domestic detox: extreme home cleaning - water air purifier

When Matthew Walchek appeared at the door of my East Village apartment to assess if my home had what he called "toxic contact", Penelope Greenplum 2010-
Catch up in another world
All phrases for potential health hazards such as mold, indoor air pollution, household chemicals and electro-magnetic radiation (beware your Wi-Fi! )—I half-
Expect to see a guy with "Andromeda Strain-Hazmat suit. Mr.
Waletzke, however, is casual in a polo shirt and kha cloth.
But the aluminum suitcase he carried with him was full of business, filled with an impressive array of meters, probes and other equipment that he began to put on my table. Mr.
Waletzke is a "building biology" consultant, which means he has been trained for a year at the Bau Institute
Biology and Ecology of Florida
Mainly online schools, teach students to test the water, air and building materials for the toxin list and then prescribe them. (
They will also check the cleaning products under your sink as well as the lotion and cosmetics in your medicine box. )
The training and its purpose is the import of Europe, after
In the second world war, in order to solve the problems arising from the increase in new housing in Germany, some residents began to suffer from what was later considered a "sick building syndrome, "or sensitivity to chemicals such as formaldehyde used in buildings.
Mr. AdvertisementI.
Waletzke isn't because I 've become very radioactive, like the role of Julianne Moore in Todd Haines's 1995 film, "safety," the film tells, because his profession seems to be the idea that an era has come.
The advertising pollution we are learning is personal.
Every year, there are new reports of family horror, from medical waste in municipal water to cancer-causing bacteria sprouting in the shower head.
Your child's tube Cup is dipping the endocrine disruptor BPA into his milk (
Let's not even think about what's in his non-flammable pajamas)
And you have phthal salt in your shampoo (
And your sex toys). And if your (
Pesticide bleachingsoaked cotton)
Bedding does not kill you, and those who classify electronic frequencies as carcinogens say that your clock radio may kill you.
Books like clean, a guide to the lifestyle of detox, published last year, Gwyneth Paltrow and Donna Karan, with a fasting juice by Uruguay's remote cardiologist Alejandro jun and the like: detox the whole family with filtered air, filtered water, organic cotton sheets and bleach --
Free cleaning products. Dr.
Junger, the story of his own chemical-induced irritable bowel syndrome and depression will make your hair curl and of course not the only family detox evangelist.
In January, in slow death of rubber duck: Secret Danger of everyday things, author Rick Smith and Canadian environmental activist Bruce Laurie began self-testing
Pollution, microwave food in plastic containers, tuna, drink Sir's wine
Smith's son's baby bottle was then tested in their blood for all the levels that contained doping, mercury and other toxins.
"In a huge and uncontrolled experiment, we all became guinea pigs," they wrote . " They refer to the daily life of ordinary families.
"At this moment in history, the image aroused by the word" pollution "is like a huge chimney, an innocent rubber duck.
"I 've been reading these and other books from many Rachel Carson in our new century, and I'm curious about a New York City set of 80-year-
Old water pipes across the street, rumbling trucks and mobile phone antennas coming out of the apartment roof.
I have always been proud of my tenacious environment, and for a long time, I have always believed that New Yorkers living in stress, soot and others must have Darwin than those living in a gentler climate.
If my apartment is as toxic as I bet (
Love the canal on the Second Avenue "! )
What can be done in the world?
Isn't Manhattan's pre-war apartment, especially in Midtown, nearly impossible to detoxify? class budget? Dr.
Junger, for example, lives in a filtered Nirvana and in an "ecological environment"
Lodge in Venice Beach, California(
His "water man" William winderling told me that he had installed the whole-
Oliver Stone and Donna Callan's house air and water filtration system says the price starts at $1,000. )
This brings us back to Sir. Waletzke, a 35-year-old triathlete-in-
Training with a degree in psychology, he turned to building biology as a way to "detox" him at the Rockville Center in New YorkY.
Health Center.
He said he is treating many autistic children and, after learning that some studies have shown that their immune system is having trouble dealing with toxins, he wants to create the best possible environment there.
Last year, as a construction bio consultant (
Healthy residencecom)
He has been meeting with couples with autistic children, baby couples who are eager to create a "safe" environment for young families and customers like Gary Turak, 38, he lives in the Hoboken apartment building that recently installed a mobile phone antenna on the roof and is worried about his health. Mr.
Waletzke charges an-$375
It takes about three hours in the home assessment, including a written report and a Detox Prescription.
"My goal is to identify the source of physical stress in your home," he told me . ".
"Our idea is that new technology, all the crazy food, the chemicals in the products we use --
Plastics and other things
Is a source of physical stress.
You can't control everything outside your home.
But internally, you can control the total physical burden of these sources of stress, identify the sources of stress you are exposed to every day, and then reduce, eliminate or avoid them.
He came up with a metaphor: "People have different abilities to toxins, which are the water in the rain bucket," he said.
"It can't hold that much when their barrel breaks.
Or, back in real life, they can't handle toxins as they used.
