Water | Resources
Pyrex
Pyrex glass cookware and bakeware in a wide variety of sizes and shapes–even a glass roasting pan. Silica (a compound found in quartz and sand) is the main ingredient in making the heat-resistant glass, then “eight ingredients are added and some broken glass”. So while it doesn’t contain recycled glass bottles, broken glass within the factory is recycled back into the pot. Pyrex is durable (so it can be reused for years without breaking or chipping) and it saves energy (Pyrex glass rather than reflecting oven heat waves, thereby reducing cooking time over earthenware, porcelain or enameled dishes).
Burning plastic smell in office
Question from HEG
For the past 5 months there is a faint strange smell all over my office building floor (not the flooring itself but just on our level). Many people don’t smell it at all and of those of us who do smell it we do so to varying degrees. We can’t pinpoint exactly what it is but some of us think it smells like over-heated plastic (which we all know is very toxic). It is intermittent and is often worst in the mornings. We work at a university and have alerted our building managment, operations, and the department of environmental health and safty but no one has been able to identify the source, and most of them can’t even smell it. They looked in the electrical room and in the AC room and did not notice anything obviously problematic. Does anyone have any recommendations regarding what they can check and what we can do? Thank you.
Debra’s Answer
It sounds like something is being used in a room on an intermittent basis, and the odor is getting into the central system and being distributed.
Since it is worse in the mornings, I would probably spend the night in the building. If the smell occurs, it would be easier to track it down when it starts than after the fact.
Whole House Water Distiller
Question from wigo
I am senstive to Flouride and Chlorine/Chloramine and am therefore looking for a water filter solution for my house. Ideally we would like a steam destillation system made of glass. We would then add small amounts of Himalayan mineral salts to the water in order to remineralize it and prevent it from leaching minerals. As a second step we would need a carbon block filter to remove Chloramine and a Bone Char filter to remove Flouride.
I’ve been looking at different solutions on the web, but haven’t found anything that comes close to the ideal solution.
Do you have any recommendation where we could look for such a filtration system? Do they exist?
If we can’t find one for the whole house we would consider alternatives, such as a smaller scale glass destillation filter just for our drinking water and the Chloramine and Flouride filter for the whole house. Do you have any manufacturer recommendations for us?
Thank you so much, your book Home Safe Home is a life saver.
Wigo
Debra’s Answer
You have a good idea, but I don’t see that there could be a whole house water distiller.
A water distiller works very slowly. It has to boil the water, then steam rises, and the steam condenses into water that does not contain any solids, which were left behind when the water turned to steam. You just couldn’t make enough water for all your household needs in the time period in which you would use it up.
There is, however, a great little glass water distiller that I used for many years, called the Rain Crystal. The reason I stopped using it is because we moved from California to Florida where there is much more dissolved solids in the water. It the first month of use, it completely clogged the distiller and we couldn’t clean it. In retrospect, had we known, we could have gotten a sediment prefilter and that probably would have handled it.
But I’m a little confused. You said you are sensitive to chloramine and fluoride. If you got a whole house chloramine and fluoride filter, why the distiller? What are you expecting it to remove?
Distillers primarily kill microorganisms and remove solids. Some volatile gases escape with the steam, but since distillers concentrate steam back into water, they would also concentrate the gasses back into the water.
It’s important to know what’s in your water and know what you want to remove before you buy a filter. You can get your water tested at watercheck.com.
Purrfectplay
Pet toys crafted from sensuous dye-free organic fibers and the freshest organic catnip…double layer constructed and designed for many hours of pleasure…All of our products are free of dyes and chemicals. Pets use their mouths to explore the world and may chew and suck on their toys. Because our wools and cottons are colored only by nature they are a safer and softer alternative…All of our products are made in the U.S.A. We believe strongly in providing a respectful work environment and a living wage so that our products carry with them the affection of those who make them. Members of Green America. We gratefully share 5% of our total annual sales with no-kill rescue organizations.
