Question from Deborah Barnett

Does anybody know if the Nu Wave Oven’s are okay to use? If they’re healthy to use?

Debra’s Answer

This oven is made totally of plastic, including the part that surrounds the food. I don’t know the type of plastic, but do know that heat releases plastic fumes. This isn’t a product I personally would spend time researching. If you want to find out what type of plastic it is, I can tell you more.

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Question from HEG

I understand that it can be hazardous to live within a close proximity to a dry cleaning service center. However, I am wondering about whether it is safe to live in a building that is near a dry cleaning pick-up/drop-off center where there is no actual dry cleaning that takes place – just where people go to bring and pick up their clothes for dry cleaning. would there still be dangerously high levels of perc in the surrounding area, such that one would not want to live in a building a few doors away?

Debra’s Answer

I’m not concerned about a dry cleaning pick-up/drop-off if they are not actually doing the drycleaning there. There will be some residual solvent on the already cleaned clothing being picked up, but it will mostly be contained by the plastic wrapper.

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Question from joyinjesus

Thank you Debra for this wonderful website!

I have MCS and am trying to slowly go through my house and change out things that are toxic for non-toxic, or just get rid of it if I don’t need it. However, my health is bad so it is a very slow process.

I had bought some pictures (prints) years ago that I had planned to frame to decorate the bedroom and living room with. I had never bought frames and mats for them. Now I am wondering about the chemical issue of frames/mats/glass.

Can you tell me what would be the best way (for MCS) to frame the prints?

Do any of your readers have any creative ideas to use non-toxic materials for frames if purchased frames are not good. Also, I have a lot of sand dollars that we had picked up at the beach when I was healthier that I would like to incorporate into the scheme. Now, with the MCS issue, I am not sure how to do that.

The pictures in the bedroom are of the sea. (Three of waves, one larger one that is just peaceful with palm trees.) The one in the living room is floral with sea in the background. I spend a lot of time in bed and it would be nice to have something nice to look at. The larger one is just resting on the top of my mirror right now.

Debra’s Answer

I have never had any problem with toxic exposures from frames, but I have always chosen either metal or wood frames. The glass can block a lot of fumes that might come from ink on prints.

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Question from montanamama

Hi Debra,

Our neighbor is putting up a 50ft. Ham Radio tower, and I’m wondering if the waves it emits are harmful. I’m guessing it’s not all that great health wise, but I’m just wondering how concerned we should be about it.

Thanks so much.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know the answer to this one, but I’m sure one of my EMF expert readers will answer.

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In addition to genetically modified (GMO) foods, there is also GMO cotton. GMO cotton is genetically modified with “Bt”, a protein crystal from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, so as to be resistant to the American bollworm — a moth larva that devours cotton bolls.

According to the newsletter Seeds of Deception:

A 2005 report by medical investigators in India describes an ominous finding. Hundreds of agricultural workers are developing moderate or severe allergic reactions when exposed to Bt cotton. This includes those picking cotton, loading it, cleaning it, or even leaning against it. Some at a ginning factory must take antihistamines daily, in order to go to work. Reactions are only triggered with the Bt varieties.[24] Furthermore, the symptoms are virtually identical to those described by the 500 people in Vancouver and Washington who were sprayed with Bt. Only “exacerbations of asthma” were in one list and not the other (see table).

(We are unaware of similar reports in the US, where 83% of the cotton is Bt. But in the US, cotton is harvested by machine, not by hand.)

The experience of the Indian workers begs the question, “How long does the Bt-toxin stay active in the cotton?” It there any risk using cotton diapers, tampons, or bandages? In the latter case, if the Bt-toxin interfered with healing it could be a disaster. With diabetics, for example, unhealed wounds may be cause for amputation.

Cottonseed is also used for cottonseed oil—used in many processed foods in the US. The normal methods used to extract oil likely destroy the toxin, although cold pressed oil may still retain some of it. Other parts of the cotton plant, however, are routinely used as animal feed. The next part of this series—focused on toxicity—presents evidence of disease and deaths associated with animals consuming Bt cotton plants.

So if you find you are reacting to cotton, this may be another reason.

More links:

Bt-cotton Fiber Disease

Genetically Modified Foods Unsafe? Evidence that Links GM Foods to Allergic Responses Mounts

More Illnesses Linked to Bt Crops