Art | Resources
American Clay Plaster
"A nontoxic, creative solution for beautiful interior finishes." Natural earth plasters that allow you to add color to your walls without paint. Plaster and color packets are sold separately, so you can literally create any color you can imagine. The plaster gives a soft texture and natural feel to walls that cannot be achieved with paint. Can be used on most wall surfaces.
Bakeware
Question from Lisa S
Is “tinned steel” safe to use? I am in the process of replacing various bakeware in my kitchen. I came across some “tinned steel” pie pans and tart pans at Sur La Table and am wondering if these are safe to use?
Debra’s Answer
I already answered this question at http://www.greenlivingqa.com/content/tin-bakeware-safe , but since writing this, I’ve had more experience with tin. I had some tin-lined copper cookware that did not hold up to wear very well. One of the pots needed to be retinned in a very short time, so I suspect that tin may be leaching into the food. Again, how harmful that might be, I don’t know. If you’re only using it for an occasional tart, that’s not the same as it being used three times a day.
Yes, Nanotechnology Has Health Effects
See this article: Amid Nanotech’s Dazzling Promise Health Risks Grow.
New studies on nano-sized titanimum dioxide show degrees of DNA damage and genetic instability that can be “linked to all the big killers of man, namely cancer, heart disease, neurological disease and aging,”
Close to 10,000 over-the-counter products use it in one form or another. It’s “in everything from medicine capsules and nutritional supplements, to food icing and additives, to skin creams, oils and toothpaste.”
“Other nanomaterials have also been shown in published, peer-reviewed studies…to potentially cause harm as well. Researchers have found, for instance, that carbon nanotubes — widely used in many industrial applications — can penetrate the lungs more deeply than asbestos and appear to cause asbestos-like, often-fatal damage more rapidly. Other nanoparticles, especially those composed of metal-chemical combinations, can cause cancer and birth defects; lead to harmful buildups in the circulatory system; and damage the heart, liver and other organs of lab animals.”
The article goes on to give a great overview of nanotechnology, including a chart showing relative sizes of particles in nanometers.
Worth reading.
This article is actually the first in a series on nanotechnology. Here are links to the rest of the articles:
Also in This Series:
- Regulated or Not, Nano-Foods Coming to a Store Near You
- Obsession With Growth Stymies Regulators
- Why Nanotech Hasn’t (Yet) Triggered the ‘Yuck Factor’
- Nano-Products Are Everywhere
Background:
Aloha Bay
Colorful candles made from 100% palm wax–with and without scent. Only pure essential oils are used for the scented candles. Good background information about palm wax.
Where Can I Buy Zeolite?
Question from audrey
I have used all natural Zeolite Powder by the Dasun Company (also their zeolite bags) for many years. They are now out of business. Does anyone know where I can find these? Thank you.
Debra’s Answer
Zeolite is still alive and well and available to use as an adsorbant to remove chemicals, metals, and even radioactive materials from the air. I wrote all about it on page 130 of my book Home Safe Home. If you want to learn more about zeolite, check out this website: The Zeolite Group of Minerals. To purchase zeolite powder for odor control, visit these websites: Bramton Company Zeolite Odor Removing Granules and Bear River Zeolite. While searching for these links, I noticed that zeolite is now being sold for body detoxification. I have no experience using this, but it makes sense to me that if it adsorbs pollutants from the air, it would also adsorb them from the body. I saw lots of “liquid zeolite” being sold for this purpose as well as powder. Liquid zeolite does not make sense to me, as it is the adsorbant ability of the mineral itself that does the adsorbing, a liquid just mechanically wouldn’t do that as far as I can see.
Cataract Surgery for MCS
Question from audrey
A friend of mine has mcs and will be needing cataract surgery and is concerned about the acrylics and silicone that are used for the replacement. Does anyone have any suggestions/ideas?
Debra’s Answer
Readers?
Hardwood Blinds
Question from Ronda
I special ordered white American Hardwood blinds. I got them in November and although there is no longer a strong smell, my nose burns when I sit near them and I’ve been getting headaches. My husband and two toddlers don’t seem bothered by these blinds, but because these are in my kid’s bedrooms I’m concerned about the effects of the paint.
The company I bought them from told me that I could cure in the smell by washing the blinds with Murphy’s oil or Lemon Pledge. My concern is that this will smell worse.
I’m wondering if they could still be off-gassing? Do you think they may need more time to completely offgas?
Thanks so much Debra!!
Ronda
Debra’s Answer
It can take quite a while for wood finishes to completely cure, especially in colder weather. Finishes can cause symptoms, even if you can’t smell the finish. Even though finishes can be “dry to the touch,” they are still curing and still releasing chemicals. I suggest heat, as heat makes the chemicals outgass faster. I would take down the blinds and hang them in a small room, like the bathroom, if you have a second bathroom. Then place a couple of space heaters in the bathroom, and “bake out” the finish. Personally, I wouldn’t wash them with Murphy’s or Lemon Pledge. These could add additional odors and wouldn’t actually contribute to drying out the finish, which is what is required to end the outgassing.
Acri Soy Grout Sealer
Question from Tanya
We just finished laying ceramic tile in our bedroom and sealed the grout with Acri-Soy grout sealer. It is made by www.ecosafetyproducts.com. It supposed to contain no voc’s and be non-toxic. A couple of days before we sealed the grout my husband had painted the baseboards in the same bedroom with Olympic Premium no voc paint. It has been several days and the room smells so bad that I can’t go into it.
Has anyone had experience with either the Acri Soy or Olympic? I am in the process of “baking” the room right now.
Thanks, Tanya in Florida
Debra’s Answer
Check out previous posts with comments regarding Olympic paint having an odor.
Anyone have experience with Acri Soy Grout Sealer?
Ideal Humidity?
A reader wrote:
At one time I found a chart on a DLD123.com page that showed the best level of humidity for my home based on 4 or 5 crossing lines showing the levels for dust mites, mold, household chemical interaction, and more, etc. If I remember correctly, the chart showed a “best” optimum level for home humidity. I wonder if that chart is still available and where I might find it.
Jon
Is Cupro a natural fiber?
I was wondering if you or anybody have every heard of Cupro. I have seen it a lot in my favorite organic designer but will not buy anything that is listed as Cupro because I do not know enough about. The last thing I want to do is spend a lot of money on something and then later decide that it is toxic because of the way it is processed or that is not natural. Any information would be useful. Thanks!
