Question from raftergirl

Hi Debra, I am quite grateful for your Q&A blog. It has so much helpful information for people with MCS. Thanks!

My question is regarding mosquito control.

Our local vector control has started spot spraying BTI (bacilles thuringiensis israelensis) for larvae control. They will start fogging from trucks and possible airplanes for adult mosquitos, “anvil 10 + 10” which is made by Clarke. They also sometimes use “Bio-mist 4 + 4” (also by Clarke).

Vector control said that these sprays are much less harmful than past sprays. I still feel quite concerned about it.

I am trying to decide if I need to leave the area and stay with someone while they spray (especially fog) or even the week following the fogging. I feel especially concerned about the fogging they do at night for adult mosquitos.

Do you have any sense how dangerous these sprays are for people with MCS? Are they much safer as vector control claims?

Debra’s Answer

First, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is completely safe. It is a group of bacteria used as biological control agents for larvae stages of certain insects. It works by producing toxins which are effective in killing specific species of mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and blackflies, while having almost no effect on other organisms. Here is the MDSD.

Anvil 10 + 10 is a synthetic pyrethrin pesticide. The MSDS says it contains 20% pesticide and 80% petroleum distillates and says “inert ingredeints are proprietary or non-hazardous” What!!?! Petroleum distillates certainly ARE hazardous! They are a mix of all different kinds of toxic VOCs, whatever is cheapest at the moment when the mix is being made. So when this is being sprayed, they are basically just spraying toxic chemicals around.

Bio-mist 4 + 4–oh, I see–is the same stuff (here’s the MSDS) but the 10 + 10 is 10 percent one pesticide and 10 percent another, while this one uses the same two pesticides with 4 percent of each. This is then 92 percent toxic petroleum distillates.

I would say if you are having symptoms, and you have known sensitivites, even that small amount can pose a potential issue.

I would leave while these pesticides are being applied, but since they are so volatile you could probably come back in a couple of days.

Add Comment

Question from holly

What is the healthiest microwave to buy re: outgassing? I don’t use the MW, but my Mom and husband do. My husband bought one and it smelled so bad we took it back immediately. I’m not concerned about the price, but I just don’t want the plastics, etc. off-gassing. Please advise.

Debra’s Answer

I certainly don’t know, as I don’t recommend microwave ovens at all.

But I’m posting your question because I understand when living with people sometimes you need to accommodate them.

Readers, any suggestions for a microwave oven that doesn’t smell of plastic?

Add Comment

Question from Magaret

Hi I don’t know if this is something that can be answered by you or anyone else.

I recently tested air for formaldehyde at home and work. The lab report found that the levels were both 14-15 parts per billion. I know that those levels are well below the EPA guidelines, but for someone with sensitivities can it pose a potential issue?

The guy at Advanced Chemical Sensor lab didn’t seem to think that level could be considered a problem. I thought I’d double check with you.

I’m wondering this because I have noticed some symptoms (brain fog & weird feeling in body) at work, but not at home.

I did another air test for my work space, but just for VOC’s. All it revealed was (again) a low level of Acetone, which didn’t seem too remarkable to the lab.

For what it is worth, prior to doing the testing and during a particularly toxic feeling episode, a holistic dr whom I’d consulted mentioned that I seemed to have some minor formaldehyde issue coming up in my body. (It was however among other more major issues, like pesticide and petroleum solvent exposure.)

Debra’s Answer

Whether or not one reacts to a particular chemical exposure is a very individual thing.

It depends on how much you’ve been exposed to and how often, other chemicals in your body, your general health…you could put ten people in a room with the same chemical exposure and each will respond differently.

The traditional toxicology viewpoint is that it takes a certain amount of a chemical to cause a toxic response and that can happen all at once or build up in your body over time. But what we are learning now is that some chemicals–like endocrine disruptors–can cause damage at extremely low doses, and people with MCS can react to exposures well below those considered safe. Children are much more susceptible, as are the elderly and those with chronic illness.

I would say if you are having symptoms, and you have known sensitivites, even that small amount can pose a potential issue.

ANY amount of a chemical can cause problems for some people. There is no safe level for lead, for example.

I would suggest to you to remove the source of formaldehyde until you can be in the room with no symptoms.

Add Comment

Question from Robin Hart

I just bought 100% white organic cotton sheets that were made in India, and they smell horrible. I have washed them 4 times and they are still to strong to tolerate. I have MCS they are now soaking in baking soda and organic apple cider vinegar and water solution. If that does not get rid of the smell, what else can I do. We have no clothes line and live in an HOA that does allow me to hang anything outside my home, like on the railing etc. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Debra’s Answer

Call Daliya at nontoxic.com 1 800 968 9355. She has a number of products that can help remove odors.

Just a couple of days ago I was reading some success stories about Pure Body zeolite drops, which are designed to be taken internally to remove toxic chemicals from your body. But this person used them to remove fragrance from clothing. “I used 14 drops in the washing machine to wash some used clothes I purchased at Goodwill that had fragrance on them from fragranced laundry detergent and the Pure Body took most of the fragrance smell out!” Makes sense to me since they absorb air pollutants too.

This woman also used Pure Body zeolite drops to remove fragrance from her hands. “I accidentally got hit with a fragranced hand soap one day…I usually use rubbing alcohol to get fragrances off my hands after someone has shaken my hand or if I didn’t know that a hand soap had fragrance in it, but with this particular one, the rubbing alcohol didn’t make much a difference…so, I put a few drops of Pure Body into a cup of water and then used that to scrub my hands and rinse off and it took most of the fragrance off my hands right away! Just needed to scrub more into between fingers to get the rest.”

Add Comment

Question from Junia

Debra, I have a baby bottle steriliser (Philips Avent, BPA Free) which uses water steam from a cup of water . What type of toxics are released from the vapour? Also, I’m currently looking for a used dehumidifier for my living room, but after looking around, all of them use hard plastic housing (not sure what about inside). Since dehumidifiers emit warm air, do you think it is safe to use? Should I be worried about the plastic offgassing, the compressor oil or other lubricants? Thank’s a lot.

Debra’s Answer

Here’s the science of plastic.

Softer plastics release vapors more easily than hard plastics.

Even hard plastics can release vapors when heated.

The worst possible way to use plastic is in conditions where it is heated.

Personally, I wouldn’t use a product of any kind that requires heating up plastic of any kind.

It doesn’t matter that this product is BPA-free. It could have other plastics and other emissions.

Add Comment

I signed a petition at change.org asking President Obama to declare the month of May as Toxic Injury Awareness, Education and Prevention month.

You can read more and sign the petition here:

https://www.change.org/petitions/president-obama-declare-toxic-injury-awareness-education-and-prevention-month.

Please tell others.