Question from Lisa

Dear Debra,

I’d like to get your opinion on this. I often see disposable AA Batteries corroding and littering parking lots or other places where apparently people just dispose of them.

Do these pose any health issues, specifically if you step on them?

Just curious.

Thanks so much.

Debra’s Answer

Disposable batteries can contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and other toxic substances, so it’s best to not step on them if you can help it. The sole of your shoe will protect you from the toxic exposure, but be careful, then, not to wear these shoes into your house (see Q&A: What we pick up on our shoes)

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Question from Lisa

Dear Debra,

When I’m walking on city side walks or parking lots, I often encounter litter that seems like it could be of a toxic nature. Sometimes I don’t see the items until I step on them with my shoes. I’m wondering if such things such as a cracked cigarette lighter/lighter fluid or old, corroded, weather exposed double A batteries would warrant replacing the shoes.

I don’t want to continue tracking any potential toxins around, especially in my home.

Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

We do pick up a lot of toxic chemicals on the soles of our shoes and bring them indoors, so even if you are careful to only choose nontoxic products to use in your home, you are still bringing toxic chemicals inside with your shoes. Chemicals can include asphalt, pesticides and herbicides from lawns and gardens and sidewalks, and any number of other chemicals that may be present where you walk.

When you walk around your home with toxic chemicals on the soles of your shoes, they come off on the floor. Then when you walk barefoot around your home, they can be absorbed through the soles of your feet. You can also inhale these chemicals as they outgass. If you have children playing on the floor, the toxic chemicals can get on their hands and into their mouths. Children, and especially infants, are even more susceptable to the dangers of toxic chemicals and carcinogens than adults.

I don’t think you need to replace your shoes, however. Shoes protect our feet from hazards encountered when we walk. And a new pair of shoes will only get more pollutants on them.

The solution is to leave your shoes at the door, and put them on and take them off as you leave and enter the house. Have a rack set up next to the door you enter most frequently, where you can leave your shoes when you enter the house. Have slippers or socks ready to put on if you don’t want to go barefoot. By doing this, you will keep the outdoor pollutants on your shoes and keep them from being tracked around the house.

And remember to make provisions for guests and have slippers or socks available for them too.

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Question from Lisa

Dear Debra,

I live in an area where people do not want dandelions or other common weeds in their yards, and spray chemical pesticides and herbicides to kill them.

I see the chemical lawn application signs everywhere, warning to stay off the grass for 24 to 48 hours.

The signs themselves have the poison sign right on them, and warn particularly that children and pets should avoid the area.

I’m just wondering, how long would it take for this area to be safe? I try to avoid the sidewalks where they spray, but then I find I can’t get outside to enjoy the outdoors or go for walks.

Also, I wonder if any of these chemicals become airborne as the water they are mixed with evaporates.

Debra’s Answer

Well, if the sign says stay off the lawn 24 to 48 hours, then it probably takes 24 to 48 hours for the area to be safe.

There is a difference between how long it might take for the lawn to be safe and how long it takes for the surrounding air to be safe. The pesticide will sit on the lawn until it breaks down or is washed away. Pesticides in the air immediately after application will blow away from an area much faster, depending on the rate of air movement. Even if the air seems still, a particle in the air will still move (note that bubbles move even when the air is still). How soon after application the air will be safe to breathe depends on the rate of air movement at any given time–obviously if a hurricane is blowing through, the pesticide would be gone in seconds.

I would keep windows closed while the spraying is occuring. Do they spray on a schedule? Is it possible to find out that schedule? Could you be away from home when they are spraying? Could you go for a walk elsewhere while they are spraying?

Yes, the chemicals probably become airborne as the water they are mixed with evaporates, but whether they are a problem or not depends on the ambient air flows, as I already mentioned above.

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Question from LW

I had started using the Seventh Generation Ultra Free & Clear Natural 2X Concentrate Laundry Liquid.

The ingredients listed on the website are:

Aqua (water), sodium laureth sulfate, coconut alcohol ethoxylate & glycerin (plant-derived cleaning agents), sodium citrate (water softener), oleic acid & glyceryl oleate (plant-derived anti-foaming agents), sodium hydroxide & sodium borate (alkalinity builders & anti-redeposition agents), amylase, cellulase & protease (non-animal derived enzymes), calcium chloride (cleaning enhancer), hexahydro-1,3,5-tris (2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine (preservative, less than 0.05%).

A sticky residue has accumulated on the clothes and has caused a reaction with my MCS and fibromyalgia symptoms getting worse.

Do you have any suggestions for removing this type of residue from the clothes and washer?

Also, what is a good laundry product for MCS? I noticed you said you use soap not detergent at home. What laundry soap products are suitable for MCS?

Debra’s Answer

First, I suggest you go to the Cleaning page of Debra’s List and see that there are many laundry products with an “MCS” icon next to them. Since Seventh Generation is one of those and you are having a problem with it, I can only point out once again that sensitivities are individual and you need to find a product that you individually tolerate.

It sounds to me like the problem may not be the detergent, but the hardness of your water. Minerals in “hard” water make soap and detergent stick to your clothes. A couple of ways to handle this are to add baking soda to your laundry to soften the water or get a water conditioner (I have a salt-free water conditioner from Go Beyond Organic that I love and I have very hard water).

I think what will remove the residue is a mineral called sodium hexametaphosphate. It basically softens the water and releases any detergent that is sticking to the clothes. You can get it from a local chemical supply house.

