Pergamon Renewable Energy, %'oi.5, Part 11. pp. 993-996, 1994

Elsevier Science L ~ Prinl~cl in Great Brlmin

0960-1481/94 $7.00+0.00

THE ~zCT OF GEOP&THIC STRESS ON BUILDING OCCUPANTS

Derek J Croome Professor of Construction Engineering

University of Reading Department of Construction Management & Engineering

Whiteknights, Reading RG6 2AW

Most studies of comfort in building are concerned with the thermal aspect only. The human sensory system, however, is continually receiving information through all of the senses and so our reaction to the environmental around us is the resultant of visual, sound, thermal, spatial and impressions of odour. Extreme levels or quality in any of the environmental factors attract the concentration towards it, but in so called comfortable surroundings a person's principal concentration is on the work they are doing. This means that a wider range of design criteria can be tolerated but there is a need to have a greater understanding of how the mind and body respond to the environment. Natural ventilation is a practical example of where the design information is unco-ordinated and an effective design method does not exist which covers the totality of the problems that need to be considered in terms of building form, spatial layout, as well as the technical problems of airflow.

One area that is neglected is the interaction between the body and the electromagnetic fields around it. There is inconclusive evidence about the effects of strong electrical fields and also if there is any correlation between well-being and ionisation. The new movement of biological architecture gives credence to the fact that the total surroundings affect people and so we need to understand in detail what happens in the earth, the air and water. The work of Thurnell-Read (1994) has drawn attention to the importance of geopathic stress.

In 1984, the World Health Organisation concluded that between i0 and 30% of all buildings constructed throughout the world were sick, and that the exact number of people affected by these buildings was unknown. Sir Winston Churchill once said : 'We shape our buildings; afterwards they shape us.' A sick building makes us literally ill, whereas a healthy building makes us feel better.

There is an increased international concern about health problems among occupants during recent years. Sick building syndrome (SBS) is usually due to a number of causes; different buildings may have a different group of factors which contribute to cause it. Problems with ventilation, lighting, air quality, maintenance and psychological factors may each or all give rise to unhealthy conditions.

To engineer a comfortable environment within a built space, it is necessary to understand the external forces created by both nature and man. Geopathic stress has been found to be another significant factor (Thurnell-Read, 1994). For example, there is strong evidence that miscarriages and foetal abnormalities are particularly common in geopathically stressed buildings. Sickness andabsenteeism rates are also likely to be higher in such buildings.

According to Thurnell-Read (1994) geopathic stress seems particularly to affect the immune system. It has been argued that where a geopathic energy has the same resonance as a particular body or organ then the adverse energy effect will be maximised.

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The susceptibility of people to geopathic stress varies over a wide range of sensitivity. The earth has a natural electromagnetic fields, but in some places this can become disturbed. This can be a natural disturbance, such as where the geological structure of the earth changes or where there is underground water. It can also be a man-made disturbance, such as mining, foundations for tall buildings, underground transport systems and sewerage pipes. Geopathic stress results from the electromagnetic field being disturbed, thus altering the natural environment for living organisms, including people.

Geopathic zones are characterised by variations in terrestrial magnetism, because the earth's field is not uniform but exhibits many highly localized distortions, some random, some fairly regular. These occur over geological faults, caves and underground water courses. Flows of water underground produce large effects but sewers and drains can be an equal hazard. The different sources of geopathic disturbance seem to lead to different types of energy disturbance. To summarise geopathic stress may arise from (a) underground water; (b) geological faults and changes in geological structure caused by trace elements; (c) underground caves; (d) Ley lines ('energy lines made by people') can sometimes have an adverse effect and so count as a geopathic effect; (e) man-made excavations (e.g. mining, underground transport, water and sewage schemes); (f) there are clearly other negative energy lines whose origins are unclear.

The increasing amount of man-made disturbances in and near the earth plus electromagnetic pollution above ground in the form of radio and television waves and telecommunication networks has tipped the natural balance in the wrong direction, so that many locations are disturbed. Because of the additional overload from electrical and electronic devices, illness symptoms are triggered at a much lower level of geopathic disturbance than in former times. In fact, there is now serious evidence to suggest that the radon- elements in concrete can aggravate a radioactive geopathic illness.

M E A ~ OF GEOP&THIC STRESS

Natural geopathic stress areas have for long been determined by dowsing, an ancient art that was practised first in China many thousands of years ago, enabling earlier man to live comfortably with natural radioactive force fields. According to the ancient Chinese, everything in our world has a polarity: male - female; Solar - Moon; Sky - Earth; Yang - Yin (Yin - Yang); Positive - Negative. The influence on all living beings can be different. It depends on the type of radiation, force field (polarity) and intensity. Yin and Yang are the opposite poles of intensity. 'Yin-Yand Bagua,' i.e. Eight Diagrams (eight combinations of three whole or broken lines formerly used in divination), is a kind of special instrument. Bagua in conjunction with a compass are widely used by Chinese to locate the free stressful place where houses would be built or resituated. Geopathic stress can be corrected in several different ways by, for example, using quartz crystals, mirrors, metal sheets, raditech or magnetech instruments.

