Question from Julia

I am thinking of moving into an apartment that used Howard Restor-A-Finish on the wooden kitchen cabinets. Do you think this product is as bad as polyurathane, which is my worst trigger? Do you think it would be safe to live there 2-3 weeks after they applied Restor-A-Finish? http://www.howardproducts.com/prod-restor-a-finish.php Thank you for any advice you may have.

Debra’s Answer

According to the Restor-A-Finish MSDS the product contains a number of hazardous ingredients, however they are all very volatile and would evaporate over time.

Heat will speed the process.

If polyurethane is your worse trigger, I would look for an apartment that has cabinets that were not recently refinished.

Add Comment

Question from Julia

Are Bamboo bedsheets that are 100% viscose safe for people with MCS? If not, what kind of chemical free sheets do you recommend?

Debra’s Answer

As always, I cannot recommend anything as “safe for people with MCS” because each person with MCS has their own individual sensitivities, often even to materials that are not toxic.

I can say that I consider bamboo viscose to be not inherently toxic.

Add Comment

Question from Mary

I have a pet peeve and I’d like your opinion. I frequently see advertisements with the message printed in white or colored ink against a solid black backgrouond. My assumption is that black ink uses more petrochemicals than lighter colors and therefore printing the message on a lighter background is more ecological. Also, if the paper is recycled it will require more bleach. I am hoping that if you publish this, perhaps eventually it will reach various publishers and they will be moved to change their procedures. Or am I all wet?

Debra’s Answer

I understand!

Black ink would use more black pigment than lighter colors, yes, but I’m not sure it’s petrochemicals. Iron oxide is also used as a black pigment, and that is a naturally occurring mineral.

And yes, if the paper is then recycled, it might require more bleach to get this black ink out.

Add Comment

Question from Donna

What are your thoughts on the risks of living close to a golf course (i.e. exposure to air-borne residue and chemicals leaching into well water) ? What is a safe distance to live from a golf course?

Debra’s Answer

Beyond Pesticides has compiled a comprehensive resource for information on golf courses and their impact on health and the environment. Look there for more information on the dangers of the pesticides used.

I think the answer to your question about a safe distance to live from a golf course varies a lot with the golf course, the pesticides used and how deep your water table is.

I’ve read studies that say to live at least 300 feet from a pollution source, such as a highway, gas station, or dry cleaners, so I would think a golf course would be the same. That’s the length of a football field.

But air is moving all the time, and pesticides can easily be carried on a breeze.

In an urban or suburban area it’s difficult to find a spot that is more than 300 feet from one pollution source or another.

I live two miles from a small golf course, about 6 blocks by 6 blocks square. I have no idea what pesticides they use or don’t use. I’ve not noticed any problems with pesticide drift from this golf course.

Add Comment

Question from Mommy_of_Sebastian_and_Gabrielli

Hi Debra! I am wondering if there is a natural way to get a musty smell out of my older son’s Naturepedic wool/cotton mattress. It was stored in a closet in our home for a year or so, and now it smells…I guess from lack of air circulation? my husband doesn’t notice it, but I certainly do! It has a waterproof coating on it. It is only two and a half years old, was only used for a year, and cost $300, so I’d like to try to salvage it for my younger son if possible. Thank you for any suggestions you can offer! ~Melissa

Debra’s Answer

Musty odors are the result of moisture in the air, so if you had wrapped it in polyethylene plastic to be water and air tight, this might have been prevented. The odor is from a mold.

I would say try putting it in the sun or a heated room with nothing else in the room, vented to the outdoors.

My concern is that the mold causing the may have penetrated into the mattress. This would depend on the amount of moisture.

Breathing musty air can cause respiratory problems, so if you can’t clean this up to the point where you can’t smell it, it would be better and less expensive in the long run to get a new mattress.

You also might contact Naturepedic with this question.

Question from nancy williams

Hi Debra, Do you know whether any chemically sensitive people have been able to tolerate a new product called “Zero Odor”. It is proprietary ingredients, but claims to encapsulate the odor molecules, and eliminate them rather than covering them up. I am having difficulty finding a used minivan with stow and go seats, as they all have smoke or air fresheners. This recent product says it works on smoke odor. Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

Has anyone tried Zero Odor?

Looking for a link to their website, I also found SCOE 10X “Immediate & Permanent Odor Elimination Technology.” They say it “is completely non-toxic, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, environmentally friendly and very safe to use. SCOE 10X ;contains no biocidal properties whatsoever.”

“SCOE 10X contains no fragrances, alcohols or solvents (found in most other odor eliminator products like Febreze, ZeroOdor and Urine Gone) which are potentially dangerous.”

Anyone tried SCOE 10x?

Add Comment

Question from NS

I was just about to buy a latex mattress, and found out that during the process of making latex they use zinc oxide and sulfur. They also use ammonia, but said they use a de-ammoniation afterwards. He said that it might not get all of the ammonia out though.

