Dr. Nicole Bijlsma explains why the built environment matters for health, from mould and air quality to electromagnetic fields and chemical exposures. She shares practical, high-impact changes for bedrooms, water, skincare, cleaning, and home setup that can reduce everyday exposure and support better sleep, immunity, and wellbeing. We discuss why old homes and new homes each have different risks, how Wi-Fi and electrical wiring can affect sleep, and why water filtration is a non-negotiable if you want to reduce chlorine, PFAS, and fluoride exposure. Nicole also covers the biggest chemical exposures on skin, the most useful cleaning swaps, and why over-sanitising may be backfiring on allergy risk. Key topics Nicole shares how personal health issues led her into building biology and why she started training people to assess homes for environmental hazards. The difference between old homes and new homes, including condensation, mould, poor maintenance, tight building envelopes, and off-gassing from imported furnishings. Why carpets can act like a reservoir for dust, pest debris, asbestos, lead paint, and chemicals, especially for infants crawling on the floor. The three EMF categories Nicole prioritises - radio frequencies, AC magnetic fields, and dirty electricity. Why a Wi-Fi router in the bedroom is a major issue, and why hardwiring or powering routers down at the wall is the best fix. Why the bedroom is the top health priority, and how to set it up for better sleep by removing Wi-Fi devices, phones, extenders, and boosters. Why inverter and solar battery placement matters, and why distance is the main defense against magnetic fields. Why reverse osmosis is the best option for drinking water when fluoride is a concern, while whole-house filtration helps with chlorine, sediment, PFAS, and many other contaminants. Nicole shares why alkaline water is not her recommendation, and why stomach acid matters for digestion, protein breakdown, and nutrient absorption. The biggest chemical exposures on the body, especially perfumes, aftershaves, artificial fragrances, and air fresheners. Why jojoba oil, rose hip oil, wool, hemp, cotton, and fragrance-free basics are the safer everyday choices for skin and home use. Timestamps00:32 - The personal health story that led to building biology01:54 - Discovering environmental triggers in the home03:21 - Training clinicians to look at air quality and built-environment hazards04:07 - Old homes versus new homes: where the risks differ05:54 - Maintenance, roof leaks, drainage, and rising damp in older houses06:50 - Why carpets collect dust, toxins, and biological debris07:28 - Why infants are the highest-risk group on carpeted floors08:25 - Tight new homes, hidden condensation, and off-gassing from furnishings10:59 - Natural materials and Australian-made products for lower exposure11:35 - The EMF problem in the bedroom12:44 - Why a router in the room can be a major radio-frequency exposure14:30 - Sleep, melatonin, and why hardwiring beats Wi-Fi15:32 - How to measure Wi-Fi properly with the right meter16:24 - Inverters, batteries, and magnetic fields from solar systems17:45 - Dirty electricity and why some people become electrically sensitive20:30 - Bedroom setup: no Wi-Fi devices, no extenders, no boosters21:20 - Building a master switch system to shut down bedroom fields22:47 - Why phones in the bedroom are a bad idea23:29 - The bedroom first rule: sleep before everything else24:55 - Timer switches and reducing router exposure26:00 - Electricity coming into the house and the importance of distance27:09 - The inverse square law and why bed position matters28:19 - Why shielding does not solve magnetic field exposure29:04 - Water as a major chemical exposure30:27 - PFAS and fluoride in water supplies32:48 - Why chlorine is a problem for the gut microbiome33:18 - What a basic but effective water filter should remove34:10 - Reverse osmosis, remineralisation, and why alkaline water is controversial36:40 - Skin exposure: why chlorine affects eczema and skin irritation37:32 - Whole-house filtration versus point-of-use RO40:26 - Skincare, moisturizers, deodorants, and sunscreen41:22 - Why jojoba and rose hip oil are better skin options42:19 - Parabens, detergents, and reducing cosmetic load43:18 - Sunscreen controversy and why covering up often works better46:29 - Perfume, phthalates, and why fragrance is a major exposure48:43 - Cleaning the home with detergent, microfiber, and HEPA filtration50:11 - Why white vinegar works well in the dishwasher rinse-aid compartment51:35 - Detoxification: sweat, sauna, and exercise52:50 - Why some chemicals need plasma donation or binders54:44 - The need for supervision when using binders55:41 - Why mould deserves its own conversation56:06 - Allergies, pet dander, and the role of dust mites58:17 - Birth, breastfeeding, microbes, and why farm exposure lowers allergy risk59:29 - Why over-cleaning and sanitizers can raise allergy risk61:00 - Where to find Dr. Nicole B and her training61:42 - Healthy Home, Healthy Family and the upcoming updated edition Action items Remove Wi-Fi enabled devices, extenders, boosters, and phones from the bedroom. Put the router on a timer or power it down at the wall overnight. Move the bed away from the wall closest to the meter panel or incoming electrical supply. Prioritise whole-house water filtration, and add reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink if fluoride is a concern. Switch to fragrance-free personal care and cleaning products. Use microfiber cloths, detergent, and a sealed HEPA vacuum for routine cleaning. Favor natural materials like wool, hemp, cotton, and jojoba-based skin care where possible. Reduce over-sanitising at home and let kids get normal outdoor dirt exposure. Resources Website: https://www.buildingbiology.com.au/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/homehealthdoc/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nicolebijlsma1/?fref=ts Support the Podcast If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics. 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