Most Common House Shopping Pitfalls and Hazards: Identifying Possible Toxins and Pollutants in a Home

Looking for a new home is a milestone, but it can be filled with design errors, toxic failures fire starters and toxic substances that can easily rain on your new-home parade, and even cause a health decline, if the proper precautions aren't taken.

Is There External Sources of Radio Frequency Radiation?

First, you want to determine that your new home is not being blasted by radio frequency radiation, or wireless radiation. Examine the area around the house to understand the potential toxins that can enter the home. You can do a quick check with a good consumer EMR meter or get a building biologist to conduct an EMF assessment.

I always check if there might be antennas just out of sight to the eye from the perspective of being at home. This means taking a walk around the neighbourhood or even visiting other buildings at the same height.

Are there digital infrastructure visible to your eye from the house? In more urban areas, it can be difficult to avoid all radio frequency radiation completely. A general rule of thumb is distance is your friend; and that any antenna ought to be at least 500 metres away from any spot in your home.

Start here to find out why radiofrequency radiation is the 21st-century pollutant that we are only beginning to understand.

Is asbestos used in the building?

Asbestos is found in many places within old homes. It is used in a mind-boggling range of construction materials: everything from heating system insulation, decorative spray-on ceiling treatments, vinyl flooring, flooring adhesive, cement roofing & ceiling sheets to even insulation on boilers and pipes.

Asbestos fibres are able to break into smaller fibres (more than 1,200 times thinner than a human hair). When released into the air, asbestos is pretty much invisible to the eye, and quickly circulates through your home or workplace. These fibres become trapped in lung tissues and can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the tissue that lines the chest cavity.

Most developed nations, including Australia and all countries within the European Union, has a full ban on the use of asbestos.

In Singapore, buildings builts before 1991 could contain asbestos-containing materials.

In Malaysia, the use of asbestos is only partially banned. Asbestos construction materials such as roof and ceiling tiles are still sold in the market. There are no acts or regulations prohibiting the use of asbestos in private buildings in Malaysia.

Is there water leaks or damage? Are there any water stains?

Water damage occurs long before you see any visible sign of it. But many signs of water damage are easy to spot once you know what to look for. Use your eyes — and your nose — to check walls, floors, ceilings, pipes and a few other less obvious areas.

Few things are more frustrating as a homeowner than dealing with water damage. You try to keep your home in good condition, only for a small water leak to snowball into major catastrophes that seem to quickly burn a hole in your pocket.

Water leaks and damage at home are also a major cause of lung-related illnesses.

Any yellow or brownish water stains on the ceilings or walls is a sure sign of water leakage (those areas enclose plumbing). As water makes contact with these areas, it can leave behind unsightly marks that are hard to miss.

Check for foundational issues like leaning walls, large cracks in the foundation floor, or displaced moldings and trim—all signs of chronic leaks and moisture buildup underground.

Another tip is to use your nose. Do you smell anything earthy or musty smell in the home? This is another sign of a potential leak causing water to build up inside your walls, crawlspaces, or elsewhere.

Is there visible mold?

If mold is actually appearing on walls, ceilings, and around wet areas such as the sink, it’s already in an advanced stage of growth.

You might even your sinuses acting up for seemingly no reason. Mold exposure triggers the immune system, which typically involves allergy-like symptoms such as sinus issues, runny nose, itchy skin and eyes, asthma, shortness of breath, and more.

Does the Home Layout Ensure Good Ventilation?

In the bathroom, poor ventilation is a major contributor to condensation. Look for water staining or mould on the walls and ceiling. Note whether the bathroom has an exhaust fan (and that it works!) and check how clean the fan is.

Is There Faulty Wiring?

While old and/or faulty wiring is most often associated with electrical fires, they can cause high levels of artificial electromagnetics to permeate the home, and impact your health.

Regardless of whether faulty wiring is found, it is probably a good idea to give the electrical wiring an electrical inspection, and ideally a complete wiring overhaul, to make things safer and bring the wiring up to code and eliminate any possibility of faulty wiring.

Radon Gas Build-up

Radon is a naturally occurring gas present in almost all soil and rocks, especially in granite regions. It is a radioactive gas that emits alpha particles, a high-energy radiation that damages DNA in human cells and causes lung cancer. Radon particles, when inhaled, become lodged in the lungs where they continue to emit alpha particles.

If a large buildup of this gas seeps into a home, a person breathing in the gas for years on end may become more prone to respiratory issues or even lung cancer. Italy, as an example, estimates that 10% of all cases of lung cancer in Italy are related to radon.

Radon is colourless, odourless, and tasteless so a radon test kit can help determine if there are dangerous levels in the home. Radon enters a building through cracks in the floor or walls of the basement or foundation. indoor radon concentrations can vary widely around the world.

