Question from ENrico

Hey Debra, I purchased the Sultan heggedal mattress from Ikea. I wanted to know your opinion if it is a good opinion. Does it off gas VOC? Thank you

Debra’s Answer

Here is the Product Description from Ikea:

Product description

This isn’t 100% natural, but I don’t see any horribly toxic components I would be concerned about. Looks like they are using a wool layer to meet the fire retardant standards, but it would be worth double checking with them about this.

Synthetic latex and polyester are made from petrochemicals but they are present in small amounts.

Lyocell is a regenerated cellulose fiber made from bleached wood pulp.

PLA is a polyester derived from renewable resources, including corn starch, tapioca starch or sugarcane (in the rest of the world).

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Question from Karen B

I have finally found an affordable apt I would like to rent- currently I live in a VERY toxic place. But the new apt had recent work done to it including new vinyl floors (in kit and bath only, hardwood elsewhere). Can you tell me how bad this might be: Daejin America, Decoria vinyl Travertine, DF-502. I read that these floors have a double uv cured coat of polyurethane and microceramic coating. I just need to make a decision on this by Dec 24. Any input appreciated! The place has about 10 cross ventilating windows compared to the only 2 that I now have where I live!

Debra’s Answer

It’s hard to say how bad those vinyl floors might be. Usually I would say no…vinyl floors outgas a lot. But these have a cured polyurethane and microceramic coating which may encapsulate some of the outgassing.

Use your best judgement. Even with these floors, it sounds like this apartment is much less toxic than the existing one, and you could always add more layers of finish to the floor if outgassing is a problem. Or cover them with foil to block fumes and lay something else on top to walk on.

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Question from sandra vb

Hello!! Thank you for this opportunity. I have a dinnerware christmas set made in Romania “Arpo”, the dishes are so beautiful,colorful, when a see in the store I feel in love rigth away. But now I don’t know if they are diswhasher safe or toxic. Can you please let me know as much you can, and I like to know how much is worth. The set is 8 cups, 8 small plates, 8 medium plates, 8 plates for soup and 8 plates flat. Thank you very much for your time and you help.

Debra’s Answer

I have no way of knowing how toxic or nontoxic this dinnerware may be because I don’t have it here to test.

But I can tell you that brightly colored ceramics from foreign countries are exactly the type of dinnerware that might have lead in the paint or glaze and should be tested. You can get 3M LeadCheck Swabs at amazon.com if you don’t find them in a local hardware or home improvement store.

If the LeadCheck swabs test positive, there’s lead. If negative, they are lead-free.

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Question from Bunkie

Does anyone have any info on the Honeywell Hepa Clear Germ Reducing Airpurifier with Ultraviolet? I am trying to replace all my Hunter purifiers because all the new filters are treated with microban. The Honeywell is expensive and I am not sure if it i s worth the investment. If not this one I will have to try the Healthmate. Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Searching for a page with technical specs for this product, I came across this product at Wal-Mart which gave me the answer to just the question I was concerned about.

“The purifier itself has an Offensive odor. The purified air coming from it smells like cheap plastic. The charcoal filter did not change this odor. In fact nothing changed the odor of the purified air…Bottom line though, the one thing that is propelling me to return this item is its smell. So if you want clean air that smells clean this is not the unit for you.”

Enough said.

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Question from E.K

Hi Debra! I have been a big fan of your site, thank you so much for all your hard work! I was wondering if you had any information on Thermoplastic Rubber being used on slippers. I’m thinking of purchasing a pair but am finding anything solid online about this material. Thank you so much for your time!

Debra’s Answer

The term thermoplastic means that the material become pliable or moldable above a specific temperature and returns to a solid state when it cools. A stick of butter, for example, or an ice cube, is solid when cold and melts above a certain temperature. It can then be poured into a mold and formed into a new shape, and hold the shape when cooled, as long as it is not heated above the temperature than makes it melt.

The opposite of thermoplastic is thermoset, which means that the material will hold the shape regardless of the temperature. Plastic dice is an example of a thermoset.

Rubber is rubber, which can be made from the sap of the rubber tree, or from petroleum. Usually it is made from petroleum unless otherwise specified.

