Designing and Building the Designing the Healthy Home
By Interior Designer Katheryn de Wolfe  ID#320
 
There is a saying “what you don’t know won’t hurt you”, but when it comes to
designing and building a healthy home what you don’t know can hurt you and your
family. And if you have small children it can have a profound effect on their
health and development. Depending on the amount and type of toxins in the home
and the amount of exposure, some toxins can lead to anything from asthma,
allergies, neurological problems, disabilities, cancer and even death!
 
Environmental issues are becoming more important to consumers and more people
are becoming aware of the term “Green Design”. Some people are aware that the
air quality in their home is 3 times more toxic than the air outside their home,
mostly due to increased advertisements for home air cleaners. But what most
people don’t know is what causes the toxic air and how to prevent it, or that in
most buildings the air pollution is actually 5 to 10 times more polluted than
outside air even in the worst cities. There are air cleaners and environmental
companies available to help to remove some of the toxins once they are already
in the home, but they can be very expensive. It is more cost effective to keep
the toxins out of the home to begin with.
 
Many of the toxins can be eliminated or greatly reduced by the products
homeowners select when designing and building their home, and by the products
they use and bring into their home and use on a daily basis. Often assumptions
are made that companies who make products for use in the home are looking out
for the consumer’s best interests. This is often not the case. The majority of
products are not sufficiently tested for human safety or in conjunction with
other chemicals that are present in a complete environment. The synergy of
various chemical pollutants fuse together heightening toxicity many times over
in some cases. In effect, the common idea of standard construction and design
can be very dangerous to the health of you and your family. Much of this is cost
saving measures to keep the costs of construction down and profits up, even
though many of the healthy products add little or no additional cost over the
more toxic products.
 
Architects and Interior Designers largely influence the quality of life and
health of the people they design for. Not only do their choices affect the
occupant of the home, but also the contractors that build and renovate. The
contractors can be greatly affected by the large amounts of toxins they come
into contact with everyday. Realizing that choices made can cause suffering or
discomfort should be enough to compel designers and architects to change
specification and practices out of respect for the quality of life of
homeowners.
 
Most clients/ homeowners appreciate the awareness of their architect or designer
when they take the necessary steps in order to protect them and their children.
Many people close their eyes to these atrocities, but it would be unfair for a
designer to not at least notify the client/homeowner of potential hazards of
building and decorating materials and their options.
 
Some of the major polluting contributors to declining air quality are toxic
VOC’s, pesticides, naturally occurring pollutants and toxic by-products of
combustion and electromagnetic radiation. These volatile toxins are present in
nearly all processed synthetic materials used in commercial and residential
applications. This includes flooring, walls, ceilings, finishes, sealants,
furniture, fabrics and the list goes on.
 
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) or Environmental illness is related to
overexposure to the numerous pollutants we encounter in our everyday life.
Increased sensitivity results in numerous varied symptoms and diseases including
cancer, allergies, irritation, mutation, birth defects and neurological
symptoms. Effects of toxins vary between individuals according to their immune
system, susceptibility and exposure.
 
VOC, Volatile Organic Compounds are naturally occurring pollutants that are
released from organic compounds. VOC can be present in gas, liquid and solid
states. They have a tendency to offgass slowly over long periods of time,
vaporizing continuously even at normal room temperature. VOC's can be harmless
when naturally occurring in foods. Organic compounds synthetically produced from
petrochemical such as coal, gas and oil are the most dangerous. These synthetic
VOC's are readily produced in formaldehyde (HCHO) Binders, adhesives and
preservatives used in woods and plastic, such as: plywood, particle board,
insulation, carpeting, paint, solvents, adhesives, wallpaper, furnishings and
fabric finishes. Organochlorines are compounds of hydrocarbons and chlorine
forming the basis of numerous synthetic materials. Common products for body
care, house cleaning supplies, dry cleaning, synthetic fabrics, air fresheners
and insecticides also release toxic VOC's.
 
