Sick Building Syndrome – What Does it Mean?
What is a “Sick Building”?
Have you heard about “Sick Building Syndrome”?
This is where the occupants of a building are sick because of something in a building where they spend time.
What makes people sick are known as “environmental stressors” – environmental hazards that place a stress on our immune system.
This can be anything from water damage and mould, to indoor air quality, to electromagnetic fields. It may be from components of the building itself, such as lead. Or even from the land where the building was erected – a form of “geopathic stress.”
In Australia, this term is somewhat understood, but far less people really understand what “Building Biology” is.
An Interview
When I began this career, I was an active committee member of my professional association. In my time as President, Nicole Groch from LivingSafe.com.au interviewed me about “building biology.”
Here is a snippet of it:
You may have heard of someone using a Building Biologist to check out their home for radiation, mold and sick building syndrome, but you really are not exactly sure what it is they do and who they are….
I personally have hired a Building Biologist to come out and measure the EMF from the Smart Meter in our home and I am very glad I did. It wasn’t just the smart meter that was the problem. It was also our transformer base study lamps, that we were using as bedside lamps and high EMF hot spot was found in our bedroom from an unearthed water pipe running under the floor. Thanks to the Building Biologist we were able to correct these hazards.
So what is a Building Biologist?
In a nutshell, a Building Biologist is a person who has been trained to assess the potential health hazards of a building or built environment. We adopt the Precautionary Principle, that is, if something hasn’t been proven to be safe, then we err on the side of caution and aim to minimise exposure or risks.
Another Interview
As well, I chatted with Nicole Bijlsma about Building Biology, the changes in the field, and what is required of a Building Biologist.
#buildingbiology #environmentalsensitivities
revised 20/4/20