Question from Lyn

Hi Debra,

I have a dilemma. I have an insurance company that will be purchasing an ergonomic office chair for me that, I am told, has memory foam. I have chemical sensitivities and can’t go into any store selling office chairs with memory foam without it making it difficult for me to breathe and my leaving immediately. I have asked that I get a used chair to avoid off-gassing of the fumes of the polyurethane foam. I am also allergic to latex so I can’t use natural latex in seating or beds. Is there any way to seal off the material with some other material to block the off-gassing of the memory foam? Or…is there an ergonomic office chair that has a memory foam made from safe materials for someone with chemical sensitivies? Any information from you or your readers would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

Lyn

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know of an office chair with safe memory foam, and I doubt there is one.

If your only option is to have this chair, I would devise some kind of cover that would block the fumes. The first thing that comes to mind is an aluminum “space blanket”, which would certainly block the fumes. You would need to wrap it around the chair in such a way to cover all the memory foam, and use foil tape to make a good seal.

Once you’ve done this, you can make a decorative cover of any material that pleases you.

Readers, any other suggestions?

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Question from Rachel

Hi! I am (or at least was) a professional artist who has recently gotten MCS. I am selling off all of my oil paints, and I’ve dropped out of my graduate program in art. My question is, is it still ok to use:

any advice on how to continue to be an artist with this condition would be so helpful- art has always been my primary means of expression, and I’ve become extremely depressed with out being able to paint for fear of toxic exposure.

Blessings,

Rachel

Debra’s Answer

I’m not a professional artist, but I find it acceptable to use water-based pens and markets and Prismacolor colored pencils.

Readers, your recommendations?

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Question from CJStewart

I am looking to buy some cookie cutters for use by small children playing with clay/dough. My two options are aluminum/stainless or polystyrene. The plastic would be less sharp, I think. But, of course, they’re plastic. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Debra’s Answer

For this use, I don’t think it makes a lot of difference for health or the environment. They are both about the same in their impacts.

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Question from Kim

Debra,

I have been able to find some palm sugar locally, and am planning on pulverizing it in a coffee grinder for use as a white sugar (powdered or granular) substitute. In your experience, does organic palm sugar behave like organic cane sugar in baking and/or confectionary applications?

Thank you so much for any guidance you may be able to provide!

Debra’s Answer

Yes, and it’s really delicious.

And it will raise blood sugar just like refined white sugar, though it is less refined.

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Question from Phil

Hi Debra,

You mentioned you mostly purchase regular cotton or linen clothing, but are careful to select these fabrics with no permanent press finish.

How do you know which cotton fabrics have no permanent press finish? Is there a particular brand you look for?

Thank you,

Debra’s Answer

Fabrics with permanent-press finishes are labeled “permanent press,” “easy care,” “wrinkle free” or some similar wording. It is on the label as a selling point, as some people want this.

I’ve never purchased a garment that was not so labeled, and then suspected it had a formaldehyde-based finish on it.

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Question from RBES

Hi Everyone,

I’m looking into buying a MP3 player. I was wondering if you know of a particular brand that is the most environmentally friendly. I believe that macs claim to be. Do you know if this is true? Thanks for any help that you can give me.

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t done any research on this.

Readers?

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Question from S

Hi Debra, We converted from natural gas to heat pump electric in the spring due to MCS. I have found the air is so dry it is causing extreme dry eye problem etc. Has anybody else found this to be a problem and if so any great humidifier out there that is ok for one with MCS? Thanks s

Debra’s Answer

This has been asked and answered before, but I’m going to give the link here because this question was asked several times this week. See Q&A: Humidifiers. If you have something to add, please post a comment there.

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Question from Valerie W.

My husband and I are interested in purchasing an organic latex mattress. We went to a store and tried the ‘Heaven and Earth’ 100% organic style from Land & Sky and really liked it. Have any of you had any experience with this company/mattress?

Thank you,

Valerie

Debra’s Answer

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Question from YH

You wrote in your book that lip stick is very toxic. How about chapstick? I don’t have the packaging anymore, but it is so small that no ingredient is listed on the chapstick itself. What are some ingredients in chapsticks that are bad for people? I would guess that some are not too good for consumption. Mine taste like a very sweet tangerine or orange. I like the taste a lot, but of course, I guess no fragrance is better. Thanks

Debra’s Answer

Interestingly, ChapStick is labeled as a drug.

Active ingredients:

Padimate O 1.5%………………Sunscreen

White petrolatum 44%………….Skin Protectant

Inactive ingredients:

arachidyl propionate, camphor, carnauba wax, cetyl alcohol, D&C red no. 6 barium lake, FD&C yellow no. 5 aluminum lake, fragrance, isopropyl lanolate, isopropyl myristate, lanolin, light mineral oil, methylparaben, octyldodecanol, oleyl alcohol, paraffin, phenyl trimethicone, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, white wax.

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Question from YH

After reading Dr. Marcela’s article on stainless steel found on your website, I think it is time for me to buy Vision cookware. I read that to produce stained glass, lead is used. Will lead leak into food prepared in stained glass cookware (Corning Vision)?

Is it practical to buy glass pans? I read that food would stick and that glass cookware is one of the stickiest (food also stick on stainless steel; cast-iron is very non-stick). Also, I am afraid that it might shatter. I think having water in pots is safer than stir-frying in glass pans (which may be dry). I am still afraid that glass cookware may break and shatter any time. Thanks

Debra’s Answer

First of all, colored glass doesn’t contain lead. See Q&A: Colored Glass and click on the “Colored Glass Chemistry” link to see what is used to make different colors of glass.

Lead is used in the solder that holds the glass together to make colored glass windows. But it is not in the glass itself.

I myself have used Corning Visions cookware for over twenty years without a mishap, though others have reported otherwise (see Q&A: can visions cookware and pyrex shatter while cooking?). I do not stirfry in it, but use pots for things like warming soup, boiling eggs, etc.

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