Question from Jane

I’ve read over all the questions and answers currently posted on interior paints and haven’t seen this exact issue covered, so I’ll ask it here.

Our very good painter has recently finished doing some interior painting for us, during which I discovered I had sensitivities and bad reactions I’ve never experienced before in my entire life! In the course of his work, he had to repair a damaged area in our dining room ceiling, and after completing the repair, used oil-based paint to paint over the entire ceiling. He said it was needed in order to cover up the repaired area. If I had had any idea, in advance, of the suffering that would cause me, I would have stopped the process before it started.

The smell was initially very strong from the paint, and, unfortunately for me, our workman was storing his supplies, paints and so forth in our garage! Never again! The paint has dried, my symptoms (horribly exacerbated postnasal rhinitis)have abated to at least the manageable level, but I’m still worried. Certainly after the painter removed all of his materials from the garage, my symptoms abated immediately, though they’re not gone completely.

Are there still chemicals in the air from that paint, though it appears to have dried and the room has been heated? (The work was finished three weeks ago.) I see many comments about paint smell, and that is no doubt horrible in many cases. But my concern is the chemicals in the air, whether they have any discernible smell or not.

For example, when people walk over a golf course with grass that has been treated with chemicals, they do not necessarily smell anything. But they are still stirring up the chemicals that have been used with every step. Does something similar happen with oil-based paint?

I’m ready to insist on watercolors from now on if I have to!

Debra’s Answer

Oil based paints contain different chemicals from water based paints. They are much more toxic and take MUCH longer to cure.

Even if a paint is dry to the touch, it is still not completely dry through and through. It continues to outgas until it is completely dry. Oil based paints can take months to cure. There are still chemicals in the air.

Oil based paints are so toxic that they are not allowed to be sold in some states.

I would continue to heat the room until the paint is completely cured. You’ll know it’s cured because you won’t smell the paint and you won’t have symptoms. It might take a week of heating the room.

I’ll say this again: never use oil based paint.

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Question from Laura

I live in a household in which toxic chemicals are used.Some changes have been made,but it is rare for me to be able to stay in the house throughout the night because the fumes of products(some oil paints, some “personal care” products) come in around the bedroom door. Is there some way to prevent the fumes from coming into the bedroom so at least I could sleep? Right now I have a towel at the bottom and a double cloth hung over it.

I haven’t any means to move,and it’s 20 degrees outside.

Debra’s Answer

You could also add felt weatherstripping around the edges.

Readers, any ideas?

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Question from Linda

Hi Debra, i love your website, there is so much great info here for people living a green, healthy life. My question is can you give me any info on how to clean unfinished raw wood floors. We are putting wood floors in our whole house one room at a time. In our master bedroom we used zinsser shellac to seal the floor. In our girls room and our hallway we used diamond floor finish, water based. We are now starting our living room area and i and thinking of leaving the floor natural without any finishes and putting down organic cotton and organic hemp rugs. What would be your advise on keeping them clean naturally. Thank you

Debra’s Answer

I’ve never had an unsealed floor, so I have no experience with this. One of the reasons to seal a floor is that unsealed wood is difficult to clean.

Readers, your experience?

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Question from Linda

Hi Debra. I want to use a floating row cover for my garden next year. This is a description of it from care2.com

Using a physical barrier like a floating row cover will prevent insect pests from reaching your plants and chewing them or laying their eggs on them. Floating row cover is a fabric made of spun polypropelene fibres. The fabric itself is very lightweight and will sit on top of your plants without causing any damage. The fabric allows both light and water to penetrate it but prevents even the smallest insects like flea beetles from getting to your plants.

The fabric is sold at most garden centers under many names like Reemay, Agrofabric and Agribon and comes in a variety of different weights.

My question is, will any toxins leach from this fabric into my garden, since this is obviously not a “natural” fabric. Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Polyproylene is not toxic. It is used for many food containers. It is commonly recycled, (look for the number “5” recycling symbol.

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Question from Marcia

Hi Debra:

I was wondering if you are familiar with Kevlar Fibers being used for flame retardant in Sterns and Foster Mattresses instead of Antimony or PBDE’s which are very toxic. Supposedly Kevlar Fibers are what Bullet-proof materials are made from and these are woven into the mattress coverings.

Thanks, Marcia California USA

Debra’s Answer

Kevlar is a plastic, made by DuPont from petroleum. It is not toxic or carcinogenic, according to the MSDS for Kevlar.

