apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

But what ARE the health effects? Specifically? What studies are there that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that having a few cans of paint in the basement and regular use of off the shelf cleaning chemicals like Windex and the like that we all have under our kitchen sinks are bad for us? No need to go into mold/bacteria/tobacco.

And fireplaces? Good grief.

Reminds me of some idiot freshly arrived in Portland from California a few months ago now trying to get a ban on woodburning fireplaces in Oregon. All I can say about that is "don't move somewhere and then expect everyone else to change their ways because you don't like how the locals live their lives". One of the big reasons nobody likes Californians outside of California.

Boomer, I agree 100% with you. The mentality of some people that try to change everybody else that existed prior to them, is shocking sometimes. It reminds me the case of people that buy houses near an airport, and as soon as they move in, start grouping about shutting down the airport... So moral of the story: When in Rome, do as the Romans do... :-)

And regarding Lauren's article/survey, there will always be mild pollutants at home. But that is why people got into housecleaning. I understand that there are some cleaning solutions that are toxic, but there is always clean fresh air from the outside. Here in the states, people sometimes are fearful of opening the windows (I have a tenant that has not opened her windows or blinds in 8 months, I have friends who live in AC units, that don't even know how cold or hot is outside) how can someone live without FRESH air? And the quality of air is so much better here than in some European big cities. I say; lower the use of ac-s in the US. Breath FRESH clean air.