnosis, along with safe shelters to avoid periodic events like renovations and repairs, road paving, pesticide, etc., prevents the deterioration of health and allows the injured an opportunity to recover, as well as the possibility of returning to a productive life. Without these, people can become completely incapacitated and fully dependent on government and other supports. Until environmentally safe housing is developed, assistance needs to be made available for those diagnosed with these illnesses and disabilities.

Safe Housing is critical. Safe housing is the primary medical need of people with MCS, ES, and EHS.

The number of lives affected is growing, and so far nothing has been done to address the needs of the people who are being injured by common everyday chemical and electrical exposures.

It is time for this to change.

Recommended transitional housing supports for people living with MCS/ES, and EHS

Safe emergency shelters are needed for both short and medium term durations since ordinary shelters are not accessible. Short term refuge is required during neighborhood events like road paving, pesticide use, renovations or repairs, heat waves, or loss of housing and health.

Housing subsidies should be attached to the individual instead of a location to aid in affording safer environments wherever one may be found, since they are currently few and far between and the search often transcends municipal boundaries

Specialized housing workers and case managers are desperately needed, as the search is tremendously difficult. People are forced to try to advocate for themselves now, with ill health and reduced cognitive abilities, and are usually exposed to more harm than good when seeking help. This also leads to many doing without basic necessities like food, clothing, housing, and healthcare.

Transitional safe housing for the time between when emergency shelter is required and permanent housing can be found.

Safe storage facilities (to avoid contamination and loss of belongings due to facility or other user pesticides and “air-fresheners”) when between housing

Safe and knowledgeable scent-free home-care is needed when people become too physically or cognitively ill to take care of themselves after exposures (long term or infrequent/occasional).

Financial assistance* and expertise to make appropriate retrofits can help people stay in their own homes, if at all possible (some places cannot be made safe enough).

Small multi-unit buildings could be renovated to accommodate the needs of mildly to moderately disabled members of this group, and small private bungalows for the more severely impacted.

Education is necessary for landlords, contractors, real estate agents, service providers, and the public about MCS/ES, chemical contaminants, safe alternatives, and the need to follow strict protocols.

*CMHC does have a program called RRAP which recognizes the needs of people with MCS/ES, but landlord co-operation, funding, and expertise are not always available.

Recommendations for MCS/ES/EHS safe new developments or retrofits

Mixed income, affordable and subsidized when necessary, housing complexes built beyond green (i.e. using LEED Platinum + and Building Biology guidelines) with non-toxic, no-VOC materials, excellent mold elimination strategies, no shared air, excellent air-filtration, radiant floor or radiator heat, no WiFi or cell towers, low Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) building practices, (no fluorescent lighting) with individual laundries and vented storage areas in each unit.

Shared areas (halls, stairs) need to have special air controls and full house air filtration and ventilation to prevent cross contamination and air mixing between areas. All spaces must be individually vented, with private HVAC in units.

Ground floor units need to be accessible from the outdoors, for people with severe MCS/ES who cannot share hallways, while others with moderate MCS can be housed in upper level units with strict written agreements about what can and can’t be done where air-quality and EMF/EMR are concerned.

Whole building water filtration to purify water and remove chlorine and pollutants.

Personal vented laundry closets (Washer/Dryer) are also required. Individuals with MCS/ES rarely tolerate the same laundry products as others and cross contamination of clothing can be catastrophic when one is already struggling to survive, so personal use machines are necessary.

Within each unit, a private locker type space with ventilation to allow storage and offgassing of problem materials and medical equipment as required, i.e. new items brought into the home, like mail, supplies, occasional-use items that are rarely tolerated but necessary for sustaining some manner of life, and many need to stock up in advance to allow the offgassing of items before use, so extra safe storage space becomes crucial.

Low EMF/EMR appliances with proper shielding between rooms and units.

Building should be sound-proofed as sound sensitivity is also common.

Units to be wheelchair accessible, as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), and other health issues may develop or are already co-occurring.

Some residents have no human contact and have pets. Others are allergic to animals and need separated space to be safe. Separated building wings can accommodate this.

The site should have a secure shared use specially vented off-gassing area for larger or more toxic things like appliances, so that stoves, fridges, computers etc. can be offgassed, sometimes for months before being safe to use. Possibly combined with a unit to bake off VOC’s or bedbugs/pests.

Delivery system / area that does not send exhaust fumes into units.

Units should be well protected from garbage and disposal areas.

Individual Unit recommendations for people with MCS/ES/EHS

Solid wood, ceramic tile, or polished concrete floors, no carpeting

Many people will need an extra room to house the computer and home office, since they are confined to working from home, if at all, or computers are the only social access possible. Special venting for computers and televisions and EMF reduction strategies need to be considered in the design.

Bedrooms should be empty of most everything but the bed, so size can be reduced. Clothing is best stored elsewhere. Vented closets may be necessary for the more severely affected.

*Subsidies usually cover one bedroom per person, considering more space to be “over-housing”, yet without safe access to other places such as libraries, parks, theatres, malls, and restaurants due to levels of exposures - many people are housebound, making the home the entire world experience. Most can agree that providing an extra room and larger living area to people without safe access elsewhere does not constitute “over-housing”. However, it must also be said that if appropriate safe housing is accessible early enough, the decline in health is usually prevented so this would eventually become unnecessary.

Enclosed private Washer and Dryer or drying closet.

Private vented storage area.

Bathrooms with FIR sauna technology to aid in detox (easy to incorporate during build).

Filtered Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and A/C’s with individual controls.

Enclosed, not open, concept kitchens with extra counter space and storage, as most meals are made from scratch and need more preparation space. At least one counter should be lower so prep can be done while seated. Non porous materials to prevent mold and offgassing. Extra storage space for cooking materials and foods, including larger fridges for fresh vegetables etc. Extra outlets for equipment, and good venting for fumes.

Windows that open, with good natural light, and safe shutter system to block out light when necessary (window covering textiles can be problematic).

Home office and other areas need to be properly shielded from EMF/EMR and have possibility to vent