Conscious Environments, an Australian building health inspection business, warns that poor building design can expose occupants to prolonged and unnecessary levels of radiation and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that may be harmful to their health.
For more information visit http://www.consciousenvironments.com.au.
Building design is nowadays widely regarded as an important element in ensuring the best possible indoor environment and the occupants' wellbeing. According to Conscious Environments this means minimizing the exposure to not only mold, mildew and potentially toxic dust but also any unknown high electromagnetic frequencies and radiation".
Conscious Environments reveals that every person spends on average 90% of their time indoors, at the work place or at home, and the ever-increasing use of electrical devices combined with poor building design means that occupants might be overexposed to electromagnetic fields and radiation that may be harmful to their health.
The placement of electrical appliances such as stoves, ovens, refrigerators, televisions or similar equipment on bed-head walls, including on the adjacent wall of another division or apartment, can result in unnecessary overexposure to EMFs.
Poor building design can also overexpose occupants to EMFs and 'dirty electricity' by placing electrical service supplies, substations, distribution panels, meter boxes or its cabling in or near rooms where occupants spend significant amounts of time.
In-floor electrical heating in homes where small children play on the floor can also be a concern and the level of EMFs released by the heating system should be measured. Several studies, including data released by the Childhood Leukemia-EMF Study Group, have pointed to a potential doubling in the incidence of childhood leukemia when children are exposed to high (above 0.4 uT) residential electromagnetic fields.
Many adult individuals have also stated that they suffer from Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS), a condition reportedly generated by prolonged or excessive exposure to EMFs, radio frequencies and 'dirty electricity'. The most commonly reported symptoms include persistent headaches, chronic fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, nausea, hearth arrhythmia, anxiety and digestive or skin disorders.
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) is recognized as a condition or disability in countries like Sweden, Japan or Canada. The health impact of prolonged low-level EMF exposure is still an ongoing scientific debate. The World Health Organization recognizes the existence of EHS but states that there is no known link between EHS symptoms and EMF exposure. Several leading scientists support the September 2002 Catalina Resolution that states that exposure to EMF does adversely affect health.
The Royal Australian Institute of Architects states in its Environment Design Guide that sufficient evidence now exists to suggest that a contributing factor to consider in assessing indoor environment quality is the prolonged and excessive exposure to electromagnetic fields". The Royal Institute adds that the existing evidence justifies taking a precautionary approach in building design¦to reduce or eliminate unnecessary EMF exposure."
Conscious Environments is a building health inspection business, led by Rhys Brenton, focusing on the establishment of healthy work and living environments. The company based in New South Wales, Australia, and specializes in electromagnetic radiation, EMF, water and air quality assessments, mold decontaminations and building design consultancy.
