Households from around Australia were offered the chance to put their homes under the microscope. Now you can follow our team of expert scientists as they uncover the toxic time bombs lurking in ordinary homes. Along the way they expose lots of hidden menaces, including mould, pesticides, solvents, deodorizers, cleansers, paint, glues, ducted air-conditioners and heater fumes.
The Hatfield House
"It's not all in your head"
To an outsider, the Hatfields would appear to be the perfect Queensland family. Suntanned, popular, attractive and outgoing, this busy family is heavily involved in their semi-rural local community. But something is seriously wrong. The Hatfields are very sick.
The Kempler House
"Mother knows best"
Ilana Kempler redesigned many of the contemporary features in her immaculate villa in Melbourne equipped with all the mod cons and large entertaining areas. She believes that dust triggers her asthma, and is a self-confessed ‘clean freak', but despite all her efforts the dust keeps coming back within hours of turning on the ducted air conditioning system. But it's not always what you can see which is the problem, the invisible indoor air can be harmful too.
The Walton House
"Fortress Walton"
On a whim, ex-army photographer Kevin Walton and his wife Sarah sold their newly self-renovated house in Bristol and told their 8 year-old daughter Joely to pack her bags for a year long road trip across Australia. With a swimming pool and lush tropical surrounds, the home was way beyond anything the Walton's could afford back home. And the whole family lapped up the Australian outdoors lifestyle. But Kevin now feels that the house is killing him!
The Edler House
"The Emergency Episode"
Bronwyn and Brian Edler chose their home for its tranquil location in the outskirts of Sydney. Surrounded by gum trees in a quiet neighbourhood, it seemed the ideal place to raise their two young sons, Nathan, 2, and Sebastian, 9 months. Little do they know the extent of the mould in their house and the insidious effect it is having on their ill health.
The Moore House
"The Hunt for Asthma Triggers"
In winter Trenna and Steve Moore play with their three young boys in a large family room heated by an un-flued gas heater, but after one son was hospitalized with asthma, they discover several toxic time bombs in their home.
The Adiguzel-Bekir House
"Not Our Safe Haven"
Arzu and Ismail Adiguzel-Bekir live in suburban Melbourne in a vibrant, multi-cultural community. It was important for them when choosing their home three years ago that it have a backyard and room for their young children, Ela, 3 and Taha, 1, to play. However, Arzu, a cancer nurse, worries that her home is a toxic time-bomb for her children.
The Gammon House
"The Baby Safe Renovation"
Parents-to-be Hanna and Jock are renovating their two bedroom Sydney bungalow. Even before birth, their child has been exposed to hundreds of chemical compounds, many of which could harm their child's health and development.
