Question from Kelly

I love using my breadmaker. However, the loaf pan has a non-stick surface. Are there any breadmakers that do not have a non-stick loaf pan?

Debra’s Answer

Not that I know of, but I don’t particularly keep up with all the breadmakers, as eat gluten-free.

Readers? Any suggestions?

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Question from Percyfaith

I am looking for a healthy material chair mat for my computer desk. Don’t know if there is such a thing. I have a low pile carpet in the room and over my lifetime have mostly used the cheap mats at office supply stores. I am more sensitive now and the 2 mats we have have cracked and need replacing. I found a mat I liked (size and price) but it was made of polycarbonate. I know that is avoided in drinking bottles but not sure if it is ok for flooring mats. Do you know a healthy material and a source? I don’t not have much money to spend either.

Debra’s Answer

The issue in drinking bottles is that the water is sitting in the bottle for a long period, having a lot of contact time with the plastic, which leaches BPA into the water.

BPA does not particularly emit vapors into the air from polycarbonate, it’s a contact issue.

This mat should be fine. The only caution I would give you is to not walk on it with bare feet and especially don’t have bare feet sitting on the mat for hours on end while you are working at the desk. Any plastic can be absorbed through the skin by contact, especially long period of contact where heat and moisture from your feet can increase leaching.

Question from sara

Hello – where did you get your sofa cushions? Coil spring w/organic cotton? I’ve heard that children with allergies should not use organic latex cushions due to potential sensitization due to offgassing, especially if they are allergic to avocado, kiwi, milk, etc.

Debra’s Answer

I had mine custom-made.

I bought an old sofa at an auction and had it all stripped down, then repadded with organic cotton batting and covered with 100% linen fabric (this was before organic upholstery fabric was available).

Your upholsterer should be able to get coil spring cushions for you.

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Question from raftergirl

Debra–Thanks for your work in hosting this Q&A, I rely on it for lots of decisions! So thanks!

I have a question about Gyp-Crete. Here is the MSDS link: http://www.maxxon.com/MSDS/MSDS_MAXXON_UNDERLAYMENTS.pdf

I have MCS and we may put down radiant floor heating to provide safe heat. Our contractor suggested using Gyp-Crete instead of regular cement to house the tubing because it is much less weight (we are retrofitting the system into an older house). We would finish out the Gyp-Crete as our flooring (no wood or tile on top).

Since the Gyp-Crete will be heated I want to be sure if won’t off gass. This is a concern to me as I’m very chemically sensitive. The MSDS sheet says it is primarily Gypsum and Portland Cement. But it does have a list of other additives. What do you think?

Thanks so much!

Debra’s Answer

This looks fine to me in terms of offgassing. All of the ingredients listed are particles, not gasses, and once bound up in the cement they will not be released with heat in the same way gasses are released.

Be careful about the finish applied, as that WILL outgas vapors until all the solvent has outgassed.

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Question from AnnaDella

Debra, do you think Restoration Hardware’s 100% wool rugs are as good as BioCarpet? They seem to cost exactly the same with carpet pad-all wool–and the experience is such an upper, but the 2 dealers who sell the Earthweave carpet are not a good experience.

I got a quote from the local dealer, but then received the RH gorgeous catalog for baby nurseries in the mail. The color & weaves is the same, and the price was even a couple hundred dollars less. If it doesn’t smell like camel urine, then don’t you think we are safe, even if they are made in India? they have no synthetic backing or adhesive.

Here is the Biocarpet/Earthweave:
Natural Wool Carpet, Non Toxic, Green, High Quality –Earth Weave Carpet Mills, Inc.

Here is a picture of Restoration Hardware Natural wool rug-very very similar:
Chunky Braided Wool Rug – Cream | Ben Soleimani for RH | Restoration Hardware

This link tells about the man who does their rugs, & the quality
‎images.restorationhardware.com/media/articles/RH_DreamWeaver_BenSoleimani.pdf

Restoration Hardware just opened a multi-story stunning showroom in Houston, and is full of creative interior designers. I hope you think their wool rug looks as high quality as your standards–I think it is not camel pee stinky or adhesive stinky, and the prices & softness/quality seem to even exceed the Biocarpet experience.

Debra’s Answer

First I want to say that two products don’t need to meet the same standards in order for you to choose one or the other. The question for me is not does the Restoration Hardware carpet compare with Biocarpet, but does it meet the basic standards I would apply to choosing a carpet.

The answer appears to be yes. I say “appears to be” because I can only go by the description, I’m not looking at the actual carpet.

The thing I would check is what pesticides may be applied in manufacture, and even if there are none, always assume that pesticides are sprayed in shipping containers from India, and that would be a reason to go with the Made-in-USA Bioweave. Packaging may be sufficient to protect this rug from India during it’s travels, but it’s an unknown.

It’s is a beautiful carpet. I agree.

Question from Dawn

Hi Debra, Do you have any thoughts on a product called Bora Care? We are considering purchasing a home that is being sprayed with Bora Care for a fungus issue in the crawl space. By state law it can only be applied once which makes me concerned about its safety. I am having a hard time locating information on its safety. We will be renovating the house before we move in so several months will pass after the treatment. Any help you can provide would be appreciated!!! Love your site!

Debra’s Answer

It’s actually one of the safest termite treatments on the market. Read about it at ePestSupply: Bora-Care

Pregnant women exposed to higher levels of the chemical bisphenol A gave birth to baby boys with lower thyroid hormones, according to a new study published today. The study by University of California, Berkeley, scientists is the first to link the ubiquitous chemical – found in hard plastics, canned foods and paper receipts – to altered thyroid hormones in babies, and it adds to evidence that BPA may have some effects on fetuses. For every doubling of the mothers’ BPA levels, there was a 9.9 percent decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormones in their baby boys. No significant effect was detected in the girls. Scientists do not know what, if anything, the reductions in thyroid hormones might mean for the health of the babies because their levels remained within the range considered normal. But previous research suggests that reduced thyroid hormones might impair learning abilities and motor skills because they control brain development.

Read more at Environmental Health News: Study finds lower thyroid hormones in baby boys exposed to BPA