Question from Jay
Dear Debra
I’ve been a fan of your radio show ever since I experienced the following problem. And I was wondering what advise you could give with regards to a nightmare situation in my apartment.
Nine months ago I bought a PowerTec LeverGym (made in www.deathbychina.com of course….) that started “off gassing” something nasty from the painted metal, soon after it was erected. It damaged my lungs to the point that I had to see a respiratory consultant.
I vacated the property for eight months whilst trying to wrestle a refund and collection from the company, to no avail so far. Because this is going on longer than expected I took it apart last month, sealed the segments in polyurethane and put it in a friend’s well aired garage at the bottom of his garden. But the biggest nightmare is that whatever that chemical is, it seems to have permeated everthing, and the toxic gas is still present even a month after its been removed, even after scrubbing and washing all the floors, walls and ceilings down!
It burns my lungs and throat and gives me a headache when I go in there even now. I’m thinking it’ll never disappear, and I can’t just move home that easily. Do you have any idea what that damn chemical weapon is (I’ve searched everywhere on the internet to no avail) and what I could possibly do to remove it completely?
Regards,
Jay
Debra’s Answer
I don’t know what the chemical is, but the standard thing to do is bake it out.
debralynndadd.com/q-a/instructions-to-bake-out-toxic-fumes
If this doesn’t work, painting over it might work.
Readers take heed. Don’t bring things that outgass into your home.
