The late 70's gave birth to terms like clinical ecology, sick building syndrome, ergonomics, and environmental medicine. After eons of evolution from the cave to the farm to the energy efficient, hermetically sealed homes and office buildings of today, we have created an entirely new vocabulary of diseases. The increase in allergies, asthma, hay fever, migraines, chemical sensitivities, chronic fatique syndrome, and various new viral maladies point to the growing problem of compromised immune systems. We are all facing a crisis in our collective health and a groundswell of potential solutions are beginning to emerge. William Rhea, M.D. was one of our first pioneers who decided to isolate those individuals who claimed they were getting sick from "something" in their homes. At his practice in North Dallas,Texas, Dr. Rhea created a variety of austere rooms in which to discover those particular environmental stimuli that may have been the culprits. He found that some patients were extremely sensitive to the "outgassing" of certain chemically treated woods and paints. Others were suffering from light deprivation, and most to mold, mildew, and spores that were introduced. What was causing this growing population of victims who were becoming refugees from their own homes? Have we all strayed too far from those natural remedies to the cabin fever we have all experienced?
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Let's take a look at some corrective measures to ensure our own sustainability in this rapidly increasing age of environmental hazards, where technology may save us from itself. Newly understood parameters of our indoor air quality, proper natural lighting breakthroughs, and some intriquing twists with the latest water treatment systems are upon us. Natural Building materials are growing in popularity as increased knowledege of their health benefits are surfacing.
Most of us have taken the air we breathe for granted until recent years when we have experienced entire office buildings needing to be emptied and some destroyed due to "something in the air". Formaldehyde insulation, radioactive cement, asbestos, Legionnaires disease and many other molds, mildews and viruses, and radon, to name a few. In the move to make our homes `energy efficient', we forgot about the energy efficiency of its occupants.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) has undergone a renaissance in recent years due to the increase of man-made building materials and the growing incidence of health related complaints. Air filtration and treatment systems have improved greatly.
The use of electrostatic air cleaners as a means to reduce dust by over 90% have come a long way since the old technique of using the fiberglass filter method which could only reduce dust by 40 to 50%. Electrostatics work on the principle that when a positive charge (dust) meets a negative charge (electrons) it is either trapped or neutralized and carried to the nearest surface area. Some HVAC systems use the type that have thin negatively charged piano-like wires which are suspended above a series of positively charged plates. When the dust builds up on the wires to a sufficient degree, a slight crackeling sound is heard and the accumulated dust is thrust to the collection plate. The homeowner then removes this precipitator and cleans it by soaking it in hot water and liquid dishwasher detergent, rinsing it, and putting it back for another month or so of effective filtration. Another form of electrostatic precipitator looks like a regular furnace filter, but has a unique combination of honeycomb-like cells that respond to air movement through them, creating a static charge that does an excellant job of trapping particles down to .05 microns. (a human hair is about 5 microns thick) Most allergy specialists recommend this type as best for dust.
Activated oxygen systems are the newest entry into the homeowners' indoor air quality arena. These systems have not been without their critics, however. They include negative ion, ozone, and ultraviolet air treatment devices. Athough hospitals, bars, restaurants, casinos, and spas have addressed their stale, smoky, and often bacteria-filled air with these true air "fresheners" for many years, some believe that they may be harmful to human health. When the level of active oxygen is too high, one may experience a dryness and irritation of mucous membranes and perhaps a detoxifying headache, but when this technology is employed properly, it can put the "life" back into stale, dead air. Ionized, ozonated oxygen is probably the most important aspect nof fresh air. Nature has always created these essential ingredients in a perfect balance to one another.