However many geopathic energies cannot, as yet, be measured using normal scientific equipment, but some dowsers and kinesiologists can detect these energies.

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PROPOSED RESEARCH PROGRAMME

The proposed research would involve working with medical practitioners as well as building designers. The research will compare a selection of buildings with low and high geopathic stress. A survey will be carried out of a number of buildings using dowsing techniques, physical measurements, questionnaires and interviews to assess if and how the health of people in buildings is effected by geopathic stress.

(1) The research will select building samples with low and high geopathic stress by using dowsing techniques. The research will investigate if there is a correlation between sickness and the presence of geopathic stress.

(2) Physical measurements combined with a subjective assessment of indoor environment will be carried out in typical buildings. The turbulence and air velocity will be measured using thermal anemometers; humidity and radiant temperature will be measured using an indoor climate analyzer; a CO2 gas analyzer will be used for measurement of indoor CO2 concentrations and evaluation of indoor air quality; thermal comfort indices (PMV and PPD) will be measured using a comfort meter.

Measurements will also be made of the varying frequency magnetic and electric field. The number of positive and negative ions will be counted using an ion counter. Point spot measurements and long-term recording of the electromagnetic field will be carried out in different buildings using radiation monitors and electromagnetic field detectors.

(3) A study of medical records will be made. Questionnaires will be used for subjective assessment. Semi-structured interviews will be carried out. The research will study and survey the medical records about miscarriages, foetal abnormalities, sickness and absenteeism rates of occupants. The research will also assess if the raditech, magnetech and other instruments can be used to relieve people's pain from geopathic stress. Subjects will be asked to self-evaluate their productivity.

(4) The levels of the electromagnetic fields and air ions in buildings with low and high geopathic stress will be compared. The research will try to find out the effect on air quality of electromagnetic fields and air ions in buildings. The research will prove whether or not the existence of geopathic stress by altering the environment preferably without the knowledge of some of the occupants and then rechecking their health, sickness records and subjective indicators. The research will assess if and how the health of people in buildings is affected by geopathic stress.

An understanding of geopathic stress can be an important key to helping people with a wide range of seemingly intractable problems.

REFERENCES

Bennett, S.J., Patterns of the Sk~and Earth, The Chinese Science of Applies Cosmology, University of Pennsylvania, 1978, Vol. 3. Chen Qigao, Study on Bagua and Ancient Chinese Architecture, (in Chinese), Chonqging Institute of Architecture and Engineering, China, 1992.

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Chen Qigao, Study on Design of Healthy Building in the Ancient Chinese Architecture, (In Chinese), Chonqging Institute of Architecture and Engineering, China, 1992. Coghill, Roger, Electro Pollution, ThorsonsPublishing Group, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, 1990, ISBN 0-7225-2307-6. DHEW, Geomagnetism, Cancer, Weather and Cosmic Radiation, US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1988. Fidler, J. Havelock, Earth Energy, Aquarian Press, Northamptonshire, 1988, ISBN 0-85030-681-7. Gordon Rolf, Are You Sleeping in a Safe Place, (Sth edition) Dulwich Health Society, London, 1993. Hillert Lena, A Follow-up Study on Health Complaints of Patients with 'Hypersensitivity to Electricity,' Proceedings of Indoor Air '93, Vol. 1. Holdsworth & Sealey, Healthy Building, Longman Group UK Limited, 1992. Koning et al, Biological Effects of Enviror~mental Electromagnetism, Springer Verlag, New York, 1981. Pu Jishi, Electromagnetic Field Interactions with the Body, (In Chinese), Exploration of Nature, 1987, Vol. 6, No. 2. Sandstrom Monica et al, The Office Illness Project in Northern Sweden - A Study of Offices with High or Low Prevalences of SBS: Electromagnetic Fields in Our Indoor Environment, Proceedings of Indoor Air '93, Vol. 1. Skinner, S, The Living Earth of Feng-Shui, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1982. Smith, Cyril W & Best, Simon, Electromagnetic Man, Dert & Sons, London, 1989, ISBN 0-460-046985. Thurnell-Read J., Geopathic Stress : A Cause for Concern, Health Kinesiology Training and Therapy, 1993. Also International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18-19 April 1994. Also personal communication 1994. yon Pohl, Gustov Freiherr, Earth Currents: Causative Factor of Cancer and Other Disease, Frech-Verlag, Germany, 1987, ISEN 3-7724-9402-1. Walters, Derek, The Feng Shui Handbook, The Aquarian Press, London, 1991, ISBN 0-85030-959-X. Yu Kongjian, Exploration of the Deep Meaning for Ideal Feng-Shui Landscape Model, (In Chinese), Exploration of Nature, 1990, Vol 9, No. 1.