A few weeks ago, I published a question from a reader wanting to know about Toxins of Dawn Dish Detergent.

I answered her question by giving her a link to the ingredients of Dawn provided by Proctor & Gamble, which included a list of fragrance ingredients from the International Fragrance Association.

She commented

When clicking on the perfume link, hundreds of possible ingredients are listed, with this as part of the intro :

“Our perfumes are formulated with the greatest care and utmost attention to safety. Whenever a perfume is developed or enhanced, our safety scientists evaluate the detailed composition of the perfume to ensure that the product is safe to use. Perfumes are formulated taking into account our stringent internal safety standards for every ingredient, as well as the safety standards set by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). We adhere to the IFRA Code of Practice and the IFRA Standards. For more information about IFRA go to www.ifraorg.org.”

Can this be true? I thought all perfumes (not including organic essential oils) contain toxic chemicals.

Well, it turns out that Women’s Voices For the Earth has been asking this question for almost ten years, and just recently release a report on the subject.

Here are some links to help you find everything.

Especially see the last link, which shows which chemicals on the IFRA list are known to be toxic by other organizations.

Kudos to Women’s Voices for the Earth for doing this work.

EcoWatch: Are Toxic Fragrances Making You Sick?

Women’s Voices For the Earth Report Overview

THE REPORT: Unpacking the Fragrance Industry: Policy Failures, the Trade Secret Myth and Public Health

More information on fragrance ingredients from Women’s Voices for the Earth

Fragrance Chemicals of Concern Present on the IFRA List 2015
Take a look at this if you want to see what chemicals in fragrances are considered toxic by organizations outside of the fragrance industry.

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Question from Michael

Hi Debra,

Do you know anything about the insecticide they have to put in wool carpet in NZ? Is it toxic? Any health concerns? Here it is:

is potentially carcinogenic: Bifenthrin. Bifenthrin is a Pyrethroid compound.

Debra’s Answer

Hmmm. Some conflicting information on this.

First, here are a few links with health effects of this pesticide.

www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Bifenthrin

npic.orst.edu/factsheets/bifgen.html

pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/24d-captan/bifenthrin-ext.html

I found a comment on a post that said, “wool carpets are treated with a pesticide called bifenthrin which is added into the dye process.” If this is the case, then an undyed carpet would not have it. Also this source didn’t specify New Zealand.

But here is an industry document that describes the use of mothproofing, which says “it must be applied at dying, or later.”

Now Karastan says:

New Zealand wool is the purest, whitest wool in the world, offering excellent dyeing characteristics that create long-lasting colors.

New Zealand wool is raised with little impact on the natural landscape. It is a renewable and biodegradable fiber that is one of the world’s most environmentally friendly products.

New Zealand wool is produced on land mostly unsuitable for other agricultural purposes and does not compete with food production.

No internationally banned pesticides are used on New Zealand farms, making New Zealand’s sheep industry one of the world’s greenest animal production systems.

The Wools of New Zealand brand is your guarantee of the highest quality New Zealand wool. It is the indication that New Zealand wool is a superb natural product derived in an environmentally responsible way through sustainable land use.

I went to the Wools of New Zealand website and couldn’t find any statement about insecticides. So I can’t tell if New Zealand wool is mothproofed with a chemical pesticide or not.

Well, after all that, here is the document you want to read:

admin.woolsnz.com/uploadGallery/documents/insectresist%20.pdf

It’s the technical document for making Wools of New Zealand insect resistant. It does mention Bifenthrin and states it’s not approved for the USA.

Personally I wouldn’t get a carpet with this pesticide applied.

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Question from nclynn

Hi Debra,

Your books were my main teachers when i really committed to going green in the 90s. so wonderful!

i am on a thread right now where someone recommended a dishwasher detergent of borax, baking soda (1/2 cup each), 1/8 cup citric acid and 25 drops of ‘essential oil’.

Someone chimed in and said they used this and it ate up their enamelware. the rest of the thread is opinions about what was the culprit and they have ALL been named!!! lol.

The latest was a mom who has a chemist son. son said “borax will ruin your glassware (depending on the make-up) when added to hot water and can make it taste like play-doh – forever! “

I told them i had heard in the 90s (from you?) to use plain borax in the dishwasher. i used it once at a friend’s and it was fine but i’ve never had my own dishwasher.

Do you have any thoughts on that original recipe…good, bad, indifferent?

Thanks for all you do!

Debra’s Answer

I looked up my original recipe for dishwasher detergent and found mix baking soda and borax half-and-half and then put 4 tablespoons in your dishwasher. But I got that from a book somewhere and never actually used it.

I haven’t had a dishwasher since 1985.

So, readers, what are your thoughts or experience with this formula, and what do YOU use in your dishwasher?

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Question from Bonnie Johnson

Hi Debra,

Does anyone have any experience using one of these? They are supposed to purify the air in your home.

Especially did it help a sinus condition?

Debra’s Answer

I had a Himalayan Salt Lamp in my bedroom for a while, but I had to remove it because I couldn’t sleep. I finally just gave it away.

As beautiful as they are, I wouldn’t use one as an air filter.

