Water | Resources
Aizome Bedding
Sheets and pillowcases “developed in Japan with dermatologists to give your body and skin a restful sleep experience free of any synthetic materials or irritants.” It is entirely organic and made from only two plants [cotton and indigo] without hidden extras: No polyester, no heavy metals, no micro-plastics, no formaldehyde, no gross stuff.” This bedding eliminates toxic dyes while still giving you color and style. Their blog the-bed-blog has posts about toxic dyes.
Shop Vustra
100% organic, premium quality shirts for men. “We only use low impact organic dyes, pure, soft at first touch 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and every stitch is organic too! we ensure that our shirts are made with fashion-forward European style and feature the most intricate style details. Our entire collection is made with 100% premium Italian and Turkish organic cotton that looks and feels luxurious. Our collection showcases colors and textures which are carefully developed to provide timeless, elegant and yet stylish options so you can choose to wear fashion with values.”
Least Toxic Spray Foam Insulation?
Question from Lora
Hi Debra,
What would be the least toxic whole house spray foams to use for insulation. the type you would spray in your exterior walls (and interior?). the type that expand when you spray in walls. my husband just wants to get something from home depot or lowes and i’m really stressing about this and possible off-gassing for years as i have MCS.
What should I use?
Debra’s Answer
Here are some answers to your question that I found online, written by green building experts.
BUILD DIRECT: Is There an Eco-Friendly Spray Foam Insulation?
This post pretty much answers the question with a well-explained NO. However another expert has a different viewpoint
GREEN BUILDING ADVISOR: Are There any “Green” Non-VOC Spray Foams?
This expert asserts that the finished, cured spray foam is NOT harmful to health but the installation of the foam is hazardous. And she admits that some foam is incorrectly installed and therein lies the problem.
MY CHEMICAL-FREE HOUSE: Zero VOC Insulation
Here you will find all the Zero VOC options, both blow-in and batt. Great review with the pros and cons of fifteen options. I think you’ll find your answer here.
That said, readers, if you have any suggestions from your own experience, please post them here.
Organic Attire
I found this small business at my local Gravenstein Apple Fair. I saw a black shirt with autumn leaves falling whimsically down the front and then was delighted it was made from organic cotton. It’s one of my favorite shirts of all time. This artist-owned and operated business provides their customers “with beautiful and unique clothing made in a sustainable manner. Comfort is also a prerequisite.” Beautiful and comfortable, Yes. This clothing is just that. Much information about their printing methods and materials. Dedicated organic, natural and nontoxic. Clothing for women only.
Lead-free door knobs
Question from Terry
Hi Debra,
Do lead free door knobs exist?
Debra’s Answer
This is a very difficult question.
To answer this question thoroughly you would need to know:
* the types of doorknobs available
* the materials used to make each type
And then you would need to review each one and choose those that are not made with lead.
Alternatively, you could test each doorknob for lead using an XRF machine.
But neither of these methods are practical.
There are thousands of available doorknobs, and materials disclosure is not required by law.
One man tested all his doorknobs for lead using XRF. After finding out they all tested high, it turned our they were plated with nickel. “The XRF analyzer was seeing through this layer to the lead beneath. Likely this lead would never transfer to our hands, unless the nickel wears through.” http://blog.mikemccandless.com/2010/06/finding-lead-in-your-house.html
And even if the lead DID get on your hands lead does not go through skin into your body.
BUT if you were to touch a doorknob with lead and then you picked up a sandwich, the lead would get on the sandwich. If you then ate the sandwich, the lead on the sandwich would get into your body and you would have a lead exposure.
So that would be the exposure. You would touch something that contains lead, like a doorknob, then eat some fried chicken and lick your fingers and then you would be exposed to lead.
There’s a great website called “How Products are Made”, which gives the history, materials and manufacturing information on a wide variety of products we use every day. I looked up Doorknob. In the past, doorknobs were made from wood, glass, china, or bronze. Today more doorknobs are made of metal. The most common type of metal is brass. But we don’t touch the brass—doorknobs are coated with various inert metals and electroplated with semiprecious materials.
I could find only one article that expressed any concern about Lead in doorknobs:
https://windowanddoor.com/article/marchapril-2010/is-lead-hardware-a-concern
And only one website that sells “Lead-free” door knobs.
https://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/lead-free-crystal-knobs-pulls. Even though one blogger stated, “lead-free door knobs are readily available,” I couldn’t find them anywhere else but here.
In the forty years I’ve been researching things toxic and toxic-free this is the first time it has come up as an issue. I always just buy whatever doorknobs I like. It’s not the greatest exposure to lead.
Wash your hands before you eat (as you should do anyway because of germs) and any lead your hands may have picked up along the way will be gone.
Puritas Furniture Company
Solid wood slat bedframes made by a small, low impact, family owned woodworking and design studio immersed in and inspired by the beauty of the natural world. ”We believe it is a revolutionary and deeply caring act to support local and regional craftspeople and the communities in which we all live. We strive to provide you with beautifully designed and finely crafted classic hardwood furniture while keeping the footprint low…Our hardwood lumber comes from carefully managed North American forests from producers who follow the strictest standards in order to ensure long term viability through sustainable harvesting and management practices. Our native west coast softwoods are sourced from carefully managed private lands and we can accommodate requests for reclaimed and salvaged wood options as well…We promote the use of non-toxic finishes and healthy environments with our preferred finish being an all-natural, zero-voc combination of beeswax, linseed oil, and pine resin that is not only non-toxic to the maker and the end user, it is also easier on the environment in it’s raw ingredients and production.”
Dr. Cowan’s Garden
“Nutritious & delicious vegetable powders” made from “organic or beyond-organic vegetables…Some of the healthiest people who ever lived – from Native Americans to traditional Africans – consumed a large diversity of plants. Our vegetable powders make it easy for you to diversify your vegetable consumption…Miron violet-glass jars filter the aging wavelengths of light to protect the vibrancy of our powders for years.” I can’t wait to try these powder made from diverse varieties. How can I resist three-beet powder!
Creative Cables
A huge selection of more than 200 cloth-covered cables in different colors, styles and fibers.
A Wild Soap Bar
“Our natural soaps are handmade in the old world tradition with pure essential oils, wild and organic herbs, and 100% certified organic vegetable oils.” Many “whole” ingredients, some completely fragrance-free, real olive oil castile soap fragrance-free. Real soap made with real plants.
Terra Thread
A diverse collection ofaffordable bags made at a Fair Trade Certified Factory using family grown Organic Cotton. “We start with 100% organic cotton, then, we color our fabric using GOTS certified dyes. All of our products are made in a Fair Trade Certified Factory. We guarantee fair wages, good working conditions, no child or forced labor, and a democratic workplace for our bag makers.” Lead-free zippers.
