Question from Jennifer

I just purchased a Vivetique innerspring, organic cotton/pure grow wool mattress. (I am MCS and react strongly to chemicals.) The first morning after sleeping on the mattress I felt bad. All my usual chemical exposure symptoms came on: fatigue, stiff joints, nausea, lung pain, headache, pain under my arms, anxiety.

I can’t possibly understand why this is happening. These mattresses are promoted as chemical-free, nontoxic, okay for MCS, and clean. The mattress has a smell, but it smells like natural wool to me (the smell reminds me of a wool/cotton futon I once had).

Can anyone help? I have no idea why this would be and I’m seriously upset and depressed.

Thank you,

Jennifer

Debra’s Answer

Being MCS, you are in a different situation than people who are not MCS.

For a normal healthy person, one can assess the purity or toxicity of materials and choose accordingly, and not have a TOXIC exposure.

People with MCS can react to all sorts of safe, natural materials that are NOT TOXIC. This is an individual sensitivity. The material itself can be perfectly safe, yet you can still react to it.

In my opinion, people with MCS need to be extremely cautious about any claim that something is “safe for MCS”. There is no such thing that is safe for every person with MCS. Just read the posts on this blog. One person will recommend something they can tolerate and another person will say they couldn’t tolerate it at all. Instead of saying “safe for MCS” retailers should say, “We know many people with MCS tolerate this, but individual sensitivities vary and you may not tolerate it.”

I know it’s a challenge for MCS people to find products they can tolerate. You can get some clues from this blog regarding products others have tolerated, and I’ve marked entries on Debra’s List with an “MCS” for websites that are familiar with MCS and carry products that are likely to be tolerated.

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Question from Sho

Anyone know of a non-toxic hotel or B&B in the Boston area? I haven’t been able to find one online.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Debbie

I read that some vinegars are processed with petrochemicals. Do you know if that is true? How would one find out if a certain brand is processed with petrochemicals or not?

Thank you for your help and your wonderful website.

Debra’s Answer

It’s not that vinegar is processed from petrochemicals, it is made from petrochemicals. Heinz is one brand that is made from plants. Look on the label. If it doesn’t list a real food source, then it’s made from petrochemicals.

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Question from dt

Hello,

We are looking to replace our wooden decking outside, wanting to get into ‘composite’ low/no maintence decking.

This is mainly ‘plastics’. Is anyone familiar with ‘re-usable’ decking products that will not harm the environment or us?

Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

I actually like composite decking because it’s usually made of recycled plastics (instead of sending them to a landfill) and because they are outdoors, the small amount of outgassing is more diluted than if it is indoors. And it will last much longer than wood.

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Question from Erna

As I am (still) in search of the perfect sleep sack for my baby, I have found a company called Passport Baby – they claim to not sell “kinder sacks” (sleep sacks) that have flame retardant, but the warm sacks are described thusly: “All cotton fabrics, polyfil has a hypo-allergenic quality to it as well.” What is “polyfil”? Is it bad for my baby?

Also, I think I have found a crib, but I have a question about the stain. It is by Tried & True Wood Finishes, here is how they describe their product:

“All Tried & True Wood Finishes comply with the inner most circle of product safety established by the FDA: “safe for food contact surfaces” (FDA 21,Sec 175.300). Beeswax and natural varnish resin are FDA approved as non-toxic and non-allergic. Non-hazardous. Our products, and or any of their ingredients, are not regulated under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (Title 40) or the EPA Resource and Recovery Act(Title 49). Our oils are non-toxic and non-flammable (Although common sense and our label should be consulted for disposal of wiping cloths). The use of these finishes in commercial applications is not regulated by OSHA. No heavy metal driers. These metallic salts of cobalt and manganese are a health risk to those who manufacure them. In use they areconsidered a health risk only in long term exposure. Fume Free – Zero VOC.No solventsor petroleum distillates are present in Tried & True Wood Finishes. Therefore, there is nocompromise in environmental impact, worker health and safety, or indoor air quality.” This sounds safe to me but I am wondering if I am just getting desperate (I have been researching cribs, mattresses, sleep sacks and varnishes for two weeks now!) So…how desperate am I?! THANK YOU!!!

Debra’s Answer

Polyfil is polyester, a plastic made from petrochemicals.

