Author Archives: joachim-w

Avoid magnetic fields near the head

Expert measures with magnetometer

Expert measures with magnetometer

For investigation of sleeping areas, the main concern of the region is below the bed. In a particular case the building biologist found the problem not only on the ground, but primarily at the head of the sleeping quarters. What happened? Manfred Eberlein was not sleep at night after moving into a new apartment in the city center. In the old apartment he slept like a log. A dowser had already changed the roost some eight weeks before. However, this action was not successful.
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Energy-saving lighting and health

Example of a LED  light spectrum

Example of a LED light spectrum

A low power consumption is not the only criterion

Everyone wants to make an active contribution to climate protection and save energy. To achieve this goal, we can use energy saving devices and energy-saving bulbs in the household. But a low power consumption is not the only criterion when we select an appropriate lighting. Scientific studies have confirmed the importance of natural light to our health now detected. Daylight is optimal for our well-being. It has a harmonious color spectrum (red, green, blue) and a low UV component. The conventional light bulb came the natural color spectrum very close. Only the red component was somewhat increased. Even the light from halogen lamps largely corresponds to the natural spectrum. Another advantage of conventional light bulbs and halogen bulbs is a uniform flicker of 100 Hertz and a small proportion of flickering light.
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Wood preservation glaze as allergens suspected

 2-butanone oxime

2-butanone oxime

Sebastian Merkner went only reluctantly to his office. The self-employed carpenter completed Saturdays always his bills because he could then work undisturbed by the daily business. After a few hours in the room he was nervous and felt like charging. Then there were the headaches and eyestrain. The relationship between the office environment and the discomfort was obvious. Merkner went through the possibilities in his head: Was the beams of the wooden ceiling painted with wood preservatives? Escaped from the formaldehyde glued bookshelf? Was the mastic asphalt under the floor covering of the culprit? The master craftsman brooded for months after the causes of his symptoms.
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Reduce electromagnetic pollution in the office

reduce elektromagnetic fields at work

be vigilant against elektromagnetic fields at work

An employee of an engineering company complained for months about eye problems. In the Eye Clinic Robert M. was tested among other things, a sensitivity to electromagnetic fields. In fact, increased intraocular pressure, after a field source has been turned on in his surroundings. After this diagnosis, a building biologist made on the search for the problem. His order was: reduce electromagnetic pollution in the office.
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Do research carefully before painting a room

wooden floor

do research carefully before painting the room

Vincent Kuchler (Stuttgart/Germany) phoned our advice center yesterday. His eyes were swollen and his nose ran constantly. His suspicions focused on the oily stain on the newly installed floor in the bedroom and children’s room. A doctor for diagnosis of his symptoms he had not yet visited. Vincent wondered, however, why the other family members showed no allergic reactions. How could a piece of advice for those concerned to look like?
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Checklist for “second-hand” homes

Checklist for used homes

be carefull with second-hand-homes

Young families often have too little capital to build a new home. Alternatively, see the potential homeowners to the market for second-hand houses or apartments. In the assessment of “used” caution is advised. It may occur many problems that are not recognized at first sight by the laity.
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Rapex report warns of hazardous products

rapex report warns

Rapid Exchange of product-news in the EU

Rapex (Rapid Exchange) is an alert system for dangerous consumer products in the non-food area. 31 European countries and the European Commission shall communicate to the fastest means of information to draw risky products from the market. A weekly report can be subscribed to via RSS-Feed or accessed directly on the website. Those who read the messages carefully, place the emphasis on Chinese products. But also from European countries, including Germany, permanent harmful products to hit the market. Some examples to show where the problem lies mainly:
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Which components affect our indoor climate

Hobo data Loggers

Dataloggers measure the room climate


 
Introduction – The climatology is one of the most difficult areas of science. Air, temperature and electric climate influence each other more or less – and these factors are in turn influenced indoors of building materials, construction and electrical installation. Although cooperating the individual components of indoor climate, it will be discussed for better presentation separately. Now read which components affect our indoor climate.
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Test strip system for mold detection

film strip system

film strip system

The laboratory team of the Environmental Mycology in Berlin is always good for an innovation. Under the direction of Dr. Christoph Trautmann and Dr. Ingrid Dill the mold experts developed a test strip system for mold detection handling surface contact samples. Their motivation is obvious: The more accurate the building biologist working at the sampling, the safer is the analysis result. Unprofessional sampling, however, prepare the laboratory team a considerable overhead. Continue reading

Zero tolerance for wood preservatives

pcp indoor

wood perservatives indoor

The temptation is great. A young family in northern Bavaria discovered a beautiful home in a great location with the right plan at an affordable price. The prefabricated wooden house was built in the seventies. Manuela Brenner has read of problems with these types of houses and caused a dust sample before buying. Laboratory analysis gives a value of 1 mg of pentachlorophenol (PCP) per kilogram of house dust. How is the health risk to be assessed? If the family to buy the house?
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