Question from Annette Tweedel

Hi Debra, I just bought a new blow dryer, Vidal Sassoon Ecostyle, Eco Friendly, Hair Friendly. But I have a concern. I was reading in the instructions under Ceramic Technology that it says Ceramic’s far-infrared heat penetrates hair quickly and evenly from the inside-out, drying and styling hair in a fraction of time with superior results. I have concerns about when it said the words far-infrared heat. Is far-infrared something to be concerned about? Thank you so much.

Debra’s Answer

Infrared heat and the heat produced by sun are very much alike. The heat we feel on our planet is infrared heat produced by the sun. Infrared heat sources do not heat the air in the area and do not cause circulation of the warm air–instead they heat objects directly. The rays produced by an infrared heater penetrate the skin and warm your body beneath the skin.

Far infrared rays are considered safe and healing. Because they penetrate deep into the skin, they increase blood flow, reduce inflamation and decrease pain. It is used for healing the skin, blood circulation, and skin cell revitalizing. A far-infrared sauna is the preferred choice for detox programs.

So I think you are fine with it in your hair dryer.

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Question from italeigh

Hi Debra, I am shopping for new safe, eco-friendly, long lasting, easy to use cookware and am wondering if you have any opinion on or experience with “The Original Green Pan” cookware. Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I’m assuming you are referring to the Orgreenic nonstick pan, which is what I found when I searched on “the original green pan.”

It LOOKS fine and I say LOOKS in a capital letters because I have no personal experience with it. It says it has a ceramic finish, looks very similar online to my Cuisinart Green Gourmet pans that I like.

But I am always skeptical of the quality of merchandise sold by infomercials. That doesn’t mean ALL informercial products are bad, I just think twice before buying them.

Anyone have experience with this pan?

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Question from jiwaskow

We need a backup heat source for our mountain home. Anyone have a good expeirence with a certain wood or pellet stove? I’ve heard often it’s the oil coatings on pipes/etc that cause the most probs for sensitive people. Wonder if they make them without those…

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from jiwaskow

We need an electric water heater and I’ve been searching for glass lined/magnesium anode. But they all have a plastic dip tube in them – all.

Anyone have recommendations of electric water heaters that have worked for them?

Also seeking recs for electric boilers. Looking at Slant Fin and Allied.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from sadiebess

I purchased an IKEA mattress recntly for my two and a half year old daughter, mostly due to the fact that they do not use PBDEs. It had a strong odor when we got it, and I aired it out in the sun on my deck for a couple of days and vacuumed it a couple of times before I put her on it to sleep. The first night she rubbed and rubbed her nose until she finally fell asleep. Then the whole next day, her eyes were extremely waterey and her face got little red blotches on it until I removed the mattress from the house entirely. We aired it on our porch for over a week after that, then brought it into our living room for a few days, where she would hang out on it while she watched TV. She didn’t seem to have any discernable symptoms at that point, so I decided to buy a polypropylen/polyethylene cover for it and put it back in her room. The next day she broke out in hives. I’ve moved the mattress to another room, and I fear it may be a lost cause. It is an innerspring with polyurethane foam.

Right now she is sleeping on a firmly inflated TPU vinyl air mattress (Aerobed’s Ecolite). I am at a loss as to what to do next. We have had a rough year and don’t have much money to spend, and I certainly don’t want to spend any more on something we can’t use! Do you know if allergy testing can determine what she might be reacting to in the bed? I have emailed IKEA for a list of ingredients but they have yet to respond.

Debra’s Answer

Allergy testing probably won’t determine what she is reacting to in the bed because standard allergy testing does not include testing for toxic materials.

It sounds like the IKEA mattress still has some toxic components, even if no PBDEs. Polyurethane foam itself is toxic, so if you remove that, there would be no mattress.

Question from Sue Smith

We tested for radon in our house and found the amount in the main part of our house is OK but it is high in our basement. How dangerous is this since we don’t spend most of our time down there?

Debra’s Answer

I am not a radon expert, however, I will say that if your living area tests OK, it’s probably fine to not worry about the basement if you don’t use it. If there were a problem with radon from the basement seeping into your living area, it would have shown up on the test.

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Question from Sue Smith

We bought a house in TN last year and it has a ventless gas fireplace. I’m concerned about toxins since it is not vented. Should I be concerned and is it possible to have it vented?

Debra’s Answer

On a website that sells ventless fireplaces I found, “The primary gas combustion byproducts that can affect indoor air quality are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor (humidity). Today’s vent-free fireplaces operate well within national standards and recommendations concerning these five byproducts.”

I would assume that the emissions are similar to emissions from a gas stove. And it’s recommended that gas stoves be used with a range hood to collect the combustion byproducts and remove them from the house.

Maybe one of my readers who has more experience than I with this type of fireplace can tell more about their experience with it.

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Question from KOS

Debra,

A recent blurb in the NY Times indicates that Hyatt has developed “hypoallerginic rooms”. It states:

“….Hyatt uses a six step cleaning process to sanitize its special rooms that includes disseminating tea tree oil, a natural disinfectant, through the ventilation system, and using ozone to get rid of lingering odors. The hotel is using a medical grade air-purification system that it says eliminates at least 98 percent of airborne viruses, bacteria and pollen. Guests may still open the windows; the system will zap introduing irritants within an hour.”

I’m curious about your thoughts on this. My understanding is that tea tree oil, while natural, has a very strong odor which makes it a no go for me.

Thanks for your two cents!

Debra’s Answer

It’s not clear to me from this description whether or not the tea tree oil is applied while the guest is in the room or not.

I don’t think what is described would be harmful to an average person, but might be a problem to someone like yourself that has a specific sensitivity to tea tree oil.

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