Health and Biohabitability
Designing a Home for a Person with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
A few months ago, a client affected by multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) came to our studio—a condition that causes sufferers to experience symptoms such as headaches or fatigue, triggered by heightened sensitivity to environmental chemicals and toxins present in materials.
Designing a home for a person with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) requires the radical elimination of all chemical substances that are part of our daily lives and present in a wide range of elements, from personal hygiene products to interior paints in our homes.
However, before addressing design considerations, let us examine in detail what this condition entails.
What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?
People with MCS react to minimal amounts of any of the multiple chemical substances in the environment, with symptoms ranging from lack of concentration or memory to headaches, vomiting, or tachycardia.
Multiple chemical sensitivity is closely linked to fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); therefore, people who, like our client, suffer from one of these conditions often experience the other two as well.
Why Pay Special Attention to Designing a Home for a Person with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?
Although the general perception is that this is a rare disease, the reality is that approximately 7 to 10 percent of the global population suffers from MCS. Consequently, the design of toxin-free spaces using materials and strategies that ensure the creation of a healthy environment is becoming increasingly relevant.
People with MCS refer to themselves as the “canaries in the coal mine,” as they are the first to detect and manifest symptoms in the presence of even the slightest amount of a substance toxic to humans—just as canaries once did to alert miners to low oxygen levels or excessively high concentrations of toxins in the environment.
Thus, a person with MCS can detect that a home has been cleaned with toxic products or that a particular paint contains Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) simply by experiencing discomfort upon entering a dwelling.
4 Factors to Consider When Designing a Home for a Person with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
#1 Geophysical Disturbances
Geophysical disturbances are the set of anomalies present in a plot of land as a result of terrestrial and cosmic radiation and energies of natural or artificial origin.
They are highly significant because they are inherent to the land itself; therefore, as you can imagine, purchasing a plot to build a home is already a first decision in which you can begin to design a healthy, toxin-free dwelling.
The most common and problematic geophysical disturbances include the presence of geological faults, water tables where underground currents flow, radon gas emissions, electromagnetic fields produced by electrical grids and transformers, or mobile phone towers.
How Can We Detect Geopathies in a Plot of Land?
To ensure that the construction is situated in the most appropriate location on the plot, in addition to studying the geographical and climatological characteristics of the site, it is essential to contact an expert to conduct a geobiological study of the location.
This will provide you with an essential tool for designing a home free of pathologies, especially when designing a home for a person with multiple chemical sensitivity.
A geobiological study not only detects faults and underground water currents but also locates the Earth’s energy grids—networks that function as channels for energy circulation between poles and have been scientifically studied and detected.
Currently, geobiological studies can detect three overlapping grids at multiples and submultiples of every 2, 8, or 40 meters. These are the Hartmann and Curry lines, which I have discussed in previous articles, and their effects are particularly significant when a rest area such as a bed or sofa is positioned over an intersection of these lines.
Clients frequently come to our office reporting that they do not rest well at night or that they wake up with headaches or similar symptoms.
After calling a geobiologist and analyzing the presence of energy grids in their homes, the result often reveals that their bed or other areas where they spend considerable time are positioned at intersection points of Hartmann or Curry lines.
In any case, it is highly advisable to pay special attention to:
– Locating plots that present underground water, geological faults, fissures, or large ferromagnetic mineral masses.
– Situating the dwelling as far as possible from sources emitting electromagnetic radiation, ionizing radiation, or toxic gases.
#2 Electromagnetic Pollution
Electromagnetic fields have a significant impact on our biological balance. This is a form of pollution that we neither see nor smell, yet it affects us at the cellular level.
Therefore, it is crucial to consider these aspects when designing a home, as small decisions can have repercussions on our rest and state of health.
How Can We Combat Electromagnetic Pollution?
To minimize exposure to this type of pollution, it is important to reduce exposure to electromagnetic or radioelectric networks.
Choosing a location away from high-voltage power lines, mobile phone antennas, and transformers will help, as will prioritizing wired internet connections and reducing Wi-Fi connections.
This aspect is particularly important for people suffering from electrosensitivity, a condition that generates a set of symptoms harmful to our health when exposed to a large number of electrical devices.
#3 Construction Materials and Finishes
Selecting appropriate construction materials is an essential step in designing a home for a person with multiple chemical sensitivity.
There are a large number of toxic materials commonly used in construction due to their low cost or commercial interests.
Some materials to avoid include cement—as it often contains heavy metals such as zinc or chromium—petroleum-derived paints and varnishes—since they emit volatile toxic components (VOCs) such as xylene—or PVC elements, a highly toxic compound, especially during its manufacturing process.
Additionally, a large number of materials and fabrics used in construction and home furnishings contain formaldehyde, a toxic substance classified as carcinogenic that enters our body through the respiratory tract.
What Healthy Alternatives Exist?
– For the structure: stone, wood (caution with fire-retardant treatments), ceramic blocks and bricks, earth (adobe, rammed earth, compressed earth blocks).
– For insulation: cork, cellulose, plant fibers (hemp, wood, linen, coconut fiber, straw, and cotton).
– For exterior and interior surfaces: lime mortars, natural plasters, clays, and natural wood finishes.
– For windows and doors: wood treated with natural products and sourced from controlled forestry.
– For paints and varnishes: silicate paints, natural varnishes such as oils, breathable and non-toxic gas-emitting.
#4 Indoor Air Quality
Finally, it is important to note that the indoor air in our home can be more polluted than outdoor air, due to poor ventilation and the accumulation of toxins from hygiene or cleaning products, along with construction materials and interior furnishings.
How Can We Ensure Good Indoor Air Quality?
To guarantee indoor air quality, it is essential to propose a design that prioritizes natural and cross ventilation (allowing air to pass between two different facades to generate a natural current) in the rooms. Additionally, this cross ventilation can be complemented with some of the actions presented below:
– Purifying the air using a device with a HEPA particle filter (pollen, dust, mold, and animal-origin particles) and an activated carbon filter (chemical substances and odors).
– Using activated carbon blankets to absorb toxic vapors and polluting odors.
– Employing dehumidifiers to regulate ambient humidity and prevent mold growth, along with a design that prioritizes natural ventilation of the dwelling.
– Distributing zeolite bags throughout the dwelling, as this mineral absorbs volatile organic compounds (formaldehyde or sulfur) and odors from chemical products (perfumes or cleaning agents).
– Using indoor plants, as they not only help improve ambient humidity but many are also capable of absorbing pollutants from the environment.
We hope these guidelines prove useful in designing a home for a person with multiple chemical sensitivity and, even if you are not affected by MCS, that you now have a clear understanding of the key concepts for designing a healthy, toxin-free home.
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us—we will be delighted to assist you without any obligation!