Question from rendi

We rent so I cannot make structural changes) and I’m a single mom that stays with her all day to help with her treatment and recovery. She has numerous medical conditions that I know are caused by environmental toxins; autism, EGID, and systemic endocrine disorder. I’ve switched all food to organic, installed Reverse Osmosis water in all rooms, switched all bedding and her bed to organic and natural latex, and removed ALL plastic from her bedroom and kitchen (except air purifier) and the rest of the house 75% plastic free too. However, I really need a bed frame and cannot even begin to afford an all natural one after the cost of the rest of the stuff. I was hoping to buy a market bed and paint it to seal any toxins. I am also trying to reduce the off-gassing of my commercial mattress, as I have to save up for an eco-friendly one of my own after buying my daughters.

Love your site. I’m on my way out to buy your book to carry around for easier reference when shopping. Do you make a pocket version of quick tips for shopping? If not, it would be a great resource for eco-friendly folks.

Debra’s Answer

“Sealants” and “paints” do not seal in toxins unless they are specifically designed to do so. They may seal in some vapors, but not all. AFM Enterprises makes a “vapor barrier” sealant that blocks fumes, but check with them to make sure it can be used on all these different materials.

Fabric, organic or otherwise, does not reduce offgassing exposure. Gasses go right between the threads. There is a special very-fnely-woven fabric called “barrier cloth” that blocks offgassing to some degree. You can purchase it at various sites on the internet.

The major household items I recommend replacing to reduce toxic exposure are all outlined in my book Home Safe Home.

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Question from Sara

Hello Debra,

I thank you for your helpful site.Would you or any of your readers know of sources for non metal eyeglass frames? I’ve had a hard time finding these. Metals are receptors for emfs and emrs. Tia.

Debra’s Answer

I think you are asking for frames that contain NO metal parts, right? Because you can get plastic frames almost anywhere.

Readers, any suggestions?

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Question from shelley

I appreciated your article on unrefined cane sugar, but I am still a little confused by the terminology. Are you saying that the brand names Rapadura, Sucanat and Alter Eco Ground Cane Sugar are the sugars that you recommend and are calling “unrefined cane sugar”?

Because you also say under “Evaporated Cane Juice”, when you describe the processing, that it produces a powder, not a crystal, and this is what you recommend as “unrefined cane sugar”.

What color is this powder?

Are you calling Sucanat a powder? I don’t think of Sucanat or the other brands you mentioned above as a powder because they are so grainy. You also said this “powder” is ground very fine and sold as organic powdered sugar.

In my natural foods store, evaporated cane juice is sold in bulk as a white (slightly greyish)powder, nothing like Sucanat. If Sucanat were ground to a fine powder it would still be brown, nothing like organic powdered sugar.

I am writing a cookbook and these definitions are very important to me also. I would appreciate the clarification.

Debra’s Answer

Rapadura and Sucanat are sugars I am calling “unrefined cane sugar.” I have no experience with Alter Eco Ground Cane Sugar so I can’t speak to that.

I used to call Rapadura and Sucanat “evaporated cane juice” but that term is now widely misused, so I chose “unrefined cane sugar.”

What I mean by “unrefined cane sugar” is a powder that is NOT crystallized, but simple the juice from the sugar cane with the water evaporated out. The powder is about the color of refined brown sugar.

I am calling Sucanat a powder. Yes, it is grainy, but in comparison to crystallized sugar, it is a powder. When ground very fine and sold as organic powdered sugar, it is an off white, it is not still brown. If you make icing out of organic powdered sugar and refined powdered sugar and put them side by side, you will see how brown it is.

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Question from WJW

Making new friends or hiring any home help – from a plumber to a cleaning person is always difficult. I have explain and educate about the scent in self-care and laundry products and often supply them with new products (expensive!) Many people are emotionally attached to their products and are not interested or even offended. Those who are willing to work with me rarely get it right even after many trys. The worst is that now with molecularly binding laundry products the scent cannot be washed out. (Well, 5-10 washingings and drying in the very hot summer sun only will do it on natural fibers for me.)

It is not hard for one to control what one uses – but others is a different story. Last summer I had some new doors installed and it was the contractor and his help that reeked not the builing materials! Now I need my kitchen done – oouch! Anyone have anything to share about how they deal with this? Full body coveralls?!?!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from sophia

Dear Debra and Readers,

Can anyone suggest some excellent lines for skin care that are non-toxic. I have explored many of the lines that are carried ion Whole Foods, but have not found anything that really works well and or doesn’t make me red. Also, I would love to hear feedback on organic make-up lines, as I have not found a Line that I really love, yet, despite trying over a half dozen eco/organic lines.

