Question from jo

Hi, Hoping that you and your readers can offer me some insight. My daughter is scheduled to start 1st grade next fall. The school she is supposed to go to has had some serious construction/renovation/additions. The odor was so overpowering this year that I pulled her out and had her go to an overflow school that she previously went to and that has had no construction. In the fall she will have no choice but to move to the school with all the outgassing. They are scheduled to do huge amounts of additional construction starting in jan 2013 and to continue through the summer, so no doubt the outgassing will be even worse when she is to start in the fall. My other option is to try and “choice” her into a school nearby. Unfortunately that school is a little less than 1/2 mile from a major highway. It is not inner city but more treed suburbia. But still that is a lot closer to highway pollution than I would prefer my 5 year old to spend 7 hours of each day. So how do I know which is worse? help!

Debra’s Answer

Well first of all, you do have a right to have your daughter have a safe environment at school, and you are right that new construction will be outgassing toxic chemicals, particularly since they probably are taking no precautions otherwise.

I would consider her regular school to be more toxic with the new construction, than a school without construction 1/2 mile from a freeway.

But could we think outside the box here? New construction is likely to make all the children sick to one degree or another. Could they do less toxic construction? Move classes to a different building? Could some parents get together and homeschool children until the new construction is done outgassing?

Go to the school board now and voice your concerns.

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Question from Rachel Jones

I am looking for mcs safe housing. I found a really good place except that the landlord recently used a minwax oil based wood stain marker on a few areas that had been knicked (the wood on the walls). Three areas in all. It was done over a week ago. they don’t open the windows because corn is nearby and they are concerned about particulate debris. Do you know how long it might be til it is safe? They were small areas apparently but I smell it as I walk in the house. Is there a safe way to remediate it so I can live there? I have had bad experience with minwax floor finish in the past.

Debra’s Answer

It will eventually outgas. Heat will make it outgas faster. Since they are small areas, I would think you could take a hair dryer to those areas to speed drying time, but make sure you have ventilation and wear a mask or have someone else do it.

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Question from Irene

I purchased a furniture set made mostly of birch wood (manufactured by College Woodworks), however, it was painted with oil paint. Two years passed since the purchase, and I can still recognize some smell coming from the paint. Is it toxic? Thank you for your answer in advance.

Debra’s Answer

It can take oil paint a long time to cure completely. If you are still smelling it, it’s still emitting chemicals that are no less toxic than they were two years ago.

Heat can make it outgas faster.

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Question from amy

Debra so naturepedic claims to have organic mattresses……how do i know that these mattresses are truly organic? What questions should I ask the representative that I talk to, what should I look for. I made the mistake, not knowing about offgassing and last year purchased my son a typicaI mattress which i am sure is flame retardant. I feel terrible….I feel like I need to have him sleep in something else until I replace it, but I want to get it right this time. Please help!!!

Debra’s Answer

You know that Naturepedic mattresses are organic because they have certifications by independent third parties and display their certification certificates on their website (see www.naturepedic.com/certifications/).

They are a GOTS Certified Organic Mattress Manufacturer, which means that GOTS has examined the entire manufacture of their mattress and found it to meet their stringent standards from start to finish.

Note that Naturepedic displays ALL their certification certifications to substantiate their claims.

By contrast I just want to tell you a story. Recently I called a major mattress manufacturer who is making environmental and health claims about some of their mattresses. Their website does not substantiate the claim. I called them for more information about a claim they had made that part of the mattress material was certified to be free from hazardous chemical emissions. They had no certificate. It wasn’t just that it wasn’t on their website, they didn’t have the certificate at all. I was told that the certificate was issued to the manufacturer of the fabric. They didn’t even get it from the manufacturer. They wouldn’t give me the name of the manufacturer that held the certificate. Needless to say, I am not recommending this mattress to you.

This is how you tell if something really is what it claims to be. You ask for substantiation of claims. You look at the integrity of the company, their reputation, who’s recommending them.

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Question from Sarah

Are there any silicone bakewear products that are safe? What to watch out for? I saw a popsicle mold today advertising “made with ” polypropylene” Is this really safe? Presidents Choice brand. thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Silicone bakeware products have been discussed elsewhere on this site…but I wanted to answer this question because of the way it was asked.

“Silicone” is NOT “polypropylene.” They are two completely different substances.

Polypropylene is one of the safer plastics, if you are going to use plastic. It’s the plastic used to make plastic sandwich bags and food storage tubs. So if you are comfortable using those, feel comfortable using this popsicle mold.

Should you not use polypropylene? It’s not high on my list of the most important things to avoid, but if I have a choice to use some other material, I do.

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According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control, girls exposed to high levels of dichlorobenzene had their first period seven months earlier than girls with lower exposure.

The age when a girl has her first period has fallen over the past century from an average of 16-17 years to 12-13 years.

This study is the first to link dichlorobenzene with the age of girls’ first period. In addition to mothballs, dichlorobenzene is found in solid blocks of toilet bowl deodorizers and air fresheners.

Read more at Environmental Health News: Early puberty? Girls exposed to household chemical menstruate earlier, CDC study finds