One thing I would like to add is that I have recently discovered that it may not be necessary to use any kind of laundry product. You can wash clothes and get them perfectly clean in plain water! I have been washing my clothes in plain water only since March 11 and they come out perfectly clean. Now, all I need to do is “freshen” my clothing because it’s mostly perspiration and not dirt, but it got me to thinking that if everyone separated out their clothing so as to only wash clothes with stains, etc, in detegent, we’d save a lot of resources!

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Question from Suzanne

I took my 1995 Nissan Altima in for a steam cleaning of both the engine and underside. 15 minutes after I picked it up, it had a rubber smell. Now, a month later, it’s closer to an old car smell. I’m sensitive to this and can only drive it for short distances without getting ill. I’ve baked it in the sun with the windows cracked and used an ozone machine on it, and yet the smell remains. Is there anything to be done? I have an Aireox air filter. If I get a converter for my cigarette lighter, would that help? Do I need to sell it? Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any experience with this?

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Question from LR

Hi. I’m writing for a friend that is chemically sensitive (I am also) and has also had a masectomy because of breast cancer 3 years ago. She is very environmentally conscious and wants to get a 2009 Prius from the factory. I am very concerned about her exposure to formaldehyde and all the other various chemicals in a new car. She has a tendency for headaches upon exposures. Any advice or information would be much appreciated. Thank You.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any data about emissions on the interiors of new Prius cars, but you might try contacting the manufacturer about this.

While I haven’t checked out the interiors of all new hybrids, the interiors of the ones I’ve driven through my local carshare while visiting San Francisco seem to be the usual interiors. I have driven Priuses and also Honda Civic Hybrids. I actually prefer the Honda for driving.

The car manufacturers have their attention on energy efficiency, not nontoxic interiors. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong and you have come across a hybrid car with a nontoxic interior.

My suggestion would be the same for hybrids as for any other car. See Q&A: How Do I Choose a Nontoxic Car? and Q&A: Car air purifiers.

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Question from Dani

Hello Debra,

I am researching Prana Sleep matteresses.

I wonder if Prana Sleep matteresses are as environmental friendly as the company claims them to be? Are they free of toxins?

Thanks,

Debra’s Answer

I took a look at Prana Sleep mattresses and decided not to include them on Debra’s List because they contain a material called Outlast. As best as I can make out from the website, it is either spun into yarns and fabrics or applied as a coating, for the purpose of body temperature regulation. It was developed for NASA. It doesn’t say on the website what exactly it is made of, but it is a “technology” product for use in outer space, so I can’t imagine having it be natural was part of the specification.

My opinion is that this may have been a boon to astronauts, but it’s not needed in a natural bed. Wool does an excellent job of regulating body temperature. I’m a little concerned that Prana is mixing a material of unknown origin with their natural materials.

I don’t have any information on whether Outlast is safe for health, but also no evidence that it isn’t.

Since it is an unknown material that doesn’t give enough information to evaluate, I just passed on it. There are plenty of other latex mattresses that I know are safe and natural.

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Question from KK

Hi Debra,

I try to limit my soy consumption because of the phytoestrogens and I have read that the grade of soy used in processed foods such as nutrition bars is not of a high quality and actually leftover product. Unfortunately, I have found soy lecithin in products almost to be impossible to avoi

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Lindsey

There is a new plastic Tritan copolyester. Companies such as nalgene are now using this plastic instead to make water bottles. What is your opinion on this plastic? Do you think it is only a matter of time before we learn of downsides of this plastic as well and I should avoid jumping on the band wagon? For example, I am sure nonstick pans for awhile were once thought to be safe and now we know that they are not.

Debra’s Answer

I can’t tell you if it’s only a matter of time before we find out something toxic about this new plastic. Considering the past performance of other plastics, there is some chance that this one may be found to have some toxic component, too.

It is being touted for it’s durability, and that it doesn’t contain bisphenol-a, but it’s still a petrochemical product made from nonrenewable crude oil and it won’t biodegrade.

It’s currently being used for water bottles and for the container of the new model Vita-Mix. Glass would still be a better material for these uses.

If you want to be cautious, I’d say wait and see.

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Question from LM

I was going to start making my own salad dressing to be more healthy and use less artificial ingredients. However I read homemade dressings can lead to botulism? I am confused on what is safe to mix and for how long- I really don’t know anything about botulism. Why is it that store bought dressings if homemade are not safe? Are dressing mixes such as good seasonings or hidden valley safe? How long do dressings (homemade, store bought, and seasoning mix ones) last safely?

Debra’s Answer

I say, great idea to make your own salad dressings! In fact, check out my salad dressing recipes at Sweet Savvy: Condiments: Salad Dressing.

Now, about botulism, it would be highly unlikely that any salad dressing that contained an acid–such as lemon or vinegar–would cause botulism, because the acid prevents the growth of bacteria. There have been cases of unrefrigerated garlic-infused oil causing botulism, but in this case, the oil did not contain an acid.

Another problem can be mayonnaise-based dressings if they are not refrigerated. This happens when something like potato salad with mayonnaise is taken on a picnic and left out in the sun, or a mayo-based dressing is carried to lunch and left unrefrigerated.

There is no problem with making your own homemade salad dressing if you store it in the refrigerator. Personally, I make my salad dressing fresh for each salad. It only takes a few minutes and that eliminates any storage problems.

I love making salad dressing because there are so many flavors to use to make salad vegetables interesting and tasty.

So go ahead and make salad dressing with confidence!

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