The basic rules are as follows: 1 Old patterned wallpaper can be painted over, but it should be wiped clean with a sponge and soapy water first. SLAPPING A COUPLE of coats of emulsion on the walls is probably the quickest kind of decorating, and a cheap way of brightening up a room. It explains why some sensitised patients react to levels of chemicals so low that they are undetectable by the usual laboratory testing methods. This means that their symptoms baffle doctors who, unable to diagnose a classic cause-and-effect illness, conclude that the illness must be a mental problem. Indeed, studies have shown that women who complain about headaches, skin rashes and breathing problems after exposure to timber treatment chemicals are often prescribed tranquillisers, or sent for counselling.(Men, who most doctors seem to think must be more emotionally stable, are more likely to be diagnosed as suffering from a viral infection when they report the same set of symptoms.)In the light of Professor Ashford's startling theory, we can only hope that the HSE acts fast to commission some research into the health effects of pesticides in the home, and that they also act on his call to cut pesticide use until the answers are known.Above all, let's hope that, unlike the lead and asbestos problems, this time it won't be several decades before the right decisions are taken.Jeff doctoronthehouse demon.co.uk.

Professor Nicholas Ashford, a UN health advisor, said that permethrin - sprayed in around 5,000 British homes a week as a woodworm treatment - may be responsible for initiating the illness known as multiple chemical sensitivity, which causes sufferers to become affected by exposure to tiny amounts of other common substances, such as perfume, traffic fumes and tobacco smoke.Professor Ashford introduced a new theory of the illness, which he calls Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance. Doubts were first expressed about lead paint while Queen Victoria was on the throne, but it took until 1992 for it to be banned in Britain.And now the HSE in London has been told that common pesticides probably represent the most serious environmental problem in the industrialised world. MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is also suspected of being more dangerous than previously thought.Unfortunately, exposure to these materials can be more dangerous within the home than at work - because the home is a closed environment, and also the place where children spend most of their time.The sad thing about these dangerous materials is that it takes such a long time to get them recognised as hazardous, and for action to be taken to protect the public. ASBESTOS, lead, pesticides - who will protect us from these hazards? This week's decision by the Health and Safety Executive to tighten the restrictions on white asbestos should act as a reminder that many building materials, previously thought to be safe, later turn out to be serious health hazards.

The more dangerous blue and brown types of asbestos have been banned since 1985, but the white version, present in many buildings in the form of asbestos cement sheets, corrugated roofing and textured paints, was not thought to be dangerous. Now research has found that it, too, can cause lung diseases and cancer, the effects perhaps only emerging 40 years after initial contact.Other materials which were once thought to be safe include lead in paint and water pipes, and white spirit. As Chelsea's manager, Gianluca Vialli, said, "We did quite well but we have to think about what we did not do very well We have to slow down a bit.". Of the five bookings issued by Uriah Rennie, three were for diving and one for wasting time. Hooray for him.All that remained for Newcastle was to keep their heads and hold out for a draw they merited This they did without much bother. Then Zola himself was shown the yellow card for trying too flamboyantly to win a penalty.

Next time in action, Given needed to work much harder altogether, diving to pull off a brilliant stop from Zola.When Solano was brought on for Andersson after 66 minutes Newcastle immediately looked a more positive and dangerous outfit. Solano promptly gave Shearer the best pass he had had all day, along the ground and with time to take aim. The ball came back off De Goey's right-hand upright and into the goalkeeper's grateful arms.Things looked ominous for Newcastle when Chelsea won a free-kick right in front of goal and just outside the area, but before Zola's shot was blocked by the wall, Leboeuf had gone into the referee's book for wasting time. A punt was headed on by Shearer and Andersson surprisingly bulldozed his way past Duberry to find the far corner of the net.Di Matteo brought a fine diving stop from Given as Chelsea began the second half with more urgency. However, Newcastle's workmanlike defence was their salvation, with Pearce outstanding in repelling Chelsea's urgent attempts to find another goal.Dan Petrescu, on for Le Saux after an hour, immediately found Poyet with a perfect centre, only for the ball to go unerringly into Given's midriff again. Shearer sliced one attempt across the face of goal, then from a corner Andersson caused some confusion in the Chelsea six-yard box.A couple of Pearce trademark tackles halted Casiraghi and Zola as Chelsea began to make serious inroads but the next goal came at the other end just before the interval.

Inevitably, Zola was behind the goal, feeding Poyet whose shot was blocked on the line by Pearce, only for the jubilant Babayaro to volley the loose ball home decisively, his first for the club.Chelsea were soon celebrating what they thought was a second as Pierluigi Casiraghi, exchanging passes with Zola, flicked the ball over Given's head, but he was "given" too - offside.Newcastle's chief, indeed, only ploy was to get the ball up to Shearer and Andersson, who was generally well policed by Duberry. France's World Cup winner Marcel Desailly, welcomed with a huge roar, operated in the space just in front of Chelsea's back four. He got swift indication of what life in the Premiership will be like, passing to Duberry and moving into position for the return, only to see his new colleague hoof the ball upfield.The industry and neat footwork of Zola were the highlights of Chelsea's pressure as they gradually built a momentum, and he provided his compatriot Roberto Di Matteo with a fine opening when he rode heavy challenges but Di Matteo shot straight into Shay Given's arms from the edge of the penalty area.Graeme Le Saux, along with Duberry the only English players in Chelsea's line-up, was almost as busy as Zola down the left. One fine cross just cleared Gustavo Poyet's leap and another was intercepted by Given's catch.As Newcastle struggled to put it together Alessandro Pistone collected a booking for diving under Di Matteo's challenge and while their followers were still loudly complaining about that decision, Chelsea went in front after 25 minutes. Their best operator was Gianfranco Zola, whose place has recently been in jeopardy with the influx of new signings.