May, My House is Killing Me, from Johns Hopkins Univeristy Press

2ND EDITION

MY HOUSE IS KILLING ME! A COMPLETE GUIDE TO A H E A LT H I E R I N D O O R ENVIRONMENT

JEFFREY C. MAY AND CONNIE L. MAY FOREWORD BY JONATHAN M. SAMET, MD AND ELIZABETH MATSUI, MD, MHS

MY HOUSE IS KILLING ME! A Complete Guide to a Healthier Indoor Environment second edition JEFFREY C. MAY and CONNIE L. MAY

foreword by Jonathan M. Samet, MD, and Elizabeth Matsui, MD, MHS

I

t’s a world we barely see, but it is teeming with life. In the dust of a typical house, carpet beetles, mites, silverfish, and other creatures

WHETHER YOU HAVE ALLERGIES OR ASTHMA, OR YOU JUST WANT TO AVOID EXPOSURES TO INDOOR CONTAMINANTS AND ALLERGENS, THIS BOOK WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO HAVE A HEALTHIER HOME.

live and die, producing allergenladen dust. Meanwhile, stinky mold, bacteria, and yeast lurk undetected in heating and cooling systems. Debris dispersed into the air from these organisms can cause runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing, headaches, and breathing difficulties. Some people, especially those made

highly sensitive by allergies, suffer from devastating health problems and the worry that, as one such sufferer lamented, “My house is killing me!”

Jeffrey C. May has spent his career helping people identify what’s causing their chronic health problems. In this thoroughly revised edition of My House Is Killing Me!, Jeff and Connie L. May draw on the dramatic personal stories of their clients’ suffering and relief to help readers understand the links between environmental factors and human health.

The authors offer a step-by-step approach to identifying, controlling, and often eliminating the sources of indoor pollutants and allergens.

“This new edition of My House Is Killing Me! is even better than the first. A must-read for patients with respiratory problems and the physicians who care for them.”

—Richard Irwin, MD, University of Massachusetts Medical School This new edition includes • more than 60 color photographs • expanded coverage on the dangers posed by volatile organic compounds produced by such common items as paint, carpet, and household cleaning products • a focus on a range of respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD, skin problems, and Legionnaire’s disease • new information about the risks of spraypolyurethane foam (SPF) insulation • a discussion of recent research that indicates that many cleaning products, including those labeled green or eco-friendly, contribute to indoor and outdoor air pollution to a greater degree than once suspected

• completely new case studies of people who improved their indoor air quality by following the authors’ advice • brand-new chapters, including “Trojan Horse Allergens,” “The Three Ps: Pets, Pests, and People,” “Indoor Air in a Multi-Unit Building,” and “Testing and Remediation” Jeffrey C. May is certified as a microbial consultant and an indoor air quality professional. He is principal scientist at May Indoor Air Investigations LLC, where he specializes in identifying the causes of mold, odor, and moisture problems in homes, schools, and offices. In 2018, he was inducted into the Indoor Air Quality Association’s Hall of Fame. Connie L. May is a certified indoor air quality technician at May Indoor Air Investigations LLC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword, by Jonathan M. Samet, MD, and Elizabeth Matsui, MD, MHS

Chapter 13. The Exterior Chapter 14. Indoor Air Quality in Multi-Unit Buildings

Appreciation

Part III. Below and Above

Introduction

Chapter 15. Unfinished Basements and Crawl Spaces Chapter 16. Finished Basements Chapter 17. Attics

Part I. The Stage of Our Lives Chapter 1. Seeing the Invisible Chapter 2. Cast of Small Characters—Read This Chapter If You Dare!

Chapter 3. “Trojan Horse” Allergens Chapter 4. Creepy Crawlers (Apologies for the Title!)

Chapter 5. The Three Ps—Pets, Pests, and People Chapter 6. The Set Part II. Daily Life Chapter 7. Living Rooms, Family Rooms, and Dining Areas Chapter 8. Rooms with Water—The Bathroom Chapter 9. Rooms with Water—The Kitchen Chapter 10. Rooms with Water—The Laundry Chapter 11. Bedrooms Chapter 12. Attached Garages, Bulkheads, Porches, and Decks

Part IV. Heating and Cooling Chapter 18. Heating and Cooling with Ducts Chapter 19. Heating and Cooling without Ducts Chapter 20. More on Heating, Cooling, and Fuel Part V. Clean It Up—Inside and Out Chapter 21. Renovation and New Construction Chapter 22. More Environmental Hazards Chapter 23. Testing and Remediation Chapter 24. Cleaning Closing Remarks: Take Charge Notes Glossary Resource Guide Index

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2ND EDITION

MY HOUSE IS KILLING ME! A COMPLETE GUIDE TO A H E A LT H I E R I N D O O R

PUBLICATION DATE DECEMBER 2020 978-1-4214-3895-5 $24.95 £18.50 pb 416 pages 7 x 10 67 color photos, 1 color illus., 5 b&w photos Also available in hardback and as an e-book

ENVIRONMENT

JEFFREY C. MAY AND CONNIE L. MAY FOREWORD BY JONATHAN M. SAMET, MD AND ELIZABETH MATSUI, MD, MHS

Sales queries: Devon Renwick dbr@press.jhu.edu

Media queries: Rebecca Rozenberg rer@press.jhu.edu

Also from JEFFREY C. MAY and CONNIE L. MAY:

“Thank you, Jeff May, for making the complex and diverse field of indoor air quality accessible and entertaining, and for giving us the information we need to improve the air we breathe.”­ —John Spengler, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health

“What molds are, why and where they grow, and how to rid our living spaces of these dangerous fungal microorganisms. The authors furnish clear explanations, examples from actual situations, and valuable advice . . . A storehouse of knowledge presented in a readable style­.”—Library Journal

“If your nose gets congested, you develop a sinus headache, or your asthma often gets worse after an hour or two at home or at work, buy one of Jeff’s books to find the cause and a way to fix it (and he didn’t pay me to say this).”

—Paul Enright, MD, WebMD

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