The air inside our homes is 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside, even in the middle of the city. Why? A little history…

The study of indoor air quality (IAQ) began in the 1970s. It started by accident. Early researchers into smog and ozone depletion set out to measure the impacts of car exhaust and spewing refineries. What they found was that a significant percentage of chemicals in the atmosphere weren’t from the obvious culprits — burning fumes and smoke — but were instead seeping invisibly out of our buildings; out of our vinyl siding, our paints, our shingles. This caused them to take a look inside.

And it coincided with the energy crisis, when everyone was newly motivated to make homes better insulated. Layers of fibreglass and plastic vapour barriers were coming into common use. Homes were getting tightly sealed to keep out cold air and drafts. Whereas older homes were allowing a complete resupply of new air every hour, the new homes were taking five hours to complete the exchange.

Combine that with the fact our furniture was being made from synthetic foams, our walls were being covered with paints with toxic VOCs, our cabinets, floors and walls were being made from particle boards containing urea-formaldehyde glues and our cleaning products were no longer vinegar, water and baking soda, but newly concocted chemicals.

And then 30 years went by. We continued without a substantial change of course. Over the decades, people have been hit with a rash of home and environmental illnesses, known generally assick building syndrome.

“Baby bottles. Deodorants. A favourite overstuffed sofa. These items, so familiar and apparently harmless, are now sources of pollution at least as serious as the more industrial-grade varieties described above,” say Dr. Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, in their book, Slow Death By Rubber Duck. Their research studies chemicals found in our bloodstreams and links them back to household exposures.

In the past decade, we’ve started taking the issue more seriously. The paint industry has begun to regulate VOC content. The use of formaldehyde in particle-board products is declining and there is an increasing array of healthier options available to the educated consumer, ranging from household cleaners to furniture and even mattresses.

There are naturally occurring air quality problems as well. Radon gas is a byproduct of uranium breakdown and the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. This invisible, odourless gas seeps up from below our homes. Thoroughly studied in Europe, a recent study at the University of Calgary by Dr. Aaron Goodarzi found at least 1 in 8 homes in and around Calgary have elevated radon levels. Radon affects homes in every part of the country.

“The way the house is constructed has most of the influence,” says U of C Prof. Gerald Osborn, who is in the early stages of testing the implications of underground geological input. “New houses tend to have more radon than old houses because they’re constructed better, so they’re tighter. The radon that comes in the bottom can’t get out the top.”

Testing for radon is not that pricey and remediation methods are available. Near 100 per cent reduction of the gas is possible with advanced methods, but findings show that even simple measures like running fans to increase airflow will significantly decrease radon levels. This is sure to be true for other chemicals in your air, as well.

We’re making progress, but we aren’t out of the woods. Spend a few minutes watching TV and you’re sure to see ads for memory foam beds, fragranced dryer sheets or chemical cleaners. Some things are slow to change, and many industries have little to no accountability for concerns of health and wellness. But awareness is increasing. Following the growth of the organic food movement, people are seeking out clean, natural alternatives.

Will sitting on your couch ever be as fresh and invigorating as sitting next to a waterfall? Not likely. But there are ways to get it closer. And for those of us always looking to improve our health, feel better and live longer, it’s something to start getting serious about.

As we learned from the BPA/phthalate water bottle issue, things can change fast. Almost overnight people were ditching what they thought were healthy plastic bottles and stocking up with stainless or glass.

Clothing is a new can of worms. From formaldehyde used in no-iron garments, to carcinogenic flame-retardant chemicals used on polyesters and baby clothing, to an array of questionable dyes, to PFCs used in water- and stain-proofing, there are many things to watch out for.

Why aren’t we more concerned? The most obvious reason is that we are delving into human processes that aren’t well publicized.

“As difficult as it might be to believe, mainstream manufacturers and regulatory authorities appear unaware of the high permeability of skin, or else simply choose to ignore this as a critical concern,” writes Dr. Samuel Epstein, cancer prevention researcher at the University of Illinois and author of many books, including Toxic Beauty: How Cosmetics and Personal-Care Products Endanger Your Health… and What You Can Do About It.

Skin is much more absorbent than we think. Some argue it is more permeable and less selective than our intestines. Different substances absorb at different rates, but given that levels of thousands of chemicals, including flame-retardants and PFCs are found in the bloodstreams of virtually all humans, it’s time to start taking the issue seriously. For many of these chemicals, safe levels have not been determined. Common sense dictates that the closer our levels are to zero, the better off we are.

So how do we protect ourselves?

Fortunately, we have options. Icebreaker founder Jeremy Moon saw the need for something different and created a line of products centred around merino wool.

“There was nothing natural on the market, only synthetics made of petrochemicals such as polyester or polypropylene. We wanted to offer a natural choice to outdoor enthusiasts. There had to be a better choice for your skin than plastic.,” he says. “To do this, we turned to nature for answers.”

Merino wool is a natural fibre that many say feels and performs better than synthetics. Other natural materials are out there. Organic cottons are super comfortable, but less popular for athletic wear and companies such as Gramicci have been pushing forward initiatives to develop performance hemp clothing.

As enthusiasts, we still crave performance and that’s why synthetics are so popular. They are light, keep you dry, keep you cool, keep you warm. The switch to merino and natural fibres for our base layers and our casual wear is easy, but what about the gear? Waxed canvas isn’t going to cut it.

There’s good news on that front too. In response to the urging of scientists that the use of compounds such as PFCs be drastically cut back, industry players are stepping up to the challenge. While most companies use textiles from other sources (Gore-tex, etc.), the design team at Columbia has been hard at work in their lab and has recently released their revolutionary new Outdry fabric. This lightweight, 2-layer material is free of PFCs, in the coating and the membrane. Their Outdry Extreme Eco jacket was recently released. It is dye-free and the lining is made from 21 recycled plastic bottles.

Speaking with the designers, they were proud to see the direction the industry is heading. “As much as it’s great to feel all warm and fuzzy working on a project like this, it’s also a business decision,” says Columbia designer Scott Trepanier. Though it hasn’t hit mainstream conversation yet, the rumblings are out there: people are starting to think about healthier and more environmentally responsible options and they need to stay ahead of the trend.

So what’s in my shirt? The bad news is that it’s not always easy to know. And there are ingredients, treatments, sprays and dyes that go into clothing that are detrimental to our health. The good news is that things are changing. People are asking for change and companies are starting to deliver. Will the future be safe and pure and healthy? Unlikely. Nothing is ever perfect. Our health and performance is the goal, so it’s always best to make an educated choice, one that works today and for the long-term.