Water | Swimming Pools
Tampons
Question from Adrian
Hi, I was wondering if tampons are one of those things that should be organic. I usually do buy them, however my daughter was recently given a huge box of regular ones from a bulk store and don’t know if we should use them. Thank You, Adrian
Debra’s Answer
Definitely tampons should be organic and unbleached, if paper. Ordinary bleached tampons made from paper usually contain residues of dioxin from the paper bleaching process (chlorine bleach combines with wood lignins in the paper to form dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals on earth). Dioxin can be released from the tampons and be absorbed through the skin, which is particularly vulnerable in that delicate area.
I would toss those tampons.
Not so Stainless Steel cookware
Question from cymering
Dear Debra, I know that you don’t use stainless steel, but maybe you can help me with this. I had the same pots and pans for years and I never had eny problems. Recently they started showing rainbow or some dark stains. I bought new pots, and they get stained too. I have recently change to organic rice and pasta, but the some stains appear with other food too, that I have not change. On the Web, some say that I can clean using lemon, but will this not affect the metal? Are the pots still safe to use? Thank you.
Debra’s Answer
Well, first, you are right I don’t recommend stainless steel because it can leach heavy metals if you scratch it, as when you use metal utensils.
Readers, any thoughts on this?
Glass Sippy Cups
Question from HEG
This is not a question, but rather an answer to anyone who may be searching for a glass sippy cup for toddlers (as I have been for two years). I just learned that the company Lifefactory makes glass sippy cups/toddler bottles with silicone sleeves to protect them. They also make similar water bottles for adults.
Another option is the Bornfree brand, but for this you have to be a bit more creative. Bornfree makes glass baby bottles and plastic toddler sippy cups and recently added silicone sleeves for their glass bottles. The parts are interchangeable so you can take the glass baby bottle with silicone sleeve and simply put the top/spout from the otherwise plastic toddler sippy cup on the glass bottle (and just get rid of the bottom part of the plastic sippy cup).
Hope this information may be helpful for other moms of toddlers out there!
Debra’s Answer
Concrete Floor finishing products?
Question from Hope Fox
Hi there,
I need to finish two concrete slabs (upstairs and downstairs – yes we have a concrete floor upstairs!) in our close-to-being-finished new healthy home. I would appreciate some feedback on two products, AcriSoy sealant and any sealant designed to go on top of diamond-polished floors.
Downstairs (kitchen, living room, bathroom) Slab: After reading great things about the durability and healthyness of diamond polished floors (supposedly no maintanence for decades!) we went ahead with it as a DIY project – professionally diamond polished concrete services are super expensive. After a bit of a learning curve, the floor is polished, and looks lovely. The densified, polished surface is naturally somewhat water-repellant, but can still stain if the source of the stain is not cleaned up right away. Living with two young, messy boys, this is bound to happen. I am trying to decide whether to use an additional sealant, and if so, which one. It would need to be designed to seal on top of diamond-polished floors, since there will be minimal penetration posssible with this floor treatment. This is the sealant from the company that we got our concrete densifier from. What do you think of the safety of this product from an MCS perspective, based on its MSDS? Our move in date is aprox 2 months from now.
http://www.xtremeharddensifier.com/uploads/Shield.pdf
The upstairs slab (bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry room) need to be finished differently. Somehow the waterproof additive Xypex was added to this pour in addition to the pour for the walls, where it was supposed to be, so we could not diamond polish it. The waterproofing does not protect it from stains, necessarily. We were thinking of sealing it with Acrisoy…. any thoughts, experience?
Debra’s Answer
The AcriSoy looks good to me on paper. Has anyone tried it?
The other one I wouldn’t use. It says it is not hazardous under normal conditions, but contains Dipropylene Glycol Normal Butyl Ether which is pretty toxic when you are applying it. It’s probably OK once it dries, but the coating is acrylic plastic and I’d prefer another material for you.
Safer synthetic carpet?
Question from Kmdegroot
We need to replace the carpet on our stairs. The rest of the house has wood floors, but I prefer padding on the stairs for safety. Wool isn’t in the budget. Are there safer synthetics? Where does one buy them and what questions do I need to ask? Thanks so much!
Debra’s Answer
Cleaning top loading HE washer
Question from KOS
Hi Debra, Just purchased a Kenmore HE top loading washer. Instructions say to clean it monthly with bleach (it has a clean cycle to do this). I’m obviously not going to use bleach. Any suggestions on what to use instead? Just ordered your new book – eager to read it! Best, Kelly
Debra’s Answer
I don’t have a top loading washer so I don’t have any experience with this. Readers, what are you cleaning yours with besides bleach?
