Question from Cathy

Hello, I have just purchased another of your books as I have found them so helpful through the years. My husband and I are hoping that when he retires in a year or so to move to a more healthy area.

I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. My allergy doctor says the mountains or seashore can sometimes be helpful. We have always loved Florida and are just starting to look at the west coast or perhaps the east around Titusville or surrounding areas. I hope Debra and other readers from Florida can chime in on this.

For one thing, and I read your updated report on how you live, how far from the coast do you think one can live, as the crow flies, to actually benefit from the clean sea breezes? I know when I walk on the beach my respiratory system feels better. I know we couldn’t afford a beach house, and we would be a bit worried of costs related to insurance and hurricanes. Any advice or cautions would be greatly appreciated.

Based on the weather records of the past several meteorologists share a common belief that the Clearwater area is in an advantageous position with respect to hurricanes. They call it a Native American blessing that has placed Clearwater in a strategic geographic location that has averted hurricane crisis to a great extent. The reason is this. If a hurricane must hit any one of the western cities of Florida, it must take a sharp turn going around the southern coast of Florida, which is rather an unusual phenomenon with hurricanes. This is why Clearwater has never had greater troubles with hurricanes.

Debra’s Answer

First let me say, about costs. Here is Florida the actual cost of houses is very low compared to other parts of the country. However, the insurance is very high by comparison because of hurricanes.

If you want to live close to the beach, do find out what the history of hurricanes are in that particular area. Where I live there hasn’t been a hurricane in I think 40 years or more. I’ve lived here ten years. Once it looked like a hurricane would hit, but it didn’t.

Just looked up about hurricanes in Clearwater. Here’s what it says on the Awesome Clearwater! website:

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Question from nancyk

What do you think of the new SmartSilk pillows, comforters, pads,etc. They are certified by the AAFA, which certifies a lot of things I don’t care for and the owner of Smart Silk agrees with me. I have a friend who got the mattress pad and adores it and it is washable in cold water.

Debra’s Answer

The description looks good to me: 100% silk fill, 100% cotton cover, no chemicals, no flame retardants, machine wash and dry…nothing toxic here and many benefits.

http://www.smartsilk.com/topic/27-our-silk_advantage.aspx

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Question from Annie

I’ve been using Post-It Notes for years and never had a problem with them.

The other day I bought a new package and the notes had an odor for the first time. Did they change their adhesive?

Debra’s Answer

I’ve been using Post-It Notes for years too and always appreciated that they were nontoxic and odor-free.

Yet, this past week I too purchased a new package and it had an odor for the first time.

So I called 3M Customer Service to ask about the adhesive.

They told me that they now use three different adhesives on their various Post-It products.

One is the original adhesive, which is what is used unless otherwise stated. I looked at the MSDS for Post-It Notes and it says only “adhesive” and that no health effects are expected from inhalation.

Then there is a stronger adhesive for the Super Sticky Notes. Again not toxic.

Question from Renee’

I was in my husbands 2010 MKS lincoln yesterday after it had been parked in the direct sun. Upon getting in, the smell was uncomfortable to me and I had to open the windows while driving. After a few hours, I was severly tired and laid on the bed and slept for 9 hours and woke in a stupor with my asthma full bloom, headache and extreme exhaustion. Do I see a doctor or will this pass? My husband was not affected.

Debra’s Answer

First, NOBODY SHOULD GET IN A CAR THAT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN. Car interiors are full of synthetic materials that are outgassing toxic chemicals all the time, but when a car sits in the sun, it turns into an oven that causes even more toxic chemicals to be released, often to very high levels.

Before getting into a car that has been sitting in the sun, open both doors and allow air to flow through before getting into the car. It will be cooler if you do this, too.

It sounds to me like your body was overwhelmed by toxic fumes released from the car interior.

Your reaction indicates to me your body has a very high body burden, and this exposure pushed you over the edge into symptoms.

You could visit a doctor, but it’s likely he won’t recognize this.

Here is a list of the types of healthcare professionals who could help you.

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Question from Maria Mag

I just purchased an antimicrobial toilet seat cover! It is plastic throughout. Are these safe to use? Will this affect skin at all?

Debra’s Answer

In order to answer this question I would need to know

You can try to get this information from the manufacturer.

Though there are different types of plastics and antimicrobials, as a general rule I try to stay away from them, especially if I can’t find out what type they are.

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Question from Gayle

I live on a pond that is experiencing a huge overgrowth of alge and vegatation. I can’t help if this is due to the extreme heat that MI has experienced , and the lack of rain. The homes around the pond wish to “treat” it. Is there a company whose products you promote as being “environmentally friendly” and as “nontoxic” as can be for this type of treatment? Thanks so much, Gayle

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any suggestions?

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Question from Jeff Mei

I am trying to find information about skin absorption of fluoride in bath water and laundry cloth contacting with skin. I got conflicting infomation. Now we are drinking and cooking with spring water to reduce the fluoride exposure. But we also need to take a shower and do the lawndry for the cloth using fluoride city water. We can not find a perfect whole house water filtration system since both alumnum and bone char are not perfect. We want to avoid a whole house water filtration system if we can convince that fluoride will be entering into human body by skin.

Debra’s Answer

About eight years ago, I did a lot of research on fluoride because they were about to add it to our local water supplies.

Here are some things I can tell you from that research.

The form of “fluoride” in drinking water today is not naturally occurring sodium or calcium fluoride, but fluorosilicic acid, a liquid that is a by-product of fertilizer manufacturing. Fluorosilicic acid itself is corrosive and highly toxic. It’s Material Safety Data Sheet warns “do not breathe vapor…do not get in eyes [or] on skin”.

And fluoride itself can be absorbed through the skin. There are many references. Just google “skin absorption of fluoride.”

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Question from Josh

I haven’t read your latest book “Toxic Free” but in “Home Safe Home” you’ve written about candles but not incense. Have you investigated incense burning and have you ever spoken about it?

Debra’s Answer

I investigated incense many years ago but haven’t written about it in a long time.

Basically, anything you burn produces combustion by-products, which is a combination of toxic gasses and particles. The more completely it burns, the fewer the combustion by-products and the safer it is to breathe.

An example is firewood. Freshly-cut firewood smokes a lot when it burns, “seasoned” firewood smokes very little.

Any kind of smoke is harmful to breathe.

With incense, the point is that it smokes, so there would be combustion by-products that are harmful. Would it be less because it’s natural? Well, tobacco is natural and breathing tobacco smoke causes cancer.

That was my logic in the past. Now we have studies.

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Question from Lisa

What is faux suede?

Debra’s Answer

Faux suede is a man-made fabric used in clothing, footwear, upholstery and accessory items. It is designed to look like real suede, which is a very soft leather made from animal skins.

Faux suede is made from 100% polyester, which is a plastic that can be woven into threads. To make faux suede, manufacturers use threads that are close to the weight and consistency of leather fibers.

Though polyester is only slightly toxic, it does outgas and can cause skin rashes that can be quite severe.

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Question from Mary in Tallahassee

I have complained to my utility about smart meter on my house and asked for an analog device. The utility has responded by agreeing to disconnect the transmission of the meter and having a person come to read the meter. When I pressed for an analog device, the utility said that they are no longer available anywhere. They said that digital is used worldwide. I asked for a used one, but they said that they simply are unavailable and that our utility system is too big for analog. What literature can I send them on the digital issue? How can I get an analog device? I understand that in California they are agreeing to analog for people who refuse digital smart meters.

Is it enough to get the smart meter transmission suspension? I thought from reading this blog that the digital appliance in itself was a hazard even if its transmission is suspended.

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Any advice or experience?

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