I’m very wary now to purchase a latex mattress. They are very expensive, and for what I have to pay for one, I don’t want any chemicals.

I have a couple of questions: 1. Is iron oxide and sulfur bad? 2. Which mattress do you think would be less toxic: a Savvy Rest latex mattress(using talalay & dunlop), or an organic cotton/wool innerspring Royal Pedic mattress? I know innerspring mattresses aren’t optimal because of EMFs, but now I’m really concerned about the stuff added to latex.

I would love your input on this. Thanks for any information.

Debra’s Answer

I’m not concerned about EMFs in innerspring mattreses see EMFs and Innerspring Mattresses: A Correction.

Iron oxide and sulfur are both natural elements.

Iron oxide is not toxic, but it is what is known as a “nuisance dust” and so can cause lung irritation if present in high amounts. I don’t think a latex mattress would give off much, if any, iron oxide.

Sulfur is not toxic in small amount or in it’s natural state. Again, the breathing of sulfur dust is a hazard more than toxicity (damage to cells). When burned, sulfur turns into sulfur dioxide or hydrogen sulfide, which are very toxic gasses.

I don’t know how much of either of these substances may be left in latex by the time it goes through processing.

I personally won’t sleep on a latex mattress or pillow because I can’t tolerate the latex itself. But I recommend them as a natural alternative to polyurethane foam, if others want to use them. It is also very common for people to develop allergies to latex from repeated exposure, as in wearing rubber gloves.

By contrast, an organic cotton mattress has fewer chemicals but an innerspring mattress has EMF problems with the metal coils.

Question from Sunny S.

Hi Debra! I am packing away baby clothes for a possible one in the far future 🙂 Right now the clothes are in the house in cardboard boxes but they are soon moving into the garage. I’m afraid of smells and whatever else might get into the boxes (moths, mold, etc.)if they are not sealed. I’m trying to stay away from toxic plastic. Are there non-toxic storage containers out there big enough for storing clothes or are there non-toxic trash bags I should wrap the clothes in and then put in the cardboard boxes? Thank you in advance!

Debra’s Answer

Yes! I have the perfect thing for you.

A few years ago my husband and I were planning a move back to California (which we never did) and started to sort through our things, selling and giving some away, and packing blankets, clothing, and other such items.

We found Hefty One Zip Big Bags which are like zip-lock sandwich bags, only huge. They are made from the same polypropylene, so toxic exposure is practically nonexistent. I still use these for storage if I want to store something in the garage and make sure it doesn’t get damaged.

Most of the sandwich bag manufacturers make big bags. I’ve tried them all and like Hefty the best because the zip lock has a slider and it is easier to zip. Also the zip is more secure than other’s I’ve tried.

Question from Tjay Math

My spouse is extremely ill & also suffers from severe MCS. We recently purchased some flannel bed sheets from a reputable company. The product was Oeko-Tex® certified but the dye odor was extreme, even after frequent washings. We were led to believe that Oeko-Tex® certified meant chemically free. Should we be looking for different certification for MCS safe product?

Debra’s Answer

First, Oeko-Tex® does not certify anything to be “MCS-safe.” And further, nobody could do that because each person with MCS has their own sensitivities, even to products that are nontoxic. For example, organic cotton is about as chemical-free a material as you can get, but some people with MCS do not tolerate it because of the natural oils that remain in organic cotton that are not processed out.

Certification organizations set a standard and then test products and certify that they meet that standard. In most cases, they certify to LOW emissions, not NO emissions.

My recommendation for more than thirty years has been for people with MCS to choose products of the lowest toxicity they can find. There are products that exist with NO fragrance, NO formaldehyde, etc. I do my best to list them at debraslist.com and in this Q&A blog.

Evaluate products for yourself. Don’t rely on certifications.

Add Comment

Question from Margaret L

HI, Has anyone had successful experience with cleaning upholstery that has been contaminated by pesticides? (possibly petroleum solvents too)

My car seats got contaminated and for the time being I’ve been driving around with plastic bags atop them to protect myself. I was thinking of applying a heavy coat of white vinegar with a mini fogger. Or maybe some kind of baking soda solution.

But I know nothing of the science or chemical feasibiliy of these ideas actually working. So, any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Debra’s Answer

Polyethylene plastic will block fumes if it is at least 5 mil thick, but it would be better to remove the toxic substance.

Unfortunately, we are dealing here with manmade chemicals that do not break down when exposed to natural solutions like baking soda or vinegar.

I once had success removing a pesticide by calling the manufacturer and asking what the “cleanup chemical” was. It turned out the ordinary household bleach would break the chemical bonds of this pesticide. I had bleach applied to the area and in fact, the pesticide did break down and dissipate. This would be my recommendation.

Add Comment