Question from Lisa

Dear Debra,

More and more, I notice that shoe soles are advertised as being made from recycled rubber. Are there any health concerns you would have from wearing shoes made of this recycled rubber? I am guessing that the recycled rubber is most likely from car tires.

Do you have any information about this?

Many children’s playgrounds use shredded rubber tires as a bedding material to cover the ground.

Is this safe for children to play on?

Debra’s Answer

This is one of those cases where recycling is good for the environment, but the material being recycled isn’t so good for health.

A report called Artificial Turf: Exposures to Ground Up Rubber Tires – Athletic Fields, Playgrounds, Garden Mulch states that their lab tests on ground tires “contained volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOCs) with carcinogenic potential, which could be extracted from the crumbs in the laboratory. Health reports from workers in the rubber fabrication industry and in the rubber reclamation industry describe the presence of multiple volatile organic hydrocarbons, semivolatile hydrocarbons, and other toxic elements in the air. Studies at tire reclamation sites report the leaching of similar sets of chemicals into the ground water. Occupational studies document a spectrum of health effects, ranging from severe skin, eye, and respiratory irritation to three forms of cancer.”

In addition, a “second set of experiments tested the chemicals released from the tire crumbs used for “in-fill” and commercial rubber mulch. Ten metals were leached from the samples of tire crumbs and the tire mulch in the first experiment. Twenty-five chemical species were identified with 72% to 99% certainty in the mass spectrometry and gas chromatography analysis in the second experiment. Nineteen were identified with over 90% certainty and five with over 98% certainty. Confirmatory studies provided a definitive identification of four of the major chemicals released.”

So I’d say, no, not safe for children to play on.

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Question from MSharp

I am looking for a new washer/dryer. I am going with a front loader. I was very interested in the Samsung Sivercare Steam washer. They say you can sanitize in cold water using their Silver ion/nano technology. I started to research this washer and found the EPA ruled it needed to be listed as a pesticide because of the antibactrial aspects of nano particles of silver in the waste water. Does this mean it also remains in the clothes and is it harmful? Sounds great, no bleach, less soap, clean clothes but are they just exchanging it for potentially harmful silver?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have a definitive answer on this, but here are my thoughts.

Silver in and of itself is not particularly toxic. Most of us have worn silver jewelry with no ill effects. And some water filters use silver to control the growth of bacteria in activated carbon.

On the other hand, however, silver dragees (those tiny sugar balls coated with real silver) have now been banned in the state of California, and websites that sell them warn that the FDA has recommended that dragees are for decorative use only, and technically are not a food item).

The fact that the silver particles in the wastewater are nano-sized concerns me. Certainly if there is silver in the waste water it could get into clothing, and perhaps be absorbed by the skin. Note I said perhaps. I don’t know how small a nano particle needs to be to be absorbed through the skin.

Readers, any data on this?

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Question from Sunnyside

Are there any problems, or cautions, regarding power washing of pressure treated wood (to get rid of green mold and dirt) that does contain arsenic? Any recommendations on product to use? Also, does anyone have any suggestions on a product (paint, etc.) that could be used to seal the wood by an individual who has sensitivities to some chemicals?

Debra’s Answer

Don’t power wash. According to The Pressure Treated Wood Information Site

“power washing which can break the bond with the metals and cause metal contamination”.

Lots more information on CCA on this website.

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Question from Ethel

Hello Debra!

I was in BJ’S and noticed that they carry organic sheets. They were labeled True Organic and mentioned they were 100% certified. They did not mention by who or what standards they were certified. I did call BJ’S customer service who said they would within the week have some answers for me including a way to contact the company.

I was wondering if you know anything about this True Organic Company and if you could help me out with what questions I should ask the manufacturer when I contact them.

Thanks For All You Hard Work!

I Love The Fact That You Encourage All Your Participants To Ask Questions Freely!

Debra’s Answer

If the label says “certified organic” it should state the name of the certifying organization.

I couldn’t find a True Organic Company that makes bedlinens. It may be a house brand for BJs.

I wouldn’t buy these sheets. Choose a brand that is more forthcoming about their information.

