“Sick house syndrome can be a serious problem in today’s newer, airtight homes. The indoor air can actually be more polluted than outdoor air, and some indoor chemicals can cause or exacerbate existing allergies.”

When asked for healthy home building tips, mechanical engineer, environmentalist and columnist, James Dulley offered the following suggestions to ensure “the best indoor air quality.”

• “To minimize the problems from chemicals being emitted from new building materials, use as many natural products as possible. For example, select cabinets made of real wood without particleboard (contains adhesives). You may even want to select unfinished cabinets, and finish them yourself with environmentally-friendly finishes.

• Install hardwood flooring, instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. It is much easier to keep hardwood floors clean, and it minimizes dust, as compared to carpeting. Dust mites, a common allergen, live in the carpeting, as does mold in damp conditions.

• Select paint with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC). Most major paint suppliers offer them. Short-term exposure to VOC’s may cause symptoms such as irritated eyes and nose, headaches and nausea.”

Information source: Hillsdale Daily News.