My House Is Killing Me!: The Home Guide for Families with Allergies and Asthma »

Jeffrey C. May Jeffrey C. May's is principal scientist at May Indoor Air Investigations LLC, in Cambridge, Massachusetts and specializes in identifying the causes of mold, odor, and moisture problems in homes, schools, and offices. He lectures nationally on indoor air quality and is the author of two other books published by the Johns Hopkins University Press.

It'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 live and die, producing new generations every few months. 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!"Scrutinizing house dust and air samples with a microscope, indoor air quality expert Jeffrey C. May has spent his career helping people identify what's causing their chronic health problems. In My House Is Killing Me! he draws on the dramatic personal stories of his clients' suffering and relief to help readers understand the links between environmental factors and problems like allergies and asthma. Explaining how air conditioning, finished basements, and other home features affect air quality, he offers a step-by-step approach to identifying, controlling, and often eliminating the sources of indoor pollutants and allergens. If we could see this contamination, May observes, the air would look as murky as stagnant water, and we would know not to breathe it. Reading My House Is Killing Me! lets you see your house the way an expert would. Just as he looks at spaces and systems during an indoor air quality investigation, May focuses first on the areas of daily life (bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen), then looks into attics and basements (including heating and air conditioning), and finally moves outside to the garage and the exterior of a home. Along with offering a wealth of practical advice and proven solutions for various problems, he includes a glossary of terms and a list of valuable resources.

Author Biography: Jeffrey C. May is president of J. May Home Inspections, Inc., which conducts indoor environmental surveys of homes, schools, and offices. He is a co-author of Spaceship Earth Physical Science and frequently writes, lectures, and teaches on the subjects of air quality and home buying.

Frank J. Twarog

With a sharp increase in the incidence of asthma, respiratory allergies and other respiratory allergy symptoms, the need for clear information regarding environmental triggers is crucial. This guide provides in a very organized fashion sources of not only allergic but also irritant and toxic exposures in the home environment. This text together with the author's extensive experience in evaluating homes for risks provides patients and parents with respiratory problems, an invaluable resource to begin addressing some of their concerns and investigating possible causes for symptoms. Considering much of the misinformation provided in the lay press, it is reassuring to find a resource to which I can direct my patients for practical and reliable information!