Salt lamps are natural source of negative ions.

At any given time, there are both positive and negative ions in the air. Negative ions are often found in nature, often created by lightening storms, sunlight, waterfalls, ocean waves and other natural processes. A salt lamp produces negative ions during the evaporation of water attracted to the lamp by the salt.

Positive ions are often created by electronic devices like computers, TVs, microwaves, and vacuum cleaners. They are known to contribute to problems like allergies, stress and sleep trouble.

Negative ions can neutralize positive ions by bonding with them.

Since air pollutants such as airborne mold, bacteria, and allergens often carry a positive charge, they can be neutralized by negative ions.

But that’s the limitation of a salt lamp as an air purifier.

For air purifiers that work to remove a broad spectrum of particles and chemical pollutants, visit the Air Filters page of Debra’s List.

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Question from Michelle W

Hi Debra,

I recently contacted a small furniture company to ask about the toxicity of the materials they use. Here’s part of their reply:

“The inner liner is made of a Polyester (92%) / Spandex (8%) blend. Likewise, they contain no known latex content. However, they are treated with a flame retardant called Pyrovatex SVC. This material is not known to cause allergic reactions or contain latex derivatives and is non toxic.”

I tried to look up the MSDS for the Pyrovatex flame retardant, but the website seems to be down (and has been for at least a week.) Do you know anything about this flame retardant or how they can claim it is nontoxic?

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Pyrovatex is a trade name for Phosphonic acid, (2-((hydroxymethyl)carbamoyl)ethyl)-, dimethyl ester

Phosphonic acid is an organophosphorus compound. There are many types of phosphorates, including Gyphosate (“Roundup”).

Here is an MSDS for Phosphoric Acid

It says it’s 98% phosphorous acid.

There is no toxicity information given, however, it is hazardous by burning the skin and is harmful if swallowed. Inhalation can cause chemical burns to the respiratory tract.

That’s how they can say it’s nontoxic.

It doesn’t appear to be volatile, so if you are not inhaling it as a powder, it would be not toxic.

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Question from Dawn Magstadt

Hi Debra,

Thank you for all you do. Hey, I was wondering, I’ve come upon yet another seemingly simple thing with huge implications, lighting.

I’ve been avoiding the light bulb situation and I won’t buy the curly ones (mercury is mercury–bad enough. I have some in my mouth and the fish I eat, and like who’s gonna really toss the bulbs not in the trash can? please.

Then the Dollar Store, my refuge from Walmart confusion, let me down in that
they burned out within a month this time. So I resigned myself to go to Menards (like Home Depot etc) and saw LED.

Then there’s some kinds (can’t recall–from another excursion) that say they can get hot(I’m thinkin’ that’s Halogen). I had 3 Halogen tall pole lamps in the 90s and I never bought a replacement bulb in 10 years! I take that back, maybe once for one. Then I divorced and who knows, they probably still burned after that. So a few years ago I merely bought a desk Halogen and it burned out in a week! I’m like what gives in a decade? Now they burn out? Made no sense.

I don’t want any bulbs to start a fire in my cheapy Goodwill lamps, my god. Might as well burn beeswax candles; at least it would be healthy and cost about the same as those expensive bulbs. I don’t mind expensive if it lasts, but then I read LED is directional and may keep melatonine from happening. I love the light they give but not on people’s cars (which seems like I’ve seen–too bright, albeit clear, must be hunting snipes, lol). I thought those for melatonine were the UV watcha ma call it clear bulbs. It’s nice they all are in light bulb form now but it was easier to know what was what when their shapes were different. I mean Halogen were little bity, not a bulb.

And then they (the god makers of light) claim regular florescent works for plants when in fact, I read before you’d have to have them no further away than 4″, now they act like any old bulb will do. How can that have changed in only 7 yrs?

Would they just organize it, make up their minds so I can just grab a pack of bulbs and feel comfortable that I won’t burn my apt building down and lose everything and that I won’t get depressed
or end up with a sleep disorder. I mean come on people.

So I’m saying…have you done any research?

It just seems odd, does it not, that when it’s all about light, it’s in the dark. And of course it’s complicated and of course it’s polluted.

Debra’s Answer

I’ve done a lot of research about this over the years and could organize it, and will, but can’t in this blog post today. Lighting is changing so quickly it’s hard to keep up with it.

I’ll just give you a quick answer by telling you what I use.

First, I’ve done things to have more natural light in my home, like install skylights. I have a big skylight over my shower, so I rarely turn on a light when I go in the bathroom. Even at night I have a little nightlight, so there’s no need to turn on the overhead light.

Then, I’ve purchased light fixtures that take incandescent type bulbs. And I use Philips EcoVantage bulbs, which are halogens inside of a bulb that is the same size and shape as an incandescent. I’ve never had a problem with overheating.

I also have a fixture over my kitchen sink that takes small halogens. It’s all metal and glass, so no problem with overheating. The fixture is designed for halogens.

As a rule, I don’t use overhead lights, except in the hallway. I much prefer task lighting, which also saves energy.

Simple.

Hope this helps your dilemma!

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