Question from Howard Herscovici

Hello,

Recently there was an incident in our area of some people getting very ill, and one person dying, from drinking punch that was stored in containers that had windshield wiper fluid.

It got me to thinking of the toxicity of this stuff that we spray all the time into the environment.

Does anyone having any stats on this? It would be interesting.

Wondering if anyone knows of a product, commercial or home-made, that does the job. I am up in Ontario and it gets pretty cold here, way below zero. So it can’t freeze. That might be the hard part.

Anyway, look forward to being part of this blog. There is a lot to learn.

Debra’s Answer

I think we’re going to need to figure this one out all together.

For those of you who are not aware of what windshield wiper fluid is made from, it’s methanol, a very toxic solvent (see Methanol Poisoning Overview). In addition to our own exposure, when we use methan

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Question from Joe

Has anyone found a good disinfectant that is certified by either Green Seal or ECP (Canadian Seal)? I know of two, but they are VERY expensive. If not a certified product, has anyone found a disinfectant that has no ammonia chloride in it that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?

Debra’s Answer

Vinegar and hot water! I wrote all about this in my book Home Safe Home.

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Question from Patricia

You have been and continue to be a life saver for me and so many other people. Thank you so much for all your kind work.

I am chemically sensitive and I have a Jacuzzi where I take a whirlpool bath each night to help me with chronic back pain. I have not been able to find a non-toxic product to do heavy cleaning of the jets and circulation system.

Do you know of any products I may be able to use or where I might do research to help me find a useable product? My husband, lucky me, does all the cleaning so I wouldn’t have to do cleaning but I find it difficult to be in the steam of a hot bath where toxic products have been used. Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again.

Debra’s Answer

Don’t have a jacuzzi, so don’t have any experience with this. Readers?

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Question from Robyn

What cleaning product can be used in tubs and showers that will work as effectively as Tilex which is very toxic. Any help is much apprciated. Thanks Robyn F.

Debra’s Answer

This has been answered at Q&A: How Do I Remove Mold from the Shower Floor Tile?.

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Question from Bob Jordan

I’d like to recommend a new book on the dangers of RBGH I came across, It’s called What’s In Your Milk? An Exposé of Industry and Government Cover-Up on the DANGERS of the Genetically Engineered (rBGH) Milk You’re Drinking by Samuel S. Epstein, MD. In it, Dr. Esptein tells the dangers of rBGH and why we should drink certified organic milk.

To read more about it go to http://www.preventcancer.com/publications/WhatsInYourMilkRelease.htm.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Anne

Hi! Does anyone have suggestions for a good alternative for plastic freezer bags? I’ve tried using cellophane bags, but they tear easily. I also use glass containers in the freezer, but they take a lot of room. Would love a recommenation for a nontoxic freezer bag that is durable.

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Any ideas?

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Question from HAH

Hello Debra,

Bromate (Potassium Bromate) is calmly entering our FLOURS and bake goods! What is going on???

Where can we find ‘Organic Unbromated Flour’???

Thank you,

HAH

Debra’s Answer

Actually, potassium bromate has been in flour and baked goods for a long time, and recently there has been LESS potassium bromate in flour and baked goods, though more attention has been given to it, so more people are aware of it.

Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is a bromate of potassium. A bromate is a chemical compound that is formed when ozone and bromide react according to a specific chemical reaction.

Potassium bromate is typically used in flour to strengthen bread dough (bread of all kinds, including rolls, buns, and other bread products) and allow higher rising. It is also used in doughnuts and cakes. It may appear on the label as “potassium bromate” or “bromated flour”, but may also be present in products that don’t have labels, such as deli sandwiches and bakery products purchased unpackaged.

Under the right conditions, potassium bromate is completely used up in the baking bread and none remains in the finished product. If too much is added, or if the bread is not properly, then a residual amount will remain, which can be harmful to health if consumed. In 1992-93 and 1998-99, the FDA tested several dozen baked goods and found that many contained bromate at levels they considered to be unsafe. Yet, the agency still allowed this additive to be used and that continues today.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considers bromate to be a category 2B carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic to humans). Bromate was first found to cause tumors in rats in 1982. It has been banned from use in food products in Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, and most other countries.

Though potassium bromate has not been banned In the United States the FDA has urged bakers to voluntarily stop using it since 1991. In California bromate was declared a carcinogen under Proposition 65, requring that baked goods sold in California would have to bear a cancer warning if they contained more than a certain level of bromate. Rather than label their baked goods as being carcinogenic, most California bakers have switched to bromate-free flour.

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Question from Cat

New carpets were just laid down in my friend’s workplace a month or two ago – I think they are made of nylon. A couple of weeks ago she started feeling ill – nausea, dizziness, sinus congestion, and severe lethargy. Her doctor told her it was a virus, or possibly irritation of childhood ear injury. Could these symptoms be from the carpet? Are there any tests doctors can perform to determine whether patients are having a toxic reaction, or are there tests that can be done on the carpet itself to measure outgassing? Thanks for your responses!

Debra’s Answer

Absolutely it can be the carpet, and I would venture to say it probably is.

There are tests that can be done for toxic chemicals in the human body, but I understand they cost around $15,000.

Anderson Labs can test your carpet sample. They put your sample into a glass chamber and collect the chemicals it releases. Then laboratory mice are given the air from that chamber (containing the pollutants from your item) to breathe and ill effects (on eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and nervous system) from breathing that air are noted. This test does not identify the toxic chemicals, but does determine they are toxic. This kind of test costs about $1000.

Personally, I probably wouldn’t spend the money on testing. I’d take out the carpet, or have your friend go someplace without carpet for a week and see if she feels better. If so, then take out the carpet and spend the money on the replacement.

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Question from Jennifer Lance

The only nonstick cookware in my home are the muffin pans. I want to get rid of these pans, but my children love organic muffins with raspberries from the garden. The only alternative I have found are cast iron; however, the reviews of the Lodge cast iron muffin pans state the muffin size is smaller than normal. Do you know of any other safe muffin pans or cast iron versions that offer regular size muffins?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know offhand. I have some unknown metal ones that are non-stick, but I’ve had them for years and rarely make muffins.

Readers?

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Question from Lucy H

Debra and/or Readers,

I have a CorningWare Slow Cooker (model SC-60). This is the second slow cooker i have tried. The first had a plastic base that heated up and off-gassed terribly. This one is described as “cool touch” so I thought perhaps the base would not off-gas as much. But it does. The question is, Do you think it is possible to heat it up and let it off-gas in the basement sufficiently for it to be safe the house? My basement has open windows and a cross draft. The base is made from a hard plastic, is it PVC?

Also regarding the “StoneWare insert”, do you think that is safe once it is cleaned?

I love the idea of a slow cooker but wonder if I will have to spring for the more expensive stainless steel model. Any suggestions for a safe version that is not over $100?

thank you

Lucy

Debra’s Answer

I personally don’t have a slow cooker, but I think they are a good idea. So I haven’t looked at them carefully enough to make a recommendation. Readers? What slow cookers do you like?

With regard to the outgassing…it may or may not be PVC. You can call Corning and ask. I don’t know how long it would take to outgas.

My rule of thumb is to always look for the less toxic materials and buy those. So I would buy the stainless steel even if it costs more. In the long run you’ll save money on medical bills.

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