Question from M Carter
Hi Debra,
I use hermetic glass jars with glass lids to store dry goods in the pantry. The seal on these is vulcanized rubber. Is there anything to be concerned about with the vulcanized rubber—it doesn’t actually touch the food, but I have to touch it to open and close it, and I also wasn’t sure about offgassing. I was also looking at some shoes with vulcanized rubber soles, and wondering if that would be a safe shoe material. Thank you!
Debra’s Answer
Vulcanized rubber is natural latex rubber heated with sulfur. It’s used to make everything from seals on glass jars to rubber bands to automobile tires.
Here’s an article from the Centers for Disease Control about the health effects of vulcanized rubber:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/93-106/
I don’t use products made out of recycled rubber tires, but I do use glass jars with seals and rubber bands and don’t consider those to be major sources of toxic exposure.
Are “natural latex” pillows safe, I understand the latex would have to galvanized???
Pip
It depends on how it is processed. 100% pure latex without chemical additives is safe. Unless you have a latex allergy.
Hi Debra
The Instant pot pressure cooker uses a sealing ring made of vulcanized rubber.
Would you consider this type of material safe in this instance? The ring would be under pressure and high heat.
Thank you!
No I don’t consider that safe. But instant pot is also made from stainless steel and I don’t recommend or use stainless steel either.
We bought a 1,800 sleep number bed that sits in the garage, the fumes that came out of that bed gaged us the sheets and pillows stunk, they told us to use dryer sheets that are not good for you. We in cased the air bladders in plastic bags and than the entire bed in a oderless plastic bag and sealed it and still the fumes went in to the sheets. We are not the only ones that are complaining . So much for vulcnized rubber air bags.
Could you let us know why you don’t use products made out of recycled rubber tires?
Thank you!
Too many toxic chemicals.
See
Artificial Turf: Exposures to Groups-Up Rubber Tires
Now You Too Can Kill Your Garden with Rubber Mulch!
And just yesterday there was an article in the LATimes Are synthetic playing surfaces hazardous to athletes’ health? The debate over ‘crumb rubber’ and cancer
There’s a lot more, but I think this answers your question.