Thermoplastic rubber is more commonly called thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). This is a class of materials that have properties of both rubbers and thermoplastics.

The MSDS for one brand of thermoplastic rubber does not indicate any health problems from handling pellets of this material. It does warn of toxic fumes from melting down the pellets to put into molds to make various products. But in the formed state there is no warning.

Question from Gustavo

Hi Debra!

I read your “Guide to Creating a Green Bathroom” and I see that you put on your bathroom floor one-inch white hexagonal tiles. I’ve always wanted to have small white tiles on my bathroom floor, but always gave up due to the idea of having to clean all of the grout that most certainly would turn brown/black – and with these small tiles you get a lot of grout!!

I see that you used AFM grout sealer, which is nontoxic, but does it really keep the grout as white as it was on installation day? How long have you remodeled your bathroom, is the grout still white and clean? Have you reapplied the sealer so far? Many Thanks!! 🙂

Debra’s Answer

I remodeled my bathroom in 2006, so it’s been a little more than six years. Is the grout as white as it was on installation day? Well, yes and no. It depends on how much traffic on the particular area. And it will depend on how often you clean it and how you clean it.

I haven’t reapplied the sealer.

I would say six years later it’s still protecting the grout. When I clean the floor, dirt comes up easily, it’s not embedded in the grout.

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And “Tris, a suspected human carcinogen that was banned for use in baby pajamas in the 1970s, was the most prevalent compound in thecouches; it was found in 41 percent….Tris was found in 24 percent of sofas purchased before 2005. But in couches bought after that, it was found in 52 percent, showing that it has become increasingly popular since PentaBDE was phased out.”

If you are in the market for a couch…beware! See safe couches at Debra’s List: Furniture

Read more…

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A new nationwide survey of 2,600 obstetricians and gynecologists in the United States found that most do not warn their pregnant patients about chemicals in food, consumer products or the environment that could endanger their fetuses.

“Virtually all pregnant women have chemicals in their bodies that might harm fetal development.”

Monitoring of pregnant women found about 100 different chemicals, with 43 of them in all women tested. Lead, mercury, toluene, perchlorate, bisphenol A, flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, organochlorine pesticides and phthalates are among the chemicals, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s nationwide testing program.

“Studies suggest that for many these compounds, low-level exposures in the womb seem to disrupt development of the brain or reproductive systems. Others may raise the risk of birth defects, or lead to cancer, immune problems, asthma, fertility problems or other disorders later in life.

“Yet that information is not reaching most women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.”

Read more…

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A study published in the December issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that high levels of dichlorophenols are present in people with food allergies.

Dichlorophenols are a chemicals by-product of chlorine. The most common exposure is from drinking or bathing in tap water, but it’s also found in swimming pools, hot tubs, and any product that contains triclosan (used in antibacterial soaps and bodycare products and in products containing antimicrobials, such as kitchen towels, adding machines and other household items.

Some things to do to reduce your exposure to chlorine:

* get a water filter that removes chlorine from your drinking water and bathing water (an undersink or countertop filter plus a shower filter, or a whole house filter) Debra’s List: Water Filters

* avoid antibacterial soaps and other bodycare products

* avoid antibacterial products

Read more…

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Question from Carrie

Hi Debra, We are anticipating the arrival of our third child in a few weeks and of course, I am in nesting mode and evaluating/re-evaluating all our choices for this baby. We have a co-sleeper made by Arms Reach that we LOVE for the capacity to have the baby basinett attached to the bed. However ours is now about 8 yrs old (we bought it for our first child) and I have been wondering if the concerns of toxic molds off gassing are relevant to this product.

The mattress is made of polyurethane foam and the cover is polyester (when we bought it I hadnt yet found you/your site). Do I need to worry about these things off gassing and creating the same SIDS risks as in the older mattresses? I can buy a new, organic mattress from the company – made of latex and wool and covered in cotton, but while my children have yet to be allergic to latex, I am so I hesitate to do that.

Debra’s Answer

Older mattresses outgas less than newer mattresses because they are more outgassed, depending on age.

I’m not concerned about toxic MOLDS outgassing, unless the mattress has been stored in a damp place.

I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t encase it if you want to.

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