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The latest advance with this aspect of energizing the air is the creation of ozonators that produce no irritating nitrous oxides. Most detractors of ozone and its new cousin , Aran (higher allotropic forms of oxygen, O4, O5, etc.) have based their opinions on research which employed the older, harmful alternating current (AC) technology not as well suited to human environments. The positive charge could create harmful levels of nitrous oxide compounds. However, the new ozone technology is using only the beneficial negative charge. 80% of the air we breathe is negatively charged nitrogen, 19% is oxygen, and the rest is carbon-dioxide and the noble gasses. The choice of using these new devices for enlivening your indoor air should be approached carefully to make sure they are sized to the space in which they are used. You will definitely feel more alert and energetic when you experience these machines. Many companies are now making these available for cars, boats, and airplanes. Their most effective applicat
ions are for oxidizing mold, mildew, spores, dust mite feces, and volatile organic compounds (VOC's). Air "conditioning" is really a misnomer and should be called air cooling. Herein lies the cause of many of today's indoor epidemics. In our need to be comfortable in hot weather, we have sacrificed our total well being. The solution to bacteria and mold-filled ductwork used to be chemical treatment. The new activated oxygen systems have proven themselves to be much healthier alternative.
Every living plant and animal has evolved under natural sunlight for most of their history, having adjusted their biological rhythms and activities under its full spectrum radiation. It is only in the last hundred years that mankind has moved almost entirely indoors. We now have a higher incidence of skin cancer than ever before. Many believe this is caused by excessive exposure to the sun. With todays modern lifestyles and our 9-5 jobs, we are getting less "daily" exposure to its health promoting frequencies and colors. This, coupled with less oxygen on the planet and thereby less protective ozone to shield us from the harmful short wave ultraviolet may be part of the problem. Shorter exposures on a daily basis in order to build up our protective melanin would be preferred.
Dr.Richard Wurtman, eminent endrocrinologist from the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, once coined the term, "malillumination", to describe the lack of the necessary spectral range required for the skin and the retina. Malnutrition is caused by a limited palette of colors on our dining room tables. He found that each frequency had a very specific job to accomplish. Light, when mediated by the eye and specifically the retina, sends signals to the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands. These signals regulate many of the body's functions which affect digestion, nutrient absorption, and immunity to infection and disease. The sun gives the kind of ultraviolet (UV) light that promotes general health and well being. Vitamin D is created when sunlight interacts with our skin. In turn, this promotes calcium utilization in our bones and a regulation of our pH or acid / alkaline balance. When designing your interior lighting, remember that light has more purpose than just being bright enough to see what you are doing. Studies have shown that students had better academic performance with less fatique, reduced colds and flu, and better visual acuity when working under full-spectrum light sources. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is the condition many people experience in the winter months from lack of light. It is appropriately named due to the depression that can ensue.
Natural sunlight is the best source for all of our activities, even if it is indirect. In addition to creating traditional skylights, a new and popular technique is the creation of "light tubes". This is accomplished by cutting a hole in your roof, extending a tube down to your ceiling level above your favorite chair. One company sells a system which includes a solar tracking mirror that directs sunlight down this tube all day long! The Japanese have a similar technology which uses fiber-optics in their office buildings, directing sunlight to windowless rooms via "lightbars" recessed under a counter above the workers' desks. Only cloudy days could take the joy out of this innovative application.
The next preferred form of illumination is the full-spectrum fluorescent light. The newest version of this is the T-8 tube (thinner diameter). It has a high frequency electronic ballast which eliminates the "flicker factor" and reduces the electromagnetic radiation to almost indetectable levels. For those who have always had an aversion to any fluorescent light source, this is pleasing to the eye, creates better moods, and most closely mimics real sunlight. In additon, these bulbs use less energy and give more light. Portable "light boxes" employing this concept have become very popular.
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Incandescent lighting usually has an excess of yellow due to the frequency emitted by the tungsten filament. In the past, our only choice to rectify this narrow, somewhat tiring frequency was to purchase blue-tinted plant lights. The latest progression uses the rare earth metal, neodymium, which is incorporated into the glass. It acts both as a filter, to tone down the yellow, and like a prism, to enhance the reds and blues. This light, sometimes referred to as color- corrected, is the best in the world of incandescent, affecting visual acuity while dramatically bringing out the color in fabrics and artwork. Beauty salons, makeup counters, museums, and even actors' dressing room mirrors are using this light for its many benefits. If you can't find these lights or don't have control over your lighting requirements, try to spend at least 15 minutes per day under natural outdoor sunlight. Scientists agree that exposing approximately 19 square inches of your skin (face and hands) is usually sufficient to create enough Vitamin D for your daily needs.
