Question from Eva

What do you know about the new frozen vegetables that come in a bag that you can microwave to steam? Is this safe?

Debra’s Answer

Heat releases plasticizers, so I wouldn’t cook any food in any type of plastic bag exposed to heat.

The best way to eat vegetables is raw, or steamed using a bamboo or metal steamer basket, or stir-fried, or in soup (where you eat the cooking water). But raw is best.

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Question from Gary White

Everything that I read says do NOT use softened water (salt) for watering orchids. I realize that I could spend money and change the whole system. However, my question is: Can I draw a large container of water and add a common household liquid, such as vinegar or anything else, that would make it safe to use on orchids?

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Karen

Hello Debra,

I would like to ask your readers what their experience has been in attempting to remove cigarette smoke residue from a home, so a person with MCS can live in it. My key questions are as follows:

Can it really be done successfully, so individuals with moderate to severe MCS can live in the home with no negative affects? If yes, how?

What products are effective and non-toxic (or at least will not continue to be toxic for more than a short period of time after application)?

This Ohio home was smoked in from 1977 through 2005 and unoccupied for the last year. Even after a few years of no smoking the nicotine/tar stains are visible on the walls and ceilings.

I realize this is certainly a less-than-ideal home for most people to consider, particularly those with MCS. However, there are special circumstances that warrant investigating what is possible and potentially trying to remediate it. Of course, the funds to do so are limited and must be taken into account.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, I don’t have actual experience removing smoke residues such as this from a house. Has anyone done this successfully, or do you know of anyone who has?

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Question from Kathy Paris

Hello Debra,

Love your site and your book!!

Can bisphenol A (BPA) be rinsed off of canned beans, olives, fruits, tuna and other items where the juice can be discarded?

Please continue the wonderful work and for those of you who can help her financially to keep this site going, please send her a few dollars. We don’t want to lose this extremely valuable treasure (the website and Debra) and she is doing it mostly for no pay. So write to her and ask for her address so you can send a check.

Thank you, Kathy Paris

Debra’s Answer

Well, to answer your question, no, you couldn’t rinse bisphenol A off of foods because it would be absorbed by the foods. But remember bisphenol A is only in polycarbonate plastic and I’ve never seen any of these foods packaged in polycarbonate.

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Question from KMA

I’m considering purchasing FLOR modular carpeting for my son’s play area. I’ve been very impressed with the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility, but I just realized that the carpet tiles’ backing is made out of a composite vinyl called Glas-Bac. It’s nice that the backing uses recycled materials, but I’ve been concerned about purchasing vinyl products for my home for health reasons. Does anyone have any experience with FLOR? Any sensitivities? Any information about how much this product might off-gas? I have some samples of the tiles, and they seem to have very little odor (unlike normal carpeting), but I know a larger area of this floor covering might be a different story.

Debra’s Answer

You are correct to question the toxicity of a recycled plastic product, and how the low toxicity of sample might multiply over a large area,

I have no personal experience with FLOR tiles, but I can tell you this. There are other vinyl “composite” products that I do have experience with and the “composite” part greatly reduces the toxicity. I have a hard vinyl composite floor in my office and it has no odor and never has. (I needed to put down something cheap at the time.) So it may be fine.

Let’s see what others have to say…

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Question from Laurie

Are there any safe bottled water products on the market? Is the only answer (besides the reusable products you suggest)–glass bottled water? Do you have a preference in brands if you were to purchase one? Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

The best bottled water I know of is Mountain Valley Spring Water, which can be delivered to your home (almost anywhere in America) in glass bottles.

There is a website called Fine Waters, which reviews and discusses the bottled waters of the world, but this is for “bottled water connoisseurs and their accompanying lifestyle”. You can learn a lot about water, and particularly bottled water, from this site, but these bottled waters are more expensive than you would probably want for everyday use.

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Question from Mary

Dear Debra,

I’m considering Marmoleum Click flooring for my kitchen and am researching its toxicity. I first saw it at a green building supply who said it was nontoxie. Then I found the ingredients listed on the manufacturer’s MSDS:

“Composition/Information on ingredients

Composition: Linoleum floor covering laminated to HDF board on a backing of granulated cork sheet

Ingredients:

Linoleum: Linoleum based on a binder composed of linseed oil and (natural) rosin, mixed with woodflour and limestones pressed on a jute backing.

Debra’s Answer

[Sigh] I wish that companies making good nontoxic products would not take them and combine them with toxic materials.

Marmoleum sheets and tiles are nontoxic and made from renewable ingredients (see readers’ comments at Q&A: Marmoleum Flooring). I personally have never installed it, but have seen many samples and installations. It looks great and little or no odor (what little odor there may be would only be from the natural materials themselves).

I’d say go with the real Marmoleum and forget about their click floors.

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There was a story in the news on March 10, saying that tap water contains pharmaceuticals pollution.

The original story from Environmental Working Group said,

“A wide range of pharmaceuticals that include antibiotics, sex hormones, and drugs used to treat epilepsy and depression, contaminate drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, according to a 5-month investigation by the Associated Press National Investigation Team.”

These are “low-level mixtures of pharmaceuticals.”

“Environmental Working Group analysis shows that of the top 200 drugs in the U.S., 13 percent list serious side effects at levels less than 100 parts-per-billion (ppb) in human blood, with some causing potential health risks in the parts-per-trillion range.”

“Environmental Working Group analysis shows that of the top 200 drugs in the U.S., 13 percent list serious side effects at levels less than 100 parts-per-billion (ppb) in human blood, with some causing potential health risks in the parts-per-trillion range.”

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Question from gvs

Can you recommend a hardwood floor cleaner that doesn’t contain alcohol or citrus?

My husband brought home a Scotch Brite hardwood floor cleaner that claims to be “gentle a vinegar and water yet more effective?” Ingredient is chlorallyl methanamine chloride w/skin and eye warnings. Are you familiar w/it? I did try it, reminds me of Pledge in the 60’s-70’s.

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Kcall

Hello, I am chemically sensitive and am trying to reduce the amount of chemicals in my home environment. I was wondering if you knew what type of plastic is used in DVDVideo cases and whether it offgases alot or not.
Many Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

The “keep case”–which is made of a soft, usually dark gray, black or white plastic–is made of polypropylene with a transparent polyethylene outer jacket to hold a printed paper label.

The standard rigid clear plastic “jewel case” is made of polystyrene.

Neither of these outgas horribly, but if you have a lot of cases and you are chemically sensitive, it might be enough to cause symptoms for you.

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