Bau-Biology and Electrobiology Improving Your Health by Jeannie Tower BBEI and Antonia Chavasse B.Eng HELLO, we are Jeannie Tower, BBEI and Antonia Chavasse, B.Eng., indoor environmental experts and the Directors of the LFSBRC (London Feng Shui and Bau-biology Resource Centre). Through the LFSBRC we work with people in their homes and offices to improve the quality of their space and their health. In addition to consulting in private homes we offer classes for anyone interested in learning about indoor environmental health issues, how they impact their health and the earth, as well as effective ways to make changes and improvements. For over 40 years Bau-biology and Electrobiology has researched the effects of indoor environments, identified the major causes of indoor pollution and documented the most effective strategies for reducing your exposure and lessening the toxic burden upon your health and the earth. What is Bau-biology? The German term "Bau-biology" means "building biology" or "building for life". It specifically refers to the study of the impact of the built environment on human health and the application of this knowledge to the construction or modification of homes and workplaces. In addition, Bau-biology studies the holistic interactions between human life and other life-forms within our environment. It is these interwoven relationships, between people and their homes, and their homes and the environment that Bau-biology encompasses. In its entirety, Bau-biology is a multi-disciplinary holistic study that extends into many related fields such as ecology, environmentalism, biology, education, engineering, sustainable architecture, and human health. First and foremost, Bau-biology considers your environment/home to be your third skin: ideally a breathable, flexible and indigenous structure that is built to support, shelter and nurture the body, mind and spirit. What is Electrobiology? Electrobiology is a sub-discipline of Bau-biology that studies the biological effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the human body. Bau-biology pioneered these studies and continues to research the effects of the latest wireless and cellular technologies upon human health. Bau-biologists have established standard levels of exposure that are followed in all testing protocols and are used as guidelines for mitigation and recommendations. Electricity is a complicated study, and the diagnosis of an extreme case of over-exposure requires the expertise and experience of a trained indoor environmental expert. However, in most cases, there are simple ways to reduce your exposure. Exposure to EMFs has been studied by many prominent scientists for decades and there is no question that over-exposure can cause a wide range of maladies including sleep disturbance, depression and bed-wetting. Research has also shown a relationship between EMF exposure and more serious chronic and acute ailments. One of the primary concerns for homeowners and office workers today is the quality of indoor air and their exposure to electro-magnetic (EMF) radiation. Off-gassing chemicals from paint, carpet, furniture, building materials, personal care products and cleaning products create toxic smog inside our buildings. It is a fact that indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air and we now spend 80-90% of our time indoors away from nature in artificial surroundings. Building technology that was introduced in the 1960s and 70s to conserve energy, has now created a health crisis for office workers and homeowners by also trapping toxins inside buildings. Through our work we have discovered the most people are unaware of the health impact of many household items and are surprised to hear that by making simple inexpensive changes they can dramatically reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals and EMFs. For example most people are shocked to discover there is formaldehyde, a respiratory irritant and probable human carcinogen, in ordinary washing-up liquid or that PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a carcinogen and major polluter of the earth, can be found in many toys and in wallpaper, among many other things. In our 2-day class we teach you the major sources of indoor pollution and provide you with many non-toxic alternatives that are human and earth friendly. We have also discovered that people get easily discouraged and overwhelmed when they are told about the number of toxic sources in their homes. There can be a feeling that there is too much to change. In our class we will show you that this is untrue and that by making a few changes at a time you can very effectively begin to "lessen the load" of toxic chemicals in your home and improve your health.