Chemicals, allergens and toxins-oh my! For a place that's supposed to offer refuge and safety, our homes can be filled with a variety of unseen dangers.

Small and silent, these invisible intruders can wreak havoc on our health, leading to a myriad of problems ranging from asthma and allergies to more progressive health problems such as lung and kidney disease.

Marnie Grey and her husband moved in to their home, which was built in the early 1900s, with a vision to restore its heritage character and beauty. With some planning, adequate amount of finances and plenty of time, the house was becoming their dream home. However, the renovations affected Marnie's health. "We felt we had compromised our home's indoor air quality," she explains. "I was waking up feeling congested every morning and experiencing frequent headaches."

Marnie's situation is not uncommon. Many have suffered as a result of exposure to toxins and allergens in the home environment. What are the sources of these toxins? Studies are now revealing that exposure to chemicals such as perfluorochemicals, flame retardants and volatile organic compounds have adverse health effects.

For instance, when shopping for a new couch you may notice selling features such as stain and water resistance. These features require the use of perfluorochemicals, such as Scotchguard and Teflon, which may be linked to cancer as well as birth defects.

Flame retardants, also known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have been used in furniture, beds, computers and televisions. After extensive studies demonstrating PBDE's health effects relating to interference with thyroid glands, two forms of PBDEs are now being phased out. A third form of PBDEs is still currently used in electronics. Different types of flame-retardant chemicals are now being used in the production of mattresses, including boric acid, silicone and phosphates.

Alternatively, the mattress may be wrapped in barrier cloths made from flame-resistant fibres, such as melamine and polyvinylidene chloride (PVC). Newly installed carpets contain many chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used during the manufacturing process. That new carpet smell is actually a combination of VOCs associated with respiratory and neurological problems as well as cancer.

In a process known as off-gassing, VOCs will slowly evaporate into the air from that new carpet, and other products and materials such as furniture, cabinetry, flooring, paints, glues and coatings, thereby reducing your home's indoor air quality.

Formaldehyde, a VOC widely used as an adhesive and binder in cabinetry and flooring, will off-gas from these materials. According to the California Air Resource Board, exposure to low or moderate levels of formaldehyde can result in eye and upper respiratory tract irritation, headache and rhinitis.

Your health is intrinsically linked to the health of your environment, particularly your home environment. There are several simple, proactive steps you can take to reduce exposure to home-sourced chemical, allergen and toxins.

[Julie Hardy is the founder of JMH Home Environmental Solutions (www.jmhsolutions. ca 604-879-0713) and a green building project manager with the Light House Sustainable Building Centre.]

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