Purely Organic
Gourmet organic food products from Italy, "Our products come from a farm or producer in Italy that we have personally visited. Every ingredient is certified organic." Many of these items sound heavenly, like Dolce Nicciola: "Master apiarist Giuseppe Follino blends his organic Tuscan millefiori (mixed flowers) honey with organic Sicilian hazelnuts to create a creamy, rich dessert topping. Giuseppe believes in the health benefits of raw honey, and never allows the honey to be warmer than the inside of a beehive. Dolce Nocciola is pure and simple, containing only hazelnuts and honey, avoiding the use of milk powder, oils, emulsifiers or stabilizers." All the products are like this…
PureBond Hardwood Plywoods
Formaldehyde-free (yes, zero formaldehyde) decorative hardwood plywood. Can be used for high-end cabinetry, furniture, and architectural millwork.
Prairie Meadow Soap
100% natural, pure vegetable handmade soap. This is "whole soap" containg all the moisturizing glycerin and other elements present from the soapmaking process. Made with aloe vera, cocoa butter, jojoba and shea butter, and food grade oils including avocado, olive (40% in each bar), coconut, and palm. "Our scented varieties are infused with pure aromatherapy essential oils for their natural fragrance and beneficial properties….Organic herbs and botanicals, some grown in our own organic garden, and others purchased locally where possible, produce the natural, earthy tones in our handmade herbal soap and provide a natural gentle exfoliation." No synthetic additives, animal tallow, petroleum products or other chemicals. Selection includes half-a-dozen types of fragrance-free soaps, aromatherapy soaps, deodorant soaps, shampoo bars, and more.
Port Canvas
This company specializes in “rugged,” well-made, durable, canvas bags in all shapes and sizes–from totes to briefcases, handbags, sportsbags, and luggage. Choose from 15 colors of cotton canvas, 3 colors for handles, and they can add an embroidered monogram or name. “All bags and totes are constructed of heavyweight 100% cotton vat-dyed canvas and webbing…We’ve gone the extra distance by double-folding and stitching canvas on all zipper gussets, and binding all key edges of our bags. Because each product is completely hand stitched by one person, no two will be exactly the same, you’ll even find the sewer’s initials right inside your bag. Every Port Canvas bag is handmade to customer specifications.”
LED lightbulbs are not as safe as advertised
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are being widely promoted as having better energy efficiency than other lighting sources, and as being more environmentally friendly because they do not contain mercury.
But this is a case where a product does not contain one toxic substance, but does contain others.
A new study done by UC Irvine showed that LED bulbs contain various levels of arsenic, lead, and nickels, and should be classified as household hazardous waste. If disposed as regular landfill trash, these bulbs could leach these metals into soil and water when they are crushed and broken.
Researchers determined there is little toxic exposure when using unbroken bulbs at home.
At least they are more difficult to break than compact fluorescents.
Non Toxic Shoe Polish
Question from darenso
Hello Debra
I have just read your answer of some years ago about shoe polish and just tried the Tapir shoe polish. It does contain ammonia, and sometimes I can feel the vapour in my eyes but it is very slight and does not cause any irritation.
Can you tell me if you would be concerned regarding the ammonia?
Also in the UK I have found a shoe polish contain beeswax,carnauba wax, white spirit and natural turpentine. I thought natural turpentine is ok but since read, although from trees it is very toxic and can cause cancer
Thank you
David
Debra’s Answer
I generally recommend avoiding ammonia, however, how much of a chemical you are exposed to certainly contributes to it’s toxic effect. So much so, in fact, there is a very famous saying “The dose makes the poison,” meaning that the amount of exposure is a greater factor in the poisoning than the inherent toxicity of the substance itself.
If you must use shoe polish, Tapir is one of the least toxic. I would recommend using it outdoors.
In the other shoe polish, I’m actually more concerned about the white spirit in the shoe polish. Also called Stoddard solvent, enough exposure can lead to central nervous system effects.
Myself, I never use shoe polish of any kind. I’ve made choices in my life to not require wearing shoes that need to be polished.