Your wood finish sounds fine, but I have no personal experience with it.

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Question from Kelly

I’m wondering if you or your readers have had any experience traveling in China? I have MCS and am concerned about air quality and the challenges of finding “scent free” hotel rooms, etc. Two of the locations would be Shanghai and Harbin and the travel would occur in January or February so it will be cold which means no open windows. My husband has a business trip there and I’ve been invited, but am very concerned as I’ve read about the extreme air pollution and already know the challenges of trying to find acceptable hotel rooms in the US. Any input would be most appreciated.

Thanks much, Kelly

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Question from Peter Drew

My wife, Joanne, has given up trying to buy commercial, off-the-rack clothing, organic and otherwise. She is chemically sensitive and was just diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism. We’ve discovered that even organic clothing can be contaminated by formaldehyde fabric treatments in manufacture.

In our latest failed effort, I purchased two pair of pants for Joanne from an online retailer that sells only organic clothing for women. This company contracts with a clothing manufacturer here in the US to make the clothes. Supposedly, the pants were washed only in cold water after they were made, but I was not told how they were dried. The only guess Joanne and I have is that the clothes were dried in a dryer also used for clothes with fabric treatment and picked up the formaldehyde-based resin from the dryer. Joanne is highly sensitive and actually allergic to formaldehyde. So, the pants are no good to her, even after many washings in baking soda and vinegar.

As Debra has pointed out in responses to questions about formaldehyde-based fabric treatments, the treatments never wash out entirely. They are resins, which are designed to stick very tightly to the fabric’s fibers and not let go. That’s why some clothing brands claim that their clothes don’t need ironing even after 50 washes.

We’re looking for an individual, preferably in a home business, who specializes in sewing pants and shirts for chemically sensitive people, and can work from measurements and organic fabric we supply. It’s important, of course, that the sewer be fragrance-free.

Please reply to this post with any recommendation you might have anywhere in the US. Joanne’s down to a few outfits and they’re really starting to wear out. Any help in locating a sewer would be truly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Peter in CT

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Question from Aimee

We have bought a home in the country and the previous owners have let their pets pee all over the carpets, so we are going to pull up the carpets and, so we can move in quickly, we are thinking of sealing the subfloor underneath and then painting it with low or no VOC paints and then later we’ll put in hardwood flooring when we can afford it.

So, what we are wondering: Is there a water based wood sealer that is non toxic that we can use on the subflooring that is very effective and very safe?

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

My favorite wood finish at the moment is Vermont Natural Coatings. Made in part with whey leftover from nearby cheesemakers.

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Question from DBrown

I have been up coughing all night and found your website while trying to search for an “indoor air specialist”. Yesterday I recieved the wall unit that I had designed and ordered for our bedroom. Right away I smelled a strong odor in the room and was concerned about chemincal exposure because I am pregnant. I know that because I “designed” this unit it is not “returnable”, however I am feeling like if there were chemicals used in the processing of this piece of furniture that are making me cough I should be able to do something right?? It was very expensive and if it is possibly making me sick and maybe even my little one I want it out of here! Is there someone that can come in and tell me if the level of chemicals in that room is toxic or safe so that I can tell the company to take back the furniture and give me my money back?

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Yes, you can have someone come in an test the air, but it may cost you more than the price of the furniture.

I suggest you start by telling them you were coughing all night and want to return it. Since it is custom, they probably won’t. They may, however, consider they have a moral obligation to not make you sick with their furniture.

This may be an expensive lesson. Do you know the materials and finishes used? Today it’s important to consider materials and finishes BEFORE you order and get samples.

I once had a client who installed thousands of dollars of built-ins for his wife all over their bedroom and closet. They were all particleboard and they made her so sick he had to take them all out. She wasn’t particularly sensitive to chemicals before this installation, but all that formaldehyde pushed her immune system over the edge.

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Question from Lauri

A friend recently was kind enough to give me a used fax machine and a used printer. However, he wears A LOT of cologne, and both of the machines reek of it. We have let them air out on our patio table outside for almost a week, but there is no change. Is there anything I can do to get rid of the perfume smell?

I am very chemically sensitive, and can not bring these items in with this odor, even thought I really appreciate somebody giving them to me.

Thank you.

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