Pesticides are allocated by the EPA as effective for elimination of pests but
have not been clearly defined as safe for the users. They carry residues that
easily transport far from the initial site tainting everything they come into
contact with. This includes: air, water, rain, animals, plants; not to mention
the excessively high amounts of residue that gets tracked onto carpets also
contaminating indoor air quality. Biocides are pest repellant's used on building
products, usually wood, as well as household products such as paint, carpet, and
wood furniture. When pesticides come into contact with each other they can
create a synergy that multiplies the danger of their toxicity. There is much
evidence that connects exposure of toxic pesticides to cancer and disorders of
the endocrine and the nervous systems that are directly related to the
accumulation of toxins in the tissues that disturb the natural functions of the
immune system.
 
Not all toxins are manufactured. Some naturally occurring substances in the home
can have harmful effects on humans. Some of these pollutants include: radon and
radioactive contaminants, trace metals, house dust, molds and pollens.
Biological pollutants include household dust, mold mildew, viruses, cockroaches,
mites, dust-mite feces, and animal dander and cat salvia. When central air
handling units become contaminated with biological pollutants these particles
will then be circulated through the home. Many allergic reactions and viruses
are the result of biological pollutants. Asthma and allergies can be related to
exposure. Symptoms caused by contact with biological pollutants are coughing,
sneezing, shortness of breath, watery eyes, fever, dizziness, lethargy and even
digestive problems.
 
Combustion by-products result from the burning of coal, oil, gas and other
fuels, Heating systems such as gas ranges, oil furnaces, fireplaces, dyers and
water heaters emit gases into indoor air supply. Some of these gases are
released as carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur oxides, benzopyrene,
formaldehyde and hydrocarbons as well as particulate matter. These gases have
serious effects on indoor air quality. In tightly sealed buildings these gases
are dangerous health risks. Exposure to these gases can result in a multitude of
symptoms affecting the brain, heart, liver, and energetic capabilities,
including dysfunction of the reproductive and nervous systems. To restore and
protect the quality of the air, replace gas appliances with electric, allow
adequate ventilation to the outside, sweep and check fireplace flues regularly
and seal cracks.
 
 The body absorbs electromagnetic radiation (EMR) when power lines, electric
wiring, clocks, radios microwaves, light and power sockets are too close in
proximity to the body, especially the head, for prolong periods during the sleep
process. Metal in bed frames, mattresses, furniture, beams radiators and
plumbing equipment magnetizes and conducts radiation, which can disturb the
natural rhythms of the body.
In 1998 the panel of National Institute on environmental health and Safety
(NIEHS) classified electromagnetic fields as a “possible” human carcinogenic the
same class as chloroform, lead, carbon tetrachloride and DDT. Researchers and
case studies report that EMF's contribute to Alzheimer’s, cancer, breast cancer,
abnormal cellular activity, promote chemical carcinogens, heart attacks,
cardiovascular disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, miscarriage, changes in brain
function, brain tumors, childhood leukemia, nervous and immune system ills. To
reduce electromagnetic radiation, use battery operated devices instead of
unnecessary electrical devices when ever possible. And kill switches to shut off
the electrical circuitry in the bedroom can help to reduce the amount of
radiation during sleep.
 
In conclusion it is important to be aware of your options and to know that there
are healthier choices for you and your family. Your designer/ architect should
be a resource for you, be able to offer you healthier options and to not only
design a beautiful interior that reflects you and the needs of your family but
also provide a safe interior for you and your family to live, work and play in. 
 
References
1.      Jean Renoux, Even Schulte, Green Building Inside Out, Course Manual.
2.      John Bower, 4th Edition The Healthy House.
3.      U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, http://www.CPSC.GOVhttp://www.CPSC.GOV
4.      U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, http:www.epa.gov/iaq/puba/sbs.html,
5. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Indoor Air Quality