Building Biology - Good Health Starts at Home
“Healthy home, healthy life.”
When talking about health, we often fail to consider our homes. For example, why do we wake up feeling tired after having a good night's rest? Why do the children always have allergic reactions? Why do we often get sick?
What is Building Biology?
Building Biology is the part of building science that studies how the quality and energy of a specific living space impact the dwellers' health. Building biologists examine the indoor living environment and consider outdoor environmental factors. They help identify biological hazards within a building to determine what is causing tenants to get sick and help improve health.
Here are some of the things building biologists check:
The cause of constant sneezing, coughing, or colds
Triggers and allergens for people with allergy and asthma, such as pollens, dust mites, mold, pet dander
What disturbs a good night's sleep?
Is the gutter filled with leaves, are the rooms clean, sheets washed regularly, is the place cluttered or airy?
Whether there are toxicants in the air from solvents, pesticides, fragrances, etc.
Electromagnetic fields and the effects of radiofrequency on the body
Whether the building gets adequately ventilated to avoid moisture issues
Building biologists also work with architects and engineers to make healthier homes in the indoor living environment. One of the primary considerations is the location of the building. Building biologists check if it's near coal mines, farms, golf courses, traffic pollutants, phone towers, high voltage power lines, geopathic lines (water lines), or a wind turbine because these can affect health.
For older homes, they check the building history. (1) In Australia, homes built in 1945-1985 were high in asbestos, and paint had high lead content. In the 1980s, synthetic pesticides were sprayed under home slabs to prevent termites, mosquitos, and other insects from breeding.
Meanwhile, newer homes are more prone to mold issues due to condensation as windows are better insulated. Radio-frequency from wireless technology reflects on metal materials and continuously bounces around in the house. It is said to affect the circadian rhythm, hormones, and immune response of the body.
Green Biology vs. Building Biology
It is easy to confuse them, yet there is a stark difference between the two fields. While Building Biology evaluates the hazards within a built environment, Green Biology focuses on constructing buildings with sustainability in mind. As a result, green buildings feature energy-efficient materials and materials that have little to zero impact on the environment..
Photo by Minh Pham on Unsplash
What Makes a Healthy Building?
In 2017, the Harvard School of Public Health shared the nine foundations of a health building. These are:
Air Air Quality – Low-chemical emissions from materials and furnishings; the presence of vapor barriers; stable humidity.
Ventilation – Filtering of outdoor air for nano-particles from traffic pollutants
Thermal Health – Keeping temperature and humidity consistent every day.
Moisture – Removing moisture sources and condensation spots.
Dust and Pets – Preventing dust and pet dander with thorough cleaning and vacuuming.
Safety and Security – Reducing stress in a building using safety and security precautions like installing CCTV cameras, having an emergency action plan, and following fire safety procedures
Water Quality – Preventing water stagnation in pipes; using water purification systems.
Noise – Controlling indoor noise and protection from outdoor noise; keeping noise below 35db.
Lightning and Views – Having exterior windows with enough lighting; getting as much natural daylight as possible.
Australian Building Biologist Kelly Abeleven adds two more to the list: electromagnetic field and site selection. (1) She says that any factor that impacts health should be part of the list. But, more importantly, she believes that constructing a building should be in harmony with nature, which happens during the planning stage. Right off the bat, this can eliminate health hazards in any indoor built environment.
Is mold a culprit?
One of the most common health hazards in a building is mold. Unfortunately, not everyone can develop antibodies for it. Therefore, it is imperative to discover moisture sources soonest to address mold problems early.
What causes mould? (2)
Condensation spots
Issues in the gutter, plumbing, moisture seeping into the building through the roof
A structure built above a watercourse or flood plain
Poor drainage
Garden beds near the house
Living in places where there's 70% relative humidity
Lack of water-proof barriers and subfloor ventilation
Uncured concrete slabs
Water-damaged timber
There are various possible causes of mold formation. With moisture, mold can thrive and continue spreading. Just 48 hours of water sitting on a surface can start producing mycotoxins and endotoxins that can adversely affect human health.
The impacts on health include:
Respiratory problems (lung damage) – concurrent coughing, colds, flu, hay fever, pneumonia, sinusitis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – being exhausted; brain fog, headache, sleep problems, fibromyalgia, inability to thermoregulate
Hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields
Increased thirst and urination – issues with the antidiuretic hormone that causes osmolality changes
Allergic reactions
Toxic poisoning
Watch Out for Toxins and Gases
There are toxins and chemicals around a home unknowingly affecting our health. Here's a quick list of what to watch out for (3):
Vehicle exhaust
Commercial cleaning products
Plastics and plastic baby bottles
Fake tan products
Household products with chemicals that disrupt hormones
Makeup and sunscreen
Pesticides
Non-stick cookware
Ideally, homeowners and tenants check for harmful gases like sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxides. So, what could be the cause of these gasses?
Faulty gas appliances can emit gases that cause drowsiness, headaches, fatigue, cough, colds, and asthma.
Vehicle exhaust emission; toxic fumes like carbon monoxide, black and elemental carbon, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide are detrimental to human health.
Unvented gas heaters can be the cause of humidity and condensation issues.
Wood combustion stoves can release harmful gases, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons that can cause cancer; affects both, the lungs and the heart.
What About Geographic Stress?
Geographic stress describes Earth's energy changes that arise and affect human health. The changes are either caused by humans or natural resources such as fault lines, changes in mineral concentrations, and underground cavities. As a result, we can experience weakened immune systems and poor health. Animals and plants are also affected by geographic stress.
Dowsing or geomancy is a way to locate geographic stress in a specific area. (4) Once geographic stress is taken care of, one can immediately feel a positive difference.
After a geographic stress balancing, tenants report better sleep and feel more comfortable in their homes. The energy is lighter and calmer, people feel better psychologically and emotionally. They feel happier at home and more positive in life, too.
A Happy Home To Support A Happy Life
We spend a reasonable amount of time at home, and we expect it to be our solace after a tiring day at work or school. However, the last thing we want is to go to a home where we feel uncomfortable and even more stressed. Learning more about Building Biology helps create more awareness of the possible origins of decreased well-being and recurring illnesses. Moreover, it gives us a new perspective on designing, planning, and building homes.
Contact me to find out about the health of your home to improve your overall health and well-being.
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