Question from cymering

Dear Debra:

I am trying to decide what replacement windows to use in my house. My first choice would have been wood inside aluminum outside, but now I know about Fibrex, from Andersen

http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite/AW/Page/awGeneral-3/1200437179662

It sounds good on their website. Do you know anything about this material?

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Well…I have no personal experience with Fibrex as a material, but it looks great on paper: Anderson Windows: Fibrex Material.

The only thing I don’t know about this are the possible emissions from the thermoplastic. Could you do a little more research on this?

Ask them what type of thermoplastic. It could be something of low toxicity like fiberglass.

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Question from Daisy

Does anyone have any information on PTFC coatings on cookware? Recently I was at Williams Sonoma and saw their new “Gold Touch” line of cookware, which is advertised as having a non-stick ceramic coating. When I saw this I contacted the company to find out if it was a nano-ceramic coating, because I’m concerned about nano-particles and want to limit my exposure to these. They wrote back and said it was not a nano-ceramic coating but a PTFC coating. However, I can’t seem to find any information on what PTFC is using regular search engines like Google. I’d like to know if this cookware is safe to use, I love to bake and they have a variety of great looking cake pans.

Debra’s Answer

I just called Williams-Sonoma after looking at this cookware on their website.

The reason you couldn’t find PTFC is because there is no such thing. Williams Sonoma told me the finish was “PTFE ceramic.” The representative read it right off the screen. I asked her to repeat it. “PTFE ceramic.”

Now PTFE is just the same old polytetrafluoroethylene, aka Teflon, which is very different from ceramic. Teflon is a toxic plastic, and ceramic is like glass. It’s like saying it’s an apple orange.

I pressed the rep to put me in touch with someone higher up and she wrote up a ticket about this.

The customer service rep called me back a few nights later and said she had a document in front of her that was an “internal customer service document” so she couldn’t send it to me, but it said that according to the manufacturer of their “Gold Touch” line, “all of the non-stick finishes on their products sold in the USA are PTFE.” The document said nothing about the finish being ceramic.

She further said that the Gold Touch finish “starts as PFOA but the high heat during the manufacturing process removes all the PFOA, leaving only PTFE.”

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Question from Junia

Hi Debra, I have a solid pine baby cot, but I read that pine wood emits Acetaldehyde. Do you know anything about this?

Debra’s Answer

Yes, pine can emit acetaldehyde, but the amount of acetabldehyde varies greatly from freshly cut pine, to pine that has been dried, and pine that has aged. Levels of emissions drop greatly which lumber is dried–so much is released during the drying process that it is considered an environmental air pollutant.

So the older the pine, the less it would emit.

Pine has been used to make furniture, flooring, and wall paneling for centuries. Whatever amount of naturally-occuring chemicals pine wood might emit are much less than manufacturered plywood and particleboard.

I personally use a lot of pine for building bookshelves and have a lot of pine furniture. Over time, the “wood” smell dissipates.

That said, many people are sensitive to the smell of pine, and it may be these naturally-occuring chemicals they are reacting to.

Babies are the most susceptible to the harmful effects of chemicals. If you have any question about emissions, consider a crib made of a wood that is less fragrant, like oak.

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Question from petercsantoro@yahoo.com

Unfortunately, one answer I received was that the tags were made of “woven polyester.” What does this mean? Does this mean the whole article of clothing is “tainted?” What about when I wash the clothing? What do you recommend? Should I tear out the tags on the clothing I have?

Thank you for all the great information!

Debra’s Answer

Woven polyester is woven polyester. I’ve seen many natural fiber clothing items have cotton tags. Personally, I would probably just cut the polyester tags out, as I don’t like the way they feel against my skin.

This is not a major toxic exposure, but can be distressing if you are sensitive to polyester. I’m not worried about what happens in the wash.

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Question from Anne Donahue

Hi Debra, I like the new website. I found a nice rental home to move to but the landlords told me they fumigated it for termites about 3 years ago. I am chemically sensitive and was wondering if it would be safet to live there? Would their be any residue left if it was 3 yrs ago? Thanks so much, Anne

Debra’s Answer

Whether or not there would be any residue left depends on

1) the fumigant used and how long it takes to break down
2) the conditions (moisture, air flow, temperature, etc)

If you can find out what the name of the fumigant is, I can give you more information.

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Question from lweave

I am caulking my apartment to eliminate secondhand smoke. I need to know what types of caulk I can use around hotwater heating pipes, that won’t off gas toxic fumes when they get hot.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any experience with this?

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Question from HEG

Hi Debra,

I have been reading a lot lately about thermochromic plastic since it is often used in children’s items to make them heat-sensitive and, in response, color-changing (e.g. spoons that are heat-sensitive will change color in food that is too hot for a baby’s mouth). This process uses Leuco dyes, which are also used in thermal receipt paper. I know that BPA used in thermal paper is free and unbounded and therefore wipes off of the receipt paper onto your hands, but I am curious about the dyes used to make plastic heat-sensitive and color-changing as well. Do you know if thermochromic plastic (PVC, PP, and others) has the dyes embedded in the plastic, thereby decreasing the ability to be exposed to free BPA, or is it like the receipt paper where you can be exposed to BPA or other bisphenol derivatives in powder form? Thanks for any insight you or your readers might have.

Debra’s Answer

Thermoplastic and thermal paper are two entirely different materials.

Theremoplastic is the term for plastics that have been “heat set” to hold their shape. These are hard plastics and the color is embedded in them.

Thermal paper changes color, but it is still paper. BPA is a coating, that’s why it rubs off.

The dyes in a plastic baby spoon would be set in the spoon and not come out.

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Question from jiwaskow

I think I posted a while back but I can’t find the post. We need a water softener for very hard well water. I’m concerned about the salts they add, but potassium is so expensive. Is there an alternative?

Likewise – I’m concerned about the plastic material being exposed to my water. Know any non-plastic ones?

We’ll also need a reverse osmosis under the sink. Wondering if anyone has found the safest again in terms of plastic exposure, etc.

Thanks

Jill

Debra’s Answer

I live in a very hard water area and have an EarthCore Water Conditioner. It restructures water to make it softer, so there is no need to add salt.

I’ve had mine for almost ten years and it just keeps working year after year.

I don’t recommend reverse osmosis water filters because they make the water too acid.

You can see all the water filters I recommend at Debra’s List: Water: Water Filters

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Question from sttlove

I am in the process of buying a non-toxic crib mattress for my baby. I am not sure if I need to replace my first-born’s twin mattress. He is sleeping on a Ikea mattress that is made from polyurethane foam. The mattress is six years old. At the time I bought it, I was unaware of the dangers, now I feel incredibly guilty. My question is: After 6 years, is this mattress still toxic?

Debra’s Answer

It’s LESS toxic, but I can’t say with certainty it is NOT toxic.

If there is one thing that is important to do for a newborn, it’s a nontoxic mattress. Exposure to toxic chemicals during those early months can affect their health later on in their lifetime.

Applying the precautionary principle, better safe than sorry.

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Question from LLB52

Has anyone used Yolo Paint? My daughter is considering using it and I need to know if anyone has had any experience with this brand. Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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