Creating Eczema-Safe Spaces: How to Minimize Toxins at School and Work

By Diane Angela Fong, ND and Rachel Lucke, MS, CNS, LDN

In today's fast-paced world, we're constantly exposed to a variety of toxins—whether at work, school, or in our everyday environments. With toxic burden being one of the main root causes of eczema, minimizing exposure is a significant part of reducing flare-ups as well as maintaining overall health.

Reducing exposure to these toxins is not only essential for managing eczema but also for maintaining overall well-being. In this blog, we’ll explore practical steps you can take to minimize toxin exposure in your daily environments, helping you safeguard your health and reduce the risk of eczema flare-ups.

Eczema-Safe Air: Minimizing Toxin Exposure in the Air

Air quality in schools and offices can be compromised from a variety of factors. Many of our buildings are old, musty, and damp, which means we may be exposed to mold on a regular basis. When buildings don't smell great, sometimes people try to cover up the odor with synthetic fragrances, candles, or other sprays that are known to be carcinogenic. We can even be exposed to these cancer-causing chemicals by being around others who like to douse themselves in perfume or cologne. Even the materials in newer buildings, like carpeting, furniture, and building materials can emit fumes like VOCs as the chemicals they're made of off-gas.

To protect yourself from toxins in the air, here are some things you can try:

• Open windows to allow fresh air to circulate.

• Minimize clutter to make fewer places for dust to hide.

• Run high quality air purifiers, or opt for a personal wearable option.

• Bring in plants that help to naturally purify the air. Peace lilies, spider plants, and snake plants are great low-maintenance options.

• Advocate for cleaner air by asking management to test for mold and switch to healthier cleaning products.

Eczema-Safe Water: Minimizing Toxin Exposure in the Water

Drinking water is essential for health, but it can sometimes contain contaminants that pose various health risks. Understanding these potential hazards can help you take steps to ensure the water you drink is safe. Just as it is essential to ensure your drinking water at home is clean, you should also be aware of the water you might consume in schools and the workplace. Drinking water can contain microbial contaminants like bacteria (e.g. E. coli and Salmonella), viruses (e.g. Norovirus), and parasites (e.g. Giardia, Cryptosporidium). These organisms can enter the water due to inadequate sewage treatment or agricultural runoff. Heavy metals can leach into water from old pipes, industrial discharges, mining activities, and natural sources. Pesticides and herbicides in runoff from agricultural fields or improper disposal of chemicals can contaminate drinking water. Industrials chemicals like PFAS and VOCs are released from industrial activities, landfills, and firefighting foams and can get into water supplies. Chlorine, commonly used to disinfect water, can react with organic matter and create harmful byproducts including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) that can increase the risk of cancer and may have reproductive or developmental effects. Other naturally occurring substances, like radon and uranium, can be harmful when they leach into groundwater from rocks and other geological formations.

To protect yourself from toxins in the water, here are some things you can try:

• Bring your own clean water from home.

• Invest in a portable water bottle with a filtration component.

• Avoid drinking from plastic water bottles. When these bottles are exposed to heat, such as during transport, plastic can leach into the water. Long-term storage can also contribute to leaching.

• Test the water so you have the data you need to advocate for cleaner water and can choose the filter type you need.

• Advocate for cleaner water by educating leaders about high quality water filtration options.

Eczema-Safe Environment: Minimizing Toxin Exposure from Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs)

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are generated by a wide range of electronic devices and technologies, from cell phones and Wi-Fi routers to power lines and microwave ovens. There are a number of potential health risks from exposure to EMFs, including cancer. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organization (WHO), has classified acknowledges that some studies show a potential increased risk of certain types of brain tumors related to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (a type of EMF used in cell phones and other wireless technologies). Other research suggests that long-term exposure to high levels of EMFs affects brain activity and neurotransmitter levels. EMFs may also impact reproductive health by affecting sperm quality and hormone levels. Some people report symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and dizziness, from EMF exposure. Children are even more vulnerable to EMFs due to their developing tissues and higher rates of cell division.

To protect yourself from EMFs, here are some things you can try:

• Avoid sitting close to WiFi routers.

• Unplug devices not being used.

• Plug into your internet rather than using WiFi if possible.

• Use speakerphone rather than holding your cellphone to your ear, whenever possible.

• Use personal protective devices.

• Turn off Bluetooth and put your phone in airplane mode when not needed.

• Don't keep your phone in your pocket.

Although the amount of toxins at school and work can seem overwhelming, you've taken a crucial first step by educating yourself and becoming more informed. By taking some of the steps shared here, you can significantly reduce your exposure to toxins at work and school, fostering a healthier and more productive environment. Remember, small changes can make a big difference in your overall well-being. Embrace these practices, and you'll be on your way to a cleaner, healthier life.

GOT QUESTIONS?

Dr. Fong is going live to discuss this topic on Wednesday, September 18, at 11:30 AM PST! Watch the live or check out the replay here:

References

International Agency for Research on Cancer. (n.d.). IARC Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Retrieved from https://monographs.iarc.who.int/eng/latest-monographs/

National Cancer Institute. (2020). Cell phones and cancer risk. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/cell-phones-fact-sheet

World Health Organization. (2005). Electromagnetic fields and public health: Electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs296/en/

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (n.d.). Electromagnetic fields (EMF). Retrieved from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf/index.cfm

Bioelectromagnetics. (n.d.). Journal of Bioelectromagnetics. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1521186x

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (n.d.). EMF and brain activity. Retrieved from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf/index.cfm

Environmental Research. (n.d.). Journal of Environmental Research. Retrieved from https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-research

American Journal of Epidemiology. (n.d.). Journal of the American Journal of Epidemiology. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/aje](https://academic.oup.com/aje

World Health Organization. (2005). Electromagnetic fields and children. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs296/en/

Bioelectromagnetics. (n.d.). Journal of Bioelectromagnetics. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1521186x

International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. (n.d.). Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz). Retrieved from https://www.icnirp.org/en/main/guidelines/index.html

About the Authors:

Dr. Diane Angela Fong, ND, is the CEO and founder of Cleanbody, a wellness company dedicated to treating and preventing chronic disease. She is the creator of the Cleanbody Method, which follows a three-step process: Evaluate (digging into the root causes of chronic disease using lab testing and other evaluation tools), Optimize (enhancing health foundations by addressing nutrition, lifestyle, and toxic exposures), and Support (optimizing organ functions through healing protocols).

Rachel Lucke, MS, CNS, LDN is a Cleanbody Practitioner and Nutritionist specializing in meeting people in their healthy journeys by digging into the root causes of various chronic diseases and conditions. Through the use of healthy food along with aspects of the natural world around us (sunshine, nature, clean water, stress management, relationships, etc), she helps to empower her clients to take charge of their own health and trust their bodies to thrive and heal.

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