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Question from Laura

Is it okay to dry herbs (red clover) on a clean window screen? Will the metal of the screening adversely interact with the plant material? Would placing them on paper towels help?

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

I dry herbs in small bundles, which I hang upside down in a dry area. Don’t know about drying them on a screen.

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Question from LW

There appears to be teflon coating on dental floss. Do you know if that is a health hazard? If so, are there any that are not coated with teflon?

Debra’s Answer

Well, I don’t have any definitive studies on the health effects of Teflon on dental floss, but I would use one without.

Readers, any recommendations on this? Personally I don’t use dental floss, but very skinny pointed toothpicks that seem to work better for me (my dental hygenist is happy with the results).

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Question from meemsies

I am trying my best to use my dryer as little as possible. I hear lots of other folks talking about it as well. What about washing machines? What are the environmental consequences of using them? Does anyone know? Should we be aiming for a different method? I do my best to keep clothes clean as long as possible after the first wearing (difficult with three boys and a husband who works construction!) I don’t tell people for thier reactions, but I dont’ wash clothes unless they’re obviously dirty or stinky. I don’t mind hanging a shirt back up after a couple of wears. If it looks wrinkled, I just put it in the dryer on air or, in the summer, on the clothesline.

I also just want to thank you for this site. It is not only informative, but (and I just discovered it today!) beautiful and very easily navigated. We are very fortunate to live in this day and age, aren’t we?

Debra’s Answer

The main environmental concerns with washing machines are water use and energy use.

We can reduce water and energy by choosing a resource efficient washing machine and by washing our clothes less frequently. Living in San Francisco temporarily and having to pay per load instead of having my “free” washer at home, I think twice before washing clothes and find myself washing less frequently that I would at home. And my clothes are clean enough. Less frequent washings makes clothes last longer too.

Energy Star: Clothes Washers

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Question from RAB

Do you have any experience with or knowledge about adhesives for wood flooring? I have had 3 products recommended that are suppose to be environmentlally friendly, but am not convinced they are right for chemical sensitivites. The 3 products are: Bostic Best, Mapei, and TitebondIII.

A friend gave us some floor adhesive to use in an outside building we were planning to put tile on the floor with. It’s called Parabond Fusion Series 4600…floor adhesive. Can you tell me anything about this product? Don’t want to use until I hear from you. Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any personal experience with the first two, but have extensively used Titebond II in my own home and have been recommending it for about five years. I would say Titebond II is fine for people with MCS. Have no experience with Titebond III.

Readers?

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Question from RS

I have read that cooking food at high heat produces carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines (HAs) that are said to form with high heat cooking.

Is this true with grilling and roasting vegetables?

Also, I always like to toast my bread. Is this safe? I am not sure if toasting falls into the same category.

Lastly, I typically don’t grill meat as much as broil. I actually prefer chicken not to be moist. So I will cook it for an hour with 20-30 minutes of the toaster oven set at 450 (or broil). Is this ok since it is not bbq? The meat is typically fish or chicken breasts.

Debra’s Answer

First, for those of you who are not familiar with this issue, read this excellent summary from the National Cancer Institute: Heterocyclic Amines in Cooked Meats

Now, to answer your questions…

Only meats produce heterocyclic amines. It’s fine to grill and roast vegetables. Likewise toasting bread.

I’ve been following this issue for years. In my book Home Safe Home I wrote:

Note too that grilling meat is fast and hot, real barbeque is low and slow. So actual barbeque at low temperatures may be one of the best ways to cook meat after all (the article linked above says “barbeque is high temperature”–I think they meant grilling).

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Question from Steven

Question:

I just bought some acrylic plastic drinkware from Crate and Barrel. I am normally against plastic being used in my home, but I needed cheap, durable drinkware for outdoor use and everyday use. I realize these do not biodegrade easily, but I will use these until they fall apart (hopefully I will have many years of use out of these).

These will be used daily by my weak elderly Mother-in-law, since they are light weight and not easily broken.

Question:

The drinkware has the code #3 stamped on the bottom of the glass. What does this mean, and are these safe to drink from?

Debra’s Answer

#3 is PVC–polyvinyl chloride. I wouldn’t use this plastic for drinking glasses.

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