For home items, my strategy is to try to purchase products containing as much natural content as possible. Solid woods as opposed to particle board or MDF, natural fiber rugs if possible, avoid scented products and harsh cleaners. However, even this isn't fool proof. During a recent carpentry project I discovered that some softwoods outgas these compounds as well.
In my case, VOC sensitivity seems to be the result of cumulative exposure: On a large architectural project I spent many weeks inside a buttoned up building that was being painted. Came down with severe respiratory symptoms that resembled a bad flu. Eventually I recovered but ten years on I'm sensitive as a canary to the stuff.
I recommend that folks work in a well ventilated area or use a charcoal filter respirator when using anything having significant fumes. Even small doses of these chemicals are probably worth avoiding.
I have sold short stocks in the past that I have believed were fraudulent (and they always eventually went to zero, although riding them there can be a challenge).
But I think your story represents the best example I've ever seen of how short sellers have an incentive to add information to a market, and how this can make participants better off.
I became quite sick by the end of the week. In retrospect, the outgassing from that chip board did quite a number on me.
I have no difficulty at all believing people who put in manufactured materials and end up sick. E.g. also the Chinese drywall scandal that became prominent a few years ago.
I regret that "cheap" has so permeated our culture that avoiding it has become a marginal market with correspondingly elevated prices.
And even when you pay more, today it's not a guarantee that the basic materials involved will be higher quality. Lots of McMansions stuffed full of such stuff. I watched one go up a few years ago across from my parent's place, and despite the tony location and price, they didn't do the exterior correctly. We're waiting for the water issues to manifest.
I assumed we had a mold problem, but those test recently came up negative.
I should note I have the least issues, but I spend the least amount of time at home.
Here's a pic: http://i.imgur.com/vF4zo56.jpg
Sorry you had to deal with that. I worked with some formaldehyde containing (out gassing) material once. It was not fun. After I started developing nose bleeds we got that crap out of our lab and started using masks around it.
My whole family has been struggling with health issues that coincide with when I put these floors down. I have a Chihuahua that has developed terrible sinus problems, my 6 year old son is having sinus and cough issues and my wife has breathing problem in our home.
I'm not 100% sure it's from these floors and/or the glue I bought from them, but it's a fact our health tanked a few months after the floors went down. We've been struggling to find a cause that makes sense and this seem to be the only plausible thing.
I guess in a couple months I'll know for sure assuming our health improves. If it turns out to be the case, I will be extremely grateful to this blogger. I don't care if he made money, this information could be helping my family's health.