1950’s Fire King Milk Glass Dishware: Is it Lead Free?
Question from m1021
I’ve always liked milkglass, and saw some on Etsy from the 1950’s (I think, given the stamp and what google says about the date stamp).
From all what I can learn through google, there was arscenic in milk glass back in the 1800’s, and then they stopped that and used lead for awhile instead to acheive the same milky look, up to the early 1900’s.
But the info seems to stop there. So the milkglass I’m drooling over from the 1950’s….anyone know if that’s safe? It’s stamped “Fire King,” and I do know that Fire King/Anchor Hocking glass is currently safe nowadays. But does that give me any assurances for old stuff?
Debra’s Answer
Readers?
Nord Piano Keybed lubricant
Question from reelfood
Hi Debra, Thanks for your site!
I recently purchased a Nord piano that has a Fatar keybed made in Tunisia and they are using some kind of chemical on it that I am reacting to. I chose this piano because it was made without plywood (unlike most other major brands) so was very surprised and disappointed that there was an issue with it. My choices now are to get a Roland keyboard that has the plywood or get a used Nord that has gassed off for 6-8 mos or more.
My biggest question is will the used Nord, even though it may not smell as bad still be insidiously effecting me ? I would have to have it shipped across the country to even tell if I can tolerate it. I have played a Roland and even though it has the plywood, I did not notice a reaction to it. I did not buy it because even though I couldn’t smell it, I figured it must be gassing off formaldehyde. Perhaps someone knows of a digital piano/keyboard that has no plywood? Thanks for any thoughts you or your readers have.
Debra’s Answer
Readers, and suggestions?
Buy “Made in the USA”
A friend of mine sent me an email with no source that commented on Diane Sawyer’s special report “Made in America,” which aired last fall. It’s an interesting piece of investigative work.
They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family’s home that were not made in the USA. There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink; literally. During the special they showed truckloads of items – USA made – being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc.
It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs!
The email I received was asking that we all look on the bottom of every product for “Made in China” or “PRC” and choose products made in the USA instead.
There’s an interesting map on the “Made in America” website that lists companies making products in each state. There are not many listed in comparison to how many there are. Many of my Debra’s List websites make products in America and I’ve noted them with an icon.
For more products Made in the USA, check out these websites. The products are not necessarily nontoxic, but there is a great reduction in shipping pollution and buying American supports our own economy at home,
Toxic Chemicals Found in Child Car Seats
Hazardous Flame Retardants and Chemical Additives Found in
Over Half of 2011 Child Car Seats Tested by HealthyStuff.org
Toxic Chemicals Linked to Allergies, Birth Defects, Impaired Learning, Liver Toxicity, and Cancer
The latest research on toxic chemicals in children’s car seats was released last week by the nonprofit Ecology Center at the consumer-friendly site, www.HealthyStuff.org. While some seats were found to be virtually free of the most dangerous chemicals, over half (60%) contained at least one of the chemicals tested for.
Over 150, 2011-model car seats were tested for bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC and plasticizers); lead; other heavy metals, and allergens. These substances have been linked to allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, and cancer. Heat and UV-ray exposure in cars can accelerate the breakdown of these chemicals and possibly increase their toxicity. Babies are the most vulnerable population in terms of exposure, since their bodily systems are still developing and they spend many hours in their car seats.
Most Toxic 2011 Car Seats:
- Infant Seat: Graco Snugride 35 in Edgemont Red/Black & Graco SnugRide 30 in Asprey
- Convertible Seat: Britax Marathon 70 in Jet Set & Britax Marathon in Platinum
- Booster Seat: Recaro Pro Booster in Blue Opal & Recaro ProSPORT Toddler in Misty
Least Toxic 2011 Car Seats:
- Infant Seat: Chicco KeyFit 30 in Limonata, Graco Snugride 35 in Laguna Bay & Combi Shuttle 33 in Cranberry Noche
- Convertible Carseat: Graco Comfort Sport in Caleo, Graco MyRide 65 in Chandler and Streamer, Safety 1st OnSide Air in Clearwater, andGraco Nautilus Elite 3-in-1 in Gabe
- Booster Seat: Graco Turbo Booster in Anders
Overall, car seats are improving in terms of their toxicity levels. Since 2008, when the Ecology Center first started doing this research, average car seat rankings have improved by 64%.
For a complete list of car seat rankings and chemical composition visit www.HealthyStuff.org.