While searching for data on Kevlar, I came across this article from Dr. Mercola: Is Your Mattress Making You Sick?, which states that he bought a Stearns and Foster mattress because it was fireproofed with Kevlar instead of antimony or PBDEs.

I don’t agree with Dr. Mercola. These mattresses may not have antimony or PBDEs, but they are still made from other toxic plastics. They are LESS toxic, but can’t compare to the benefits of sleeping on a natural bed.

Question from Priscilla

I’m wondering if I can make your scrumptious sounding pumpkin muffins into bars instead. Would I have to change the recipe at all? I’m not much of a baker so I’m not sure….

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

You can make them into bars. Just put the batter into a cake pan and bake.

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Question from Elena Goss

Are knit products made with a wool/acrylic blend toxic?

Debra’s Answer

Acrylic is made from acrylonitrile, a special group of vinyl compounds. In my book Home Safe Home I noted that acrylonitrile is included on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of sixty-five “priority pollutants” recognized as being hazardous to human health. Scorecard: Chemical Profiles: Acrylonitrile notes that it is a carcinogen.

That said, I don’t think you’ll get cancer from a wool/acrylic sweater. But I wouldn’t wear it next to my skin.

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Question from P.Wicks

Have you heard of a fruit sweetener called Fruit Sweet? It is made from pear, apple and pineapple juices boiled down into a syrup and used in baking. I found it at a place called Wax Orchards on Vashon Island in WA state. I can’t use any of the sweeteners without some problems but this one seems to be fine for me. The ratio is 2/3 to 1 cup of sugar and reduce the liquids by 1/3. So far all the sweet yummy things I have made have been wonderful.They also have fruit sweetened chocolate fudge sauces made from this syrup that are to die for. I also bought a cookbook written by Mani Niall, who has a bakery in CA, that uses Fruit Sweet in his baking. So far all the recipes I have tried have been terrific. At last my sweet tooth has been satisfied and my blood sugar is enjoying a nice rest!!!

In the sugar section you said you had used fruit sweet by wax orchards and were going to try it again, but isn’t that just fructose which is supposidly not healthy for you?

Debra’s Answer

I have heard of Fruit Sweet and was using it some years ago. Then I wasn’t able to find it.

I agree with you, it does work well. I need to add it to my list.

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Question from B

Hi Debra,

I am searching for ideas on a non toxic food steamer but cannot seem to find anything. Can you please suggest one or point me to the post that can? I have a one year old and I am desperate to start steaming organic broccoli for her but not in our old plastic steamer (that I confirmed with Oster is a #6.)

Anyhow, thanks in advance.

Debra’s Answer

There are two simple nontoxic steamers.

One is a stainless steel folding rack that coils up and then opens to fit most size pots. You can get it practically anywhere cookware is sold.

The other is a covered bamboo steamer that is used to make Chinese food. You can buy these online if you don’t find one locally. Try an oriental food store, if you have one where you live. Just search on “bamboo steamer”. They come in different sizes.

I have both and far prefer the bamboo steamer. In fact, I don’t use the stainless steel one at all any more. It’s going in my upcoming garage sale.

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Question from RN

I only dress my baby in 100% cotton clothing, and can’t afford organic cotton. I’ve read on your website that cotton clothing can be considered as safe as organic clothing as far as pesticides go. However, I’m concerned about this year’s news that children’s clothing imported from China had many times the safe levels of formaldehyde. Can I assume that the formaldehyde was used on non-cotton clothing or poly/cotton blends only, and that all 100% cotton clothes are safe?

Thank you. I love your site!

Debra’s Answer

As far as I can determine, anything coming from China could be a wild card in terms of what is in it, unless you can contact the manufacturer and find out how careful they are about manufacturing. I think I should say that there seem to be wild variables about what you might get from China, but don’t assume everything from China is bad.

Regarding formaldehyde, the standard practice is that formaldehyde is used on cotton if it is permanent press, and on all polyester/cotton woven fabrics. They may add formaldehyde on 100% cotton for some reason unbeknownst to me, but if it is not a permanent press resin finish, it should wash right out as it is very volatile.

I read an article on this at WorldNetDaily: Poison PJs from China, but it didn’t mention if the garments were permanent press or not. It sounded like garments labeled “100% cotton” were found to be contaminated.

I would be wary of products from China unless you can contact the manufacturer and find out about their safety. I don’t want to make assumptions about all products manufactured in China based on bad practices of a few.

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