Is it healthier to live in a new or an old house

asks Mayastar:
A. There are unhealthy aspects to both old and new buildings, but recent research has highlighted the particular problems of new buildings.

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Q. What are they
A. Studies in Australia and Britain have found high levels of toxic chemicals leaking from furniture, floors and paints in newly-built houses. They can cause headaches, skin irritation, nausea and even cancer.

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Q. How bad is it
A. The Australian study found that homes in Melbourne under a year old had up to 20 times the recommended safety limit of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In England,�one in 20 homes under a year old have levels at least twice that of the Australian limit of 500 micrograms per cubic metre.

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The British study was carried out by the Building Research Establishment, which found that levels of VOCs in homes less than a year old were twice as high as in homes built�ten�years ago. At the moment, there isn't a safety limit for the compounds in Britain.

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Q. What are the health risks to those in new houses
A. According to Jeff Llewellyn, the Building Research Establishment's indoor air pollution expert, the chemicals aren't likely to pose a serious threat to most people's health. However, they could lead to headaches and badly affect a small group of especially sensitive individuals.
Other experts believe that the chemicals include substances thought to disrupt hormone levels and damage the immune system.

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Q. Sounds like it might be safer outdoors!
A. You may be right. Dr Jean Monro, a medical director at the Breakspear Hospital for Allergy and Environmental Medicine, claims that indoor pollution is now a much greater problem than outdoor pollution.

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Old v new

• New houses have high levels of volatile organic compounds on freshly painted surfaces. You should ventilate the house daily, and opt for low-odour paints, which have less VOCs. (To find solvent-free paints and varnishes click here)
• Old houses may have lead-based paints. Get rid of them with chemical paint strippers - not by sanding or burning off.
• New houses will usually have chipboard in flooring or�kitchen units, which contains formaldehyde. You need good ventilation to prevent a build-up of fumes.
• Old houses may have damp, dry rot or condensation, all of which can make you ill. Get expert advice to solve these problems.
• New carpets contain styrene. Again, you need good daily ventilation to prevent a build-up of fumes.
• Old houses can have asbestos-lined walls. Contact your local environmental health officer for help.

Do you have something to say about healthy houses Post your opinion here

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By Sheena Miller