Q. Is there a safer alternative to Portland cement. We're building a new house and recently heard about it contributing to air quality issues unless the basement is  finished.

There is such a thing as 'Ceramic Cement' that uses Magnesium Oxide. It's based on the cement used before Portland cement and is considered to provide a 'friendlier', more breathable environment by baubiologists. 

Q. Why do I get  a sore throat every time I get into my car? (E.B. Galveston, Texas)

Have you checked the air conditioner for mold, or used a valet service that left chemical residues in the carpets and upholstery? Are you trying a new air freshener?

Some things to try include: rinsing the carpets and upholstery with a gallon of water and 1/2 cup vinegar (helps release the detergent form the fibres), checking the air conditioner for mold, running the ventilation system without the air conditioner for a minute before you park and opening a back window a little to draw any bad air out of the car. A negative ion generator may also help.

Q. There's a moldy smell coming from my basement shower. I've scrubbed and scrubbed but it still smells.

The smell may well be coming from under the shower. Often when showers are installed in basements a hole is left from the rough in. If the shower leaks then the water collects in the hole and eventually becomes a mold farm.

Q. The wall in my son's cupboard is black with mold.

Yuck! that doesn't sound good. Your son probably shouldn't sleep in there until the mold's been dealt with. This link http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcleanup.html will take you to a website that explains how to deal with mold. Basically you want to remove it, deal with the source of the humidity and then find a way to keep it dry, light and ventilated.

 Q. I'm pretty sure that there's mold in my house, I can smell it but I can't find it.

You may need to get your heating ducts checked. Sometimes the condensation in the ducts can provide enough moisture for ever present mold spores to gain a foothold and multiply. 

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Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace the advice of a well chosen medical doctor.