However, there is increasing concern about our 'toxic' homes. National Geographic's October issue highlighted some of the nasties that are invading our dwellings. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are a necessary evil, it seems. They are used as flame retardants, and according to National Geographic, are building up rapidly in our bodies.

PBDEs can be found in foam mattresses and pillows, carpet and carpet padding, chair cushions, hair dryers, phones, electronics and electrical equipment such as coffeemakers, blenders, microwaves and toasters.

Phthalates . . . dubbed the chemical for all seasons by National Geographic . . . have an array of uses, including making vinyl flexible. They are used in shower curtains, vinyl flooring, wallpaper and blinds, and lawn furniture.

Pesticides are also lurking in the home, and researchers have linked some to asthma and neurological, developmental and immunological problems. Antimicrobal soap and even flowers from the garden can be sources.

Scratch- and stain-resistant coatings may appear to make life easier but have you thought about the PFAs behind them? Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is used in fabrics and to make nonstick pans, according to National Geographic. High doses can cause cancer, it says.

Metals can make you ill too.

Old paint contains lead and your pressure-treated deck can expose your family to arsenic and chromium.

The Gaia Natural House Book: Creating a Healthy and Ecologically Sound Home by David Pearson, with foreword by Kevin McCloud, warns that furnishings may be filled with highly flammable or toxic-treated polyurethane foam and upholstered with synthetic fabrics. Kitchen units and living room or bedroom furniture may be constructed of processed boards containing formaldehyde, glued with vaporous adhesives and finished with plastic.

According to the author, homes still suffer from the older generation of pollutants, fumes and gases produces by poor combustion in open fires, stoves, cookers and heating appliances; lead in water pipes; mould, bacteria and airborne organisms.

Modern consumer products such as household cleaners, polishes, toiletries, and home improvement materials can all be dangerous, he says.

Complementary therapist Joan Ryan, who specialises in reflexology and kinesiology, has long been concerned about formaldehyde and chemical cocktails in the home and uses muscle-testing as an indicator of whether furniture is a healthy purchase.

Alternative and complementary practitioners use kinesiology testing as a diagnostic method. By testing the strength of various muscles in the body, the level of functioning of organs, the digestive system, glands, bone and circulation is calculated.

"Muscle testing in kinesiology is used to determine energy imbalances in the body and to find out what organs are affected. I also work with the central nervous system and treat the body physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and nutritionally, " says Ryan.

Ryan says she applies the same principle to furnishings. "Clients were coming to me with symptoms of poisoning. As well as checking their bodies, I started looking around their houses. After getting them checked for geopathic stress, there were still some underlying problems."

The Portlaoise-based complementary therapist says the muscle testing works by asking clients to stretch out their arms. "Gentle pressure is applied to the area above the wrist and if the product is toxic, the client's arm weakens noticeably, " she maintains.

"If it is safe, the outstretched arm remains steady and strong."

While she admits that people are sceptical to see her muscle-testing furniture in a store, or to be asked to bring her sample materials for analysis, she argues that she has had results, with adults reporting improved wellbeing and children's sleeping patterns improving as a result of her work.

"There are a lot of furnishings and fabrics out there that are cheap and nasty.

Being expensive doesn't mean furniture is healthy either, " says Ryan. "Children are dribbling onto pillows which contain arsenic, " she says. "Formaldehyde is used in a lot of household products like rugs and furnishing fabrics, and building materials. If there is a lot of it in a small space, it can irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat and has been associated with breathing problems, headaches and nausea, and it is also thought to be carcinogenic."

Ryan recommends a move towards natural building materials such as hemp and sheep's wool, wooden floors, organic paints and organic cotton and eco-friendly household cleaners. She also advocates keeping dwellings well ventilated.

Jane Hall who owns the Ecoshop in Wicklow, has noticed a big trend towards products such as Auro's water-based paints; organic cotton bed linen, towels and cushions, and cleaning materials.

"We get a lot of young mothers concerned about what they are washing their babies, and their clothing, in, " she says.

Those with allergies and respiratory complaints are also being careful about what they buy for their homes, Hall says. A new range of organic cotton bedding from Portugal is due in within the next few weeks and Hall is considering going into bigger items of furniture.

Design Fortnight has just finished at the Sustainable Ireland Co-Operative, having showcased gems such as the sleek Iameco personal computers, made almost entirely from environmentally friendly materials and housed in stunning solid wooden cases. These 'green' computers come with matching wood finish keyboards, mice and flatscreen monitors, which double as highdefinition TVs.

Paul Maher of Dublin company MicroPro developed Iameco. He was irked by the materials such as brominated flame-retardants, PVCs and heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury often used in computer manufacture, along with the notion of planned obsolescence.

Spurred into action 15 years ago after seeing a young girl in a developing country disassembling a computer with a blowtorch, he has worked to create a powerful environmentally friendly computer that also boasts cutting-edge cool. Now Maher hopes to achieve a European Eco label for his zero-waste canny computers.

Also featured in the Cultivate display was Dublin designer Leo Scarff 's Lightweave-Stack maple veneer lamp and Kate Cronin's biodegradable cup, which has a rim impregnated with herb seeds.

"People loved the look of the products, and were really taken with the Iameco computer, " according to Erik van Lennep who produced Design Fortnight.

"We need to get away from preconceived notions of what we think environmentally friendly products should look like."

Cork postgraduate student John Denis O'Leary came up with two table lamps, one made from 'Plaswood', composed of 30% waste from supermarkets and 70% production-factory waste, with linen-cloth rolled to form its shade, and the second with a shade composed of 26 coneshaped disposable paper drinking cups on a bamboo stick with a handblown glass vase.

O'Leary also created a handmade side table from discarded wood parts and assorted metal fasteners, and a bench from reclaimed furniture parts.

While the exhibition has concluded, plenty of funky items can be picked up at the Sustainable Ireland Co-Operative. The line-up for Christmas includes solar iPod chargers, eco kettles and log makers.

It all goes to show that breathing easily while making a style statement is possible.

CONTACTS >> The Eco Shop, Unit 1, Glen of the Downs Garden Centre, Killmacanogue, Co Wicklow, 01287 2914; www. ecoshop. ie >> Iameco, 98 Nutgrove Avenue, Dublin 14, 01-493 0514;

www. iameco. com >> Sustainable Ireland Co-Operative, 15-19 Essex Street West, Dublin 8, 01-674 6396;

www. sustainable. ie >> Joan Ryan is planning on running an information session on muscle testing furniture in Laois within the coming weeks. Further information from 057-867 8000