It has been clearly established that our choice of building materials can determine our road to wellness or a lifetime of immune-taxing fatique. Most new construction has eliminated formeldehyde insulation and other previously used carcinogenic paints and glues.
Carpeting now comes with environmentally safe labeling. Choose a low pile version to avoid dustmite housing and their attendant bacteria. Try to determine which kind of vacuum cleaner could best assist your carpet choice. Many now have Hepa-filters and some use water to filter the dust.
New standards for environmentally acceptable products are constantly being revised. Many communities have watchdog groups that will guide you in making the most intelligent and informed decisions when building or remodeling. Search your library or the internet and you will find many helpful suggestions. The Natural Building Network, The Natural House Catalog, and Bau-Biologe are a few familiar places to look for answers. In addition, I recommend all the books by Debra Dadd and Carol Venolia. Both of these women have contributed greatly to the growing body of knowledge of both creating healthy environments as well as using proper non-toxic cleaning materials, many of these are common household items like baking soda and vinegar. Stores and catalogs are now offering allergy-free paints, glues and cleaning solvents.
Think for a moment of the homeowners of a century ago and the home furnishings they had available. All natural wood and fiber were their only choice. Most furniture today is pressboard with a thin veneer of real identifiable wood. When you purchase your bedroom set, check with the manufacturer to make certain the glue and material is safe. Get close to it and smell for irritating odors because you will be spending one third of your life in the vicinity.
Since the introduction of synthetic fibers and fabrics, a wide range of health conditions have accelerated; skin diseases, sleep difficulties, stressed adrenals, fungus infections, and chronic fatique to name a few. Polyester, even in combined blends, can limit the ability of active negatively charged oxygen to be absorbed by the skin. This is especially true when it comes to bedding. Sheets, blankets, and comforters must breathe and the slightly positive static charge created by the man-made material causes an excess of positive ions to build up near our bodies. The skin is our largest organ and needs fresh air at all times. Natural fabrics have a neutral charge, allowing our bodies to breathe more efficiently. The late Dr. Albert Kreuger, professor emeritus at U.C. Berkeley's School of Public Health found that excessive positive ions cause the body to increase the production of adrenalin, which doesn't bode well for a good night's sleep. Try to use cotton and wool whenever possible. Other fibers made by nature include silk from the worms, rayon from our trees, hemp from the cannibis plant, and a new mineral fiber that is being made from clay. Remember when choosing curtains for your windows or coverings for your couch that natural fiber doesn't attract as much dust.
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We all can't live next to a bubbling mountain stream so when it comes to water, we try to make the best available to our loved ones. Home water treatment has become big business and it is a great responsiblity to choose the correct system for your needs. Reverse osmosis, distillation, carbon, ceramic, pH adjusting, and the new kid on the block, electrolysis, provide a few choices. The best system for your home requires a water consultant who understands your incoming water source; Its hardness, degree of acidity or alkalinity (pH), chemical components, and other factors that will determine the best combination for your drinking, cooking, and washing requirements. As you would do with your medical status, always seek a second opinion when it comes to a substance that makes up over 70% of your body weight. Clean, good tasting , pH balanced water can keep us in good health and is nature's remedy for a wide range of conditions.
A short article like this can only touch upon the many questions we all have for our indoor well being. One area gaining attention is that of "electric allergies," those reactions to electromagnetic fields from our appliances, computers, and transformers. These can all give off magnetic frequencies that may disturb normal metabolism and even our moods. There are many meters designed to detect these fields and you should make sure that they will give readings down to at least 1 millegauss. Generally, fields below this level are considered safe. A good rule of thumb is to maintain a distance of 1 1/2 to 2 feet from your computers, clocks, radios, and televisions.
The decisions we make today for our personal living and working environments will have long range effects on our health and well being for many years to come. Always consult those experts in each field we have discussed who will give you the information best suited to your specific needs. We all desire and deserve a healthy and natural home.
Jim Karnstedt is writer, lecturer, researcher, whose main interests lie in the area of environmental health and nutrition. He can be reached at The Ion & Light Company (800) 426-1110 FAX:(415)346-0529 • e-mail: jim@ionlight.com • web: www.ionlight.com