Lifestyle Choices

Cellars, Garages, Services

Oil tanks can leak vapors and integral garages can also create fumes which can permeate the whole house. Ideally, garages should be separate from the main house, but if this is not possible keep any doors and windows shut while warming up your car. Also make sure you keep your garage door open long enough to let out any exhaust fumes.

Look at the services coming into the building and check that there are no leaks or faulty joins. Lead pipes can poison the water as can soldered copper pipes. Metal paints can give off toxic fumes, so use natural paints for pipes, and plastic ones above ground.

Floor Coverings

Look at the types of floor coverings in your home. Wooden boards can give off resin vapors so it is best to use old or recycled wood and seal boards with a natural varnish or sealant. Vinyl and plastic floor coverings also emit vinyl chloride vapors and are environmentally harmful. Use linoleum which is a natural product, or stone or ceramic tiles, all of which are hardwearing and can be easily cleaned. Naturally sealedcork is a good floor- covering where warmth is needed.

If you have carpeting, make sure it is made from a natural material like wool, hessian, seagrass or coin Nylon and polyester carpets give off vapors and insecticides which we breathe in. The adhesive used in underlay can also give off vapors, so use a natural underlay made of cotton, hessian or linen.

Walls, Paints and Varnishes

If you are doing any internal alterations, make sure you use natural gypsum plasterboard and lime plaster. Both plaster and cement give off formaldehyde and radon which can be most harmful. Also check for any asbestos insulation as the fibers and dust can be highly toxic. If you do find any in your walls or ceiling, call in an expert to remove it.

All building materials, such as bricks, aggregate blocks, concrete and stone, have the potential to be contaminated with radium and radon, depending on the location of source. The best way to check for the prescence of these is by dowsing with a pendulum.

The walls of our home are its skin, through which it must breathe and eliminate any toxins to the outer surface. It cannot do this if non-porous paints have been used, and all the harmful vibrations are trapped within. Consequently, it is essential to use natural non-toxic paint when decorating. These are now widely available in an array of beautiful colors. Remember that paints, varnishes and stains give off toxic vapors, especially while drying, so make sure of good ventilation while the paint dries.

Heating and Kitchen Appliances

The fuels we use for heating and cooking can be exceedingly dangerous if levels of harmful by-products cannot escape from the home. If your home is well sealed, has little ventilation, non-porous paints and building materials, it can trap these toxic fumes.

Gas-heaters and water heaters can easily leak from pilot lights and produce toxic fumes. Check that these systems are vented well to the outside and serviced regularly.

Another common source of carbon monoxide fumes are those escaping from chimneys when wood or coal is burned. Get your chimney cleaned regularly and, if possible, install a sealed primary or secondary combustion stove which is both attractive, safe and environmentally friendly.

Gas cookers can also produce lethal amounts of carbon monoxide. They emit other harmful gases, too, such as carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide, reducing our ability to absorb oxygen causing headaches, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite and adversely affecting our respiratory system.

Refrigerators are the biggest contributors to chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFCs) which cause the breakdown of the delicate ozone layer around the earth. If you cannot afford a new low CFC model, try to use a smaller refrigerator and create a larder to keep your food fresh and cool.

Furniture and Furnishings

For many years foam filling was used in chairs, cushions, pillows and mattresses until it was realized what a serious fire hazard polyurethane presented. There are now many safer and more healthy alternatives.

Fabrics, too, can be hazardous if they have been treated with chemicals. Many have been colored with synthetic dye-stuff and the byproducts of the process contribute to ground and river pollution. Always check the labels of garments before purchasing and try to find unbleached fibers.

Household Products

Many household cleaners such as polish, bleach and detergent are both toxic and irritants. Aerosol sprays also emit chlorinated fluorocarbons. Get into the habit of using natural products and home remedies. Buy products with natural pump action sprays. Many of these are reusable and it is not difficult to make your own air fresheners and household sprays.

Electrical Equipment

Electrical equipment in the home such as televisions, radios, computers, microwaves, dish washers and other appliances can fill your home with harmful energy. Not only do these items expose us to radiation and harmful electrical charges, but the energy they consume has a detrimental effect on our natural environment.

There is a growing awareness that electric blankets can interfere with your body’s natural electrical field. Exposure to electrical currents in this way can trigger allergies and cause various problems like high blood pressure and disturbed sleep patterns.

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