Several years ago we moved out of our home and into our barn because the indoor air quality was making us sick. We lived in our barn for almost 3 years while we pratcticly gutted our home, removing all the fiberglass we could find, including from behind the walls. It was not until we moved back in with most everything cleaned up was I able to pin point some overlooked things. Our kitchen linoleum floor being a huge source. The floor has glass fibers in it that emit the volatile organic compound (VOC) benzene and phthalates, a semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC), which I believe are causing my reactions.
Ever since Spencer was a puppy he did not like coming into the kitchen. He never wanted to walk on the floor. He usually stands at the doorway. He would only come a few steps in and never hung out long. We thought he was just aloof and afraid of slipping.
Walking across my linoleum kitchen floor with shoes on makes my feet go numb. If I stay long enough they will begin to hurt. If I walk on the floor barefoot the bottoms of my feet immediately go numb with a burn type feeling. My foot pain is not new, I just never considered the cause was the materials of my shoes or my own floor. So I stand on wooden furniture to do the dishes as much as possible.
My dog Mia wondering what mommy is doing up on the bench.
I realized a few days later that when I slide my wooden bench across the floor the air got suddenly bad. Like a chest burn. My eyes seemed dried and itchy, my back itched and my hands swelled up. The left hand swelling up the worst.
My hand after spending time in the kitchen.
When I realized the sevarity of the situation I started keeping the other dogs out of the kitchen.
I lined up wooden chairs so I could walk across them. I’m waiting for chemical-free shoes to be delivered.
I’ve been walking around all day with these all natural shoes on and my feet felt good. I came home from work and was in the kitchen doing dishes and feeding the dogs. Suddenly my feet started to hurt with sharp pain from my big toe down to the center of my foot. It hurt to walk. My teeth felt loose from sinus pressure. When I took off my shoes I realized my big toes were both numb.
I have been changing my lifestyle, going as chemical-free as possible. Not an easy task. This clean up process is going to take a lot of time. A new wooden kitchen floor is on the list.