Chapters

Is Your House Making You Sick contains the following chapters:

1. First Steps — “How can I determine if I have a mold problem?”
2. Surface Mold — “Is it okay to use bleach to remove mold? How can I remove surface mold safely?”
3. Water Intrusion — “Our basement has flooded. How can we avoid a toxic situation.”
4. Mold Remediation — “How do I safely remediate my home?”
5. Cross-Contamination — “If we have mold, does it mean we will have to leave our home and all of our possessions?”
6. Medical Testing — “What kind of medical testing can be done to determine if mold is doing us harm?”
7. Detoxing — “How do I recover from a toxic mold exposure?”
8. When Others Don’t Understand — “What if my spouse, friend, or family member thinks I’m crazy for thinking mold can make people sick?”
9. Legal Recourse — “Where can I find legal help?”
10. Your Next Home — “What are some guidelines I can follow for buying or renting a home?”
11. Hope After Mold — “Is there life after a serious mold exposure?”
12. Appendix A: Our Family’s Story — “A Timeline of Events”
13. Appendix B: Resources —  Websites, Books, Mold Testing, Medical, Detoxing, Legal.

Specific Topics, Answers, Opinions Touched on By Author

• How/whether mold affects women specifically. (p. 5, 50)
• Inexpensive equipment for self-testing one’s home for mold. (p. 7)
• Interpreting mold test results, including ERMI, and HERTSMI. (p. 10)
• The affect of bleach on mold and whether to use it. Why or why not. (p. 15)
• Alternatives to bleach. (p. 16)
• The use of ozone in mold remediation, indoor air quality concerns. (p. 27)
• Differences and similarities between dust and mold. (p. 29)
• mVOCS, or microbial volatile organic compounds. (p. 32 and others)
• What can and can not likely be salvaged and cleaned after mold remediation. (p. 34)
• Pets falling ill to mold. (p. 67, 76)
• Mold remediation scams. (p. 68)
• Affect of mold on sleep (personal insights). (p. 70)

Experts

The following doctors and experts are referenced, quoted or referred to by the author:

• Dr. Jack Thrasher is mentioned and quoted.
• Dr. Michael Gray is mentioned and quoted.
• Dr. Lisa Nagy
• Dr. Datis Kharrazian (Author, “Why Isn’t My Brain Working?“)
• Dr. Joseph Mercola
• Dr. Janette Hope
• Dr. Martin Blank

Quotes

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Summary

Great book. Well worth buying and reading.

The author does a great job of clearly, simply, and concisely sharing many of the most important facts, warning signs, and solutions surrounding toxic mold at home.

The book’s length and the author’s clarity of thought make it easily readable: It’s neither so technical as to prohibit understanding, nor so casual as to lack credibility. Experts and studies are cited in text and in back matter. The author is also herself a building biologist, and personally experienced what she writes about—dramatically so.

The Appendix alone is worth the price of the book—since so many will so easily relate to the many life-altering symptoms of toxic mold exposure that the author shares about many members of her family.

(Or not relate at all, and thus know to look elsewhere or that mold may not be their problem.)

Is Your House Making You Sick? is a great first resource for anyone who suspects their home or health might be affected by a mold problem.

Chapters 7 and 9, on Detoxing and Legal Recourse, could be considered primers on these topics, but combined with the resources listed in Appendix B and the work the author continues on her website, are very helpful.

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