Thanks,

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from ES

I just moved into a house that I had been in several times before, and never smelled any odors of any kind, including cigarette and other smoke odors. The house had been empty, and generally closed up, for about 6 months. I had it painted about 4 months ago.

The house had been rented and part of the terms were no smoking, no pets.

I had it painted with no/low VOC paint, and that day, I did smell smoke, but thought the painters had probably been smoking. The textured ceiling has not been touched, and the entire floor is porcelain tile.

When I went to bed the night I moved in was the first time I smelled smoke. I’ve been smelling it almost ever since, and it’s affecting my health.

I wake up in the morning and my mouth feels coated with goo. Now I’m beginning to taste a metally substance. I think some of my respiratory problems are also associated with it, but am not sure. I have never seen evidence of smoking, including butts in the yard or such.

Does such paint have that kind of odor associated with it? After 4 months?

Debra’s Answer

I have never heard of this. Readers?

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Question from gayle

I’m looking to stain and finish my wood floors. I was planning on using Vermont natural Coatings for the finish. The installer recommended “Duraseal quick coat”. Have you had any experience with this product??

Thanks,

Gayle

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any experience with the Duraseal product, but I LOVE Vermont Natural Coatings. My husband is about to finish the top of my desk with it.

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Question from Lucy

Debra,

I posted an entry here several years ago about minimizing the impact of swimming in chlorinated water. Since then, at my doctors advice I stopped swimming in pools. This winter I just needed the water and the workout and have returned once again to the pool. I Love the exercise and how it energizes me and seems to reduce overall reactivity in my nervous and immune system. But the chlorine…

Currently I slather myself with my usual pure hemp lotion in the morning on days before I swim and then again before i get in the pool. I recently found this lotion on a swim wear site called Kiefer. I was told that it contained “surgical grade silicone” which made a seal. I don’t know which ingredient that is or if surgical grade silicone is safe for people like us. I wonder what you think about it. Am I trading one toxin for another or does it seem worth it for the benefits? Here is the ingredient list

Kiefer Swimscreen Dermal RX Lotion

Ingredients: Deionized Water, UREA USP, Isopropyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Trithanolamine 99% Carbomer, Lactic Acid, PVP (Hexadecene Copolymer), Silk Amino Acid, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Imidazolidnyl Urea, Methyl Parben, Propyl Paraben, Benzalkonium Chlorine, Tetrasodium EDTA.

CAUTION: Do not apply to the soles of feet – Lotion is slippery when wet!

Debra’s Answer

Well, this is an interesting concept.

My first thought is “makes a seal?????” The skin needs to breath. If this seal keeps water away from the skin, does it also prevent air from penetrating the seal? What about perspiration generated by the body? Can it get out though the seal? I’m just having a hard time visualizing the mechanics of this.

Without going in to analyzing each ingredient, I don’t see an ingredient on the list that I recognize as silicone. PVP is a plastic and it’s got three preservatives, among other petrochemical ingredients.

To answer your question simply, I’m not sure this is better than the chlorine.

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Question from Wisconsin Mom

I’m considering purchasing a house, but have fairly severe MCS. Everything seems to be a go on this particular house except that it has a cedar deck on the back, and I can’t breathe properly in the presence of cedar. The wood has been painted (though I don’t know whether the underside has been), and I did tolerate standing on the deck for a bit, but I’m afraid that long term exposure to it could be a problem. If anyone has experience with or good ideas about sealing cedar so that it won’t offgas, I’d really like to hear it. I really don’t want to have to spend thousands to tear off and replace the deck, or to remove it entirely and risk having someone take a three foot plunge to the ground.

Thanks for any help you can give!

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any experience with this?

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Question from Dennis

I’m know I’m rarity it seems, a guy with MCS, I just found your site. I been trying to find underwear, that I can wear with out getting sick for months now. I’m currently not working and have no source of income and thus can not afford to purchase organic undies at $17-$30 a pair, Is there any other alternatives?

I’ve purchased and returned numerous brands of conventional underwear including Fruit of The Loom (the worst offender), Hanes, and Jockey. I’m not sure what there finishing these with but they all had this horrible sweet sickening smell. I got them all from different stores as well thinking maybe it was the store. Just opening the package made me quit sick for several days. I tried soaking one pack of underwear in Seventh Generation scent free, & baking soda for 24 hour and the smell seemed to actually get worse.

Thank you for your great site, and thank you for your time!

Debra’s Answer

You could always go without…

Readers, which brands do you find most chemical-free?

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