I know a chemical-responsive woman who lives in Woodstock and the power is off because EMF makes her sick.
She can't go shopping like a normal person, because the products in the aisle or the chemicals in the fluorescent lamp make her excited.
"The percentage of the chemical-sensitive population is increasing," he added with a nasty addition, calling his aluminum suitcase while opening up a bag of tricks.
I am excited about its content: a multi-directional radio frequency meter with an orange bulb; a combustible-
Gas meter, in the fire-
The red engine, with the appearance of the "Lost in Space" and the lovely silver probe;
A simple compass to check if your mattress is magnetic.
"There are things that people don't think about . "
Waletzke said flatten myself in front of my fridge and loosen the grill.
"Typically there is a drip or drain pan inside, filled with water and all kinds of gas, and the fridge fan blows directly into the room.
Sadly, he couldn't get my drip tray.
"I can see it, though," he said.
He checked under my sink and behind the washing machine for leaks.
"Your dryer hose is broken," he pointed out . ".
In the shower, his moisture gauge creaks where the tiles need to be re-laidgrouting.
Check my air.
The air conditioner shows dirt. (
I forgot to clean it for four years? )
My candle is not made of soy. based (
Burn cleaner than wax)
Although he thought the taste was "very good ".
But he added sternly: "My general rule is that candles are not good for air quality.
Most perfumes contain chemicals.
Finally, he picked up his red gas meter and it was ticking like a Geiger counter.
He said: "It is not only combustible gas that causes this phenomenon, but also products with high volatile organic chemicals . "
He opened my gas stove and the meter started ticking like crazy.
He stretched his hand under my sink, took out a bottle of floor cleaner and stuck its silver probe inside.
I almost clapped until I realized that the matter was suing my cleaning fluid.
Municipal water supplies like New York are usually treated with chlorine and fluorine, which are possible carcinogens and show trace amounts of arsenic and other metals. Mr.
Waletzke can't immediately test if my water contains these ingredients
It has to be done in the lab, it will take two to four weeks, he said, but he proposed to do a dissolution --solids test.
"Basically, this is the particles in the water, such as rust or dirt.
He said: "I am not too high, 52 per million.
"One of the problems with old buildings like you is lead --
Based on welding in pipes.
Can he test it?
No, it requires experts, he said, as well as tests for radon or asbestos. Mr.
Waletzke urged the use of water filters in the shower, "at least", he said ".
"Your liver will detoxify things in drinking water, but there is a school of thought that since your skin is the largest organ in your body, you need to protect it.
It does not have its own filter.
"For biologists like Mr, radiation is a toxic star.
"But it's something that people can't see, feel or touch, so it's often ignored," Waletzke said . ".
He checked some sources.
Do I have a cordless phone?
Wireless Internet access?
Dimmer switch?
Mobile phones and antenna nearby?
Yes, yes, yes.
But studying radiation can get you into a rabbit hole.
While doctors like CNN's Sanjay Gupta say they won't use phones without headphones due to the dangers of the brain and other cancers, link these devices to cancer
Later, I called Louis slinsin, the industry watchdog in Manhattan, who reported 30 years of radiation in his publication, Microwave News.
"You have 4 billion people using mobile phones. we live next to the tower . "
"As more than one person has said, this is the largest biological experiment in the world.
You're an electrical man.
You won't have an idea or move your fingers without an electric impulse.
In my opinion, the idea that any of these external areas have no effect on you is ridiculous.
"Go back to my bedroom, sir.
Waletzke is testing my body current with multiple tests
Instrument, Mr. neat display.
A paper by slim
When the lamp is plugged in, the meter makes a wh bang, and when the lamp is not turned on, the meter is relaxed.
Good for me, I think. I'm in command.
We tried the cat, but it walked away.
We have measured the radiation from the refrigerator.
High though, 1 feet away from the door
As well as the microwave oven, when turned on, even when the gentleman is turned on, the microwave will send the meter into the red area
It is 8 feet from Waletzke.
"You see, those doors didn't do anything," he said, recalling his childhood when his face pressed on the microwave at home and exploded marshmallow and CD.
Microwave CD?
"It cracked the metal," he said in error . ".
"It looks like broken glass.
We talked about the dangers of laptops.
Don't put them on your lap, sir. Waletzke said.
Then, the good news is: my bed is not magnetized because some of the beds may be magnetized when the metal coil is worn out.
Why is the magnet not good?
"They can make a stress response to your cells . "Waletzke said.
His last act, if we do a family show together, what's the revelation (
His bicep and gentle attitude
Waletzke can give Nate Berkus some competition)
It is to measure the radio frequency of the opposite mobile phone antenna. Mr. advertising
Waletzke waved his R. F.
The analyzer shook his head.
He finally said, "it's terrible . "
"The power per meter square is up to 2,000 microwatts.
We like to see the reading below 100.
"Can you get a reading below 100 in New York City?
"Usually I see about 300," he said . "
"I tested an apartment in Brooklyn, on the roof across the street, with two layers of glass windows in front of the antenna.
The meter there is also broken.
What did he ask them to do? "Action," he said.