Choosing a Good Place for Your Peace of Mind (And Safeguard for Health)

The reality is that most of us live in polluted environments, and most construction, design, and lifestyle items may be contaminated with toxins. As a homeowner, we want a place that can be our sanctuary and safe haven from external stresses. Inside, any hidden surprises in a home can be your worst nightmare, especially when it comes to its impact on your very health. Keep in mind that this list is just the most common hazard pitfalls in a home (especially in urban areas).

Are you in the market looking for new home? Schedule a free discovery call to learn more about the building biology approach to safe, healthy homes, and how it can support your own health.

Tox-Free Home: How to Make Natural Laundry Detergent

Laundry is an essential and never ending chore. Supermarket shelves are lined with colourful brands that promise to banish stains and clean away soil and dirt, but toxic chemicals and fragrances are common.

If you are looking to eliminate a common source of toxins (and frustration), mixing your own laundry detergent with just a few basic products can make a huge impact on your body burden.

Why make your own laundry detergent?

Making from scratch ensures your detergent is free of any harmful toxins or chemicals usually found in store-bought detergent.

You can control the amount of fragrance you add and there are no dyes that can often irritate sensitive skin.

Homemade laundry detergent can be used safely in both standard and high-efficiency washing machines because of its low-sudsing formula.

What Can I Use To Make My Own Laundry Detergent?

You only need four ingredients, which can be found on the laundry aisle in many grocery stores.

(These instructions are for making powdered laundry detergent.)

• Washing soda (sodium carbonate), A naturally occurring mineral, it is an natural cleaner and water softener, and is very effective at deep cleaning clothes and removing grease and tough stains. It is used in many commercial laundry detergents to treat hard water and remove stubborn stains.

• Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is a natural softener.

It is used to neutralize odor-causing acids and is a stain remover. It also helps soften the water to help the detergent work more effectively.

In fact, baking soda is one of the top two best products (along with distilled white vinegar) for making your laundry brighter and reduce dependence on harsh chemicals.

Optional: Bar soap – a natural, toxic-free bar soap is the only type that should be used for this recipe. Lavender Pure Castile Soap is an excellent option, as is Homestead Laundry Bar Soap.

• Optional: Borax is an excellent laundry aid and booster. It is gentle, cleans, deodorizes, helps remove stains, and boosts the cleaning ability of mild detergents.

• Optional: Sea salt, to soften the clothes.

• Optional: Epsom salt. This will clean and fresh your clothes.

• Optional: Essential Oils

  If you want your clothes to have a scent, you can add 20 to 25 drops of your favorite essential oil.

Explore essential oils that are excellent at deodorizing and are antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial. They add a great all-natural scent without the worry of harsh toxic chemicals.

How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

For a basic detergent, use equal parts washing soda and baking soda. Add a third of that of salt and Epsom salt.

For example: I usually mix 1.5 cups each of washing soda and baking soda. Then I add 0.5 cups each of salt and Epsom salt.

Pour the ingredients into a medium-sized container and mix them well.

You can store it in a glass jar.

Here is another recipe that includes borax and soap. Step-by-step instructions for making homemade laundry detergent:

Grate the Bar Soap – Grate the soap bar using a cheese grater. Add the grated soap to an airtight container.

Mix the Ingredients – Add washing soda, baking soda, and borax in a container. If using essential oils, add 2-30 drops.

Shake – Place the lid on the container and shake the ingredients to mix thoroughly.

Store – Store the homemade laundry soap in an airtight container.

Tip – If you have a food processor, add the grated bar soap, washing soda, baking soda, and borax and grind into a fine powder. Add the mixture to an airtight container.

How to Use Homemade Laundry Detergent

Use 2-3 level tablespoons of homemade laundry soap per load of laundry. Use one tablespoon if you have a high-efficiency washing machine.

Start by using the recommended amount of detergent based on this recipe.

Observe the cleanliness and freshness of your laundry after each wash. Hereon, it is only a matter of troubleshooting to assess your true needs for your very own bundle(s) of laundry!

FAQ / Common laundry issues

If your clothes are not getting clean enough, you can increase the detergent slightly and see if it makes a difference.

If you notice residue or a soapy buildup on your clothes, you may be using too much detergent, and you can decrease the amount accordingly.

By making small adjustments, you’ll be able to find the perfect amount of laundry powder that suits your water quality and washing machine capacity.

Commercial detergents contain anti-caking ingredients to keep ingredients from hardening or clumping. Make small batches to prevent clumping and keep it in an airtight container!

Otherwise, the detergent becomes hard or develops clumps due to moisture. Discard it. It will not dissolve well in the washer and can leave soap residue on your clothes.

Especially if you choose to add soap flakes... Add the detergent directly to the washer drum before loading the dirty laundry. Do not use it in an automatic dispenser because the soap flakes may cause clumping that clogs the dispenser.

For heavy odor problems like underarm perspiration stains or environmental odors like cigarette smoke, use baking soda and water as a pre-soak.

