How to reduce the toxic load on your body, with Dr Nicole Bijlsma

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. Timestamps

00:32 - The personal health story that led to building biology

01:54 - Discovering environmental triggers in the home

03:21 - Training clinicians to look at air quality and built-environment hazards

04:07 - Old homes versus new homes: where the risks differ

05:54 - Maintenance, roof leaks, drainage, and rising damp in older houses

06:50 - Why carpets collect dust, toxins, and biological debris

07:28 - Why infants are the highest-risk group on carpeted floors

08:25 - Tight new homes, hidden condensation, and off-gassing from furnishings

10:59 - Natural materials and Australian-made products for lower exposure