"But moving to New York is not always feasible, who knows where you will move to next?
It could be a similar situation. ”For Mr.
Mr. Tuerack of Hoboken
Carbon in Waletzke's hand-painted apartment
Black paint, very expensive-
About $400 in five
But he said, "up to 97% of radio frequencies can be shielded . "Mr.
Tuerack told me that he spent about $5,000 to do it, after which his landlord paid for the black paint with two layers of primer and a layer of white paint.
As for the man in Brooklyn, he slept behind the apartment, away from the antenna. “The idea,” Mr.
Waletzke said, "at least let your body rest while you're sleeping so it can handle it better during the day.
He directed me to lessemf.
Com is a website that sells products that shield people from the effects of EM frequencies, such as slinky boxers made of silver
Nylon Net plated ($90)and tank tops ($64)—
You can use silver clothes.
()$59. 95).
But you're going to scare the kids.
There is also a very attractive bed canopy that looks like a mosquito net ($999). I called Mr. Slesin again.
"Now you add the foil head," he joked . ".
"How do you know if these things really work?
The reason why this is so difficult is because the most obvious basic question has no clear answer.
Safety standards are based on short-term
But everyone is worried about the long term. term exposure.
Look, living in what you get is more than everyone else, but it's still very low compared to what you get from your phone. ”Mr.
Mr slinsin calculated the reading.
The Waletzke I received in my bedroom was much lower than the F. C. C.
Safety standards (
And F. C. C. concurred). Mr.
Slesin added that he would be more concerned about the use of my phone.
He said, advertising "the intensity of the phone is thousands of times the original, you stick it on your head . "
"When you haven't solved the problem of smoking, worrying about the tower is like worrying about passive smoking.
"As far as I know," Mr.
Waletzke responded, "F. C. C.
When the tissue starts to show a temperature rise, the standard looks at the radiation from a thermal perspective.
While construction biology is to look at it from the beginning of the organism's cells showing different changes from the natural baseline, studies have shown that this happens where the radiation level set by F. is lower. C. C.
We put a hierarchy on our anxiety.
Or our heads will explode.
Give us priority. Mr.
The prescription of Volchek, contained in eight
His e-page report
Emailed me a few days after his visit, from simple and relatively cheap-
For example, use vinegar instead of bleach
More expensive and complex solutions, such as water filters and equipment for shielding from electro-magnetic radiation. (
Some of his suggestions are listed above. )
By focusing on the phone antenna and Mr.
I decided that I could not have to worry about other issues as I was very close to them.
"This will happen," Mr. Waletzke said.
"People will be overwhelmed.
"But what are we left with if individual family detox is too daunting?
Another path is to instigate stricter legislation on a range of products and technologies from plastic to mobile phone antennas at a citizen or federal level.
At the thought of this, I wanted to light a few scented candles and go back to my radioactive bedroom where I would crawl between my non-organic bleach sheets.
Hell, I might smoke if you give me a cigarette.
Clean up the pollution of housewife Waletzke, a "architectural biology" consultant named healthy residence, conducted a "healthy family assessment" of my East Village apartment ", this means that he has investigated air, water and construction materials as well as toxins in my cleaning products and cosmetics.
He also tested radiation and moisture intrusion and then gave the following prescription.
Moisture fixing dryer vent and re
Paint the tiles in the shower.
Although my location is on the Second Avenue, the air
Waletzke wrote: "The toxicity of outdoor air is half that of indoor air, which is surprising.
He suggested cleaning the air.
Air-conditioned filter, keep the window open and purchase a HEPA air filter for use in the bedroom when the window is closed.
He likes Aquasana products, such as luxury air purifiers, for about $600 at aquasanaforlife. com.
However, it won't win any beauty contests.
Like most municipal water, water in New York City has been treated with chlorine and fluorine, which are possible carcinogens.
Waletzke suggested getting a kitchen
Sink water filter (an under-
Aquasanaforlife's counter sells for about $144. com)
And shower filters (
Around $68 in aquasanaforlife. com).
But I suggest that I should choose the shower if I have to give priority.
He also suggested washing the shower head with vinegar and water as there would be mold growth there.
The most effective shielding, Mr.
It's carbon, says Waletzke. based paint.
It is black and very expensive.
At lessemf, the price of 5 liters is $409. com.
Slightly cheaper shielding fabric; a silver-
At lessemf, the plated nylon mesh canopy is about $1,000.
There is an attractive atmosphere of Karen Bryson.
Advertising cosmetics and cleaning supplies have abandoned bleach and traditional cleaning solutions and replaced them with green sealed products or vinegar, he said.
He suggested reviewing my cosmetics in the cosmetics database.
Com, which lists which products have which carcinogens.
I lost faith in my toothpaste.
Last Thursday, an article on the removal of toxic substances from home listed a wrong Web site listing chemicals in cosmetics.
It is cosmeticsdatabase.
Not cosmetics. com.
A version of this article was printed on page D1 of The New York edition on May 27, 2010 with the title: family detox: extreme cleaning.
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