County health departments: Many counties have staff who provide technical assistance and make referrals for indoor air quality problems.
N.C. DEHNR - Environmental Epidemiology Section (Cooper Bldg., 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh 27603-5902; 919/733-3410): The main state agency for advice on identifying and alleviating indoor air quality problems. Distributes EPA publications and journal articles (including the booklets described in the EPA entry below). Refers individuals to contractors who specialize in using environmentally safe materials and alleviating indoor air quality problems.
Eco Search (P.O. Box 13424, Research Triangle Park 27709; 919/549-7645): A consulting business which helps people locate environmentally safe building materials, handle household pollution, and use alternative pest control methods. Can assist environmentally/chemically sensitive individuals.
SunShares (1215 Briggs Ave., Ste. 100, Durham 27703; 919/596-1870): Focuses on the Durham area. Helps people make their homes, churches, and daycare centers more environmentally sound. Conducts workshops, environmental audits, and installations at volunteer sites and then assists individuals in carrying out recommendations (which can be applied to other buildings). Recomendations cover indoor air pollution and other topics.
U.S. EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (IAQ Info.) (P.O. Box 37133, Washington, DC 20013-7133; 800/438-4318; fax 301/588-3408):A hotline which provides information on identifying and alleviating indoor air quality problems. Information specialists answer many questions; mail publications, a publications list, and bibliographies; and refer you to appropriate federal and N.C. government agencies, research, public interest, and private sector organizations. Major publications include Residential Air-Cleaning Devices: A Summary of Available Information and The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality.
A Consumer's Dictionary of Household, Yard, and Office Chemicals. By Ruth Winter. New York: Crown Publishers, 1992.
The Healthy Home: An Attic-to-Basement Guide to Toxic-Free Living. By Linda Mason Hunter. New York: Pocket Books, 1990.
Home Ecology: Simple and Practical Ways to Green Your Home. By Karen Christensen. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing, 1990.
The Natural House Book: Creating a Healthy, Harmonious, and Ecologically-Sound Home Environment. By David Pearson. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989.
The Nontoxic Home and Office: Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Everyday Toxics and Health Hazards. Edited by Debra L. Dadd. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher Press, 1992.