Woman ''paints it black''

One of the more unusual home renovation projects belongs to home owner Debbie Bird who has painted all the interior walls of her Manchester house black.

Ms Bird has a rare condition which renders her sensitive to the electromagnetic fields (EMF) created by mobile phones, computers, wi-fi internet and microwaves. Going near them makes her break out into a rash and her skin swells up to three times its size.

To protect herself in the home she has painted every interior wall with a special black carbon paint which reflects the rays of electronic equipment.

Other renovations included protective film being put on the windows, silver-plated curtains and complete rewiring of the home''s electrics.

"I can no longer do things that I used to take for granted. My day-to-day life has been seriously affected by EMF," said Ms Bird.

"I can''t even use a cordless phone. We have a plasma screen TV because the old style one gave out gamma rays, which brought on my reaction."

The Electro-Sensitivity UK charity says that hundreds of people suffer from the condition but it is usually dismissed incorrectly as flu.


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