If your clothes feels stiff, more baking soda helps to regulate the pH level in the washer's rinse water by keeping it from being too acidic or alkaline. Try 1/2 cup of baking soda to each rinse cycle as a balance to suspend detergent or mineral deposits in the water and keep them from redepositing on clothes, which can make clothing feel stiff.

Study: Dangerous levels of metal toxicity in clothing

Metals are used to make clothing and textile products in many processes, such as:

• metal complex dye (cobalt, copper, chromium, lead),

• pigments,

• mordant (chromium),

• catalyst in synthetic fabrics manufacture (antimony oxide),

• synergists of flame retardants (Sb2O3), antimicrobials (nanoparticles of silver, titanium oxide and zinc oxide),

• water repellents, and;

• odour-preventive agents

When we wear these metals on our skin, our body’s largest organ, heavy metals may mean a potential danger to human health.

The study

The researchers analysed clothes made of different materials, colours, and brands.

The results

Different materials in darker dyes have different levels of metals. The researchers found high levels of Cr in polyamide dark clothes (605 mg/kg), high Sb concentrations in polyester clothes (141 mg/kg), and great Cu levels in some green cotton fabrics (around 280 mg/kg).

Significantly lower concentrations of Al and Sr were found in “eco” clothes,.

No significant differences were observed in branded and unbranded clothing pieces.

Study: Polyester Underwear Decreases Sperm Count and Motility

Your daily choice of underwear really can have an impact on your fertility, and men, it has a direct effect on your sperm.

The study

Twenty-four dogs were divided into two equal groups, one of which wore cotton underpants and the other polyester ones.[1]

Seven dogs wearing nothing were used as controls. The underwear was fashioned to fit loosely in the scrotal area so as to avoid its insulating effect.

The dogs wore these continuously for 24 months during which the researchers measured the semen character, testicular temperature, hormones (serum testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin) and testicular biopsy were examined.

The study results

By the end of 24 months, the dogs wearing polyester underpants had lower sperm count and slower sperms.

After removing the polyester underpants, semen improved gradually to normal in 10 dogs. However, sperm counts remained low for two dogs.

other studies on the effects of wearing polyester clothing

In another study done in 2007 by the same researcher, the electrostatic potential from polyester garments was found to have an 'injurious effect on the ovarian and placental function,' which in turn caused low serum progesterone and spontaneous abortions.

The strong dyes used on synthetic fabrics, subjects tested contracted lymphomatoid dermatitis and different other cutaneous reactions.

Another study in 1992 checked out how polyester worn as a sling could work as a contraceptive for men. Fourteen men wore “polyester slings” for 12 months. The researchers tracked the semen character, testicular size, rectal-testicular temperature difference, serum reproductive hormones and testicular biopsy.

They also measured the electrostatic potentials generated between the scrotum and the polyester.

By the end of the 12 months, all men became azoospermic with an average of 139.6 +/- 20.8 sd days, with decrease in both testicular volume (P less than 0.05) and rectal-testicular temperature difference!

After the men gave up wearing the polyester sling underwear, it took an average of period of 156.6 +/- 14.8 sd days for their sperm to return to average.

The researchers concluded:

“The azoospermic effect of the polyester sling seems to be due to two mechanisms: 1) the creation of an electrostatic field across the intrascrotal structures, and 2) disordered thermoregulation. To conclude, fertile men can be rendered azoospermic by wearing the polyester sling. It is a safe, reversible, acceptable and inexpensive method of contraception in men.”

I don’t know about but that "polyester sling” sounds like most underwear to me.

What does this mean for your health?

Clothing can disrupt the electrostatic potentials generated by the polyester fabric play a role in it.

The lymphatic system becomes overwhelmed with yet another source of toxins; the toxic polyester fabrics that we wear directly on our largest organ, our skin. It slows down and becomes sluggish, leading to inflammation and disease.

Sperm production takes about three months from start to finish, so take the action to switch out your wardrobe, as it may take that long for your sperm quality to improve. For a long time the spotlight (and burden) lay pretty much on female fertility. However, a male fertility crisis has been looming, perhaps just below sight.

If you found this study interesting, check out my full guide to EMFs and your microbiome. It’s free, and you’ll find facts and resources on how electromagnetic fields can impact very basic cellular functions in your body.

References

1. Shafik A. Effect of different types of textile fabric on spermatogenesis: an experimental study. Urol Res. 1993;21(5):367-70. doi: 10.1007/BF00296839. PMID: 8279095. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8279095/

2. Shafik A. Contraceptive efficacy of polyester-induced azoospermia in normal men. Contraception. 1992 May;45(5):439-51. doi: 10.1016/0010-7824(92)90157-o. PMID: 1623716. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1623716/

3. https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23631520-600-were-heading-for-a-male-fertility-crisis-and-were-not-prepared/