Question from jo Hi, Hoping that you and your readers can offer me some insight. My daughter is scheduled to start 1st grade next fall. The school she is supposed to go to has had some serious construction/renovation/additions. The odor was so overpowering this year...

Question from Rachel Jones I am looking for mcs safe housing. I found a really good place except that the landlord recently used a minwax oil based wood stain marker on a few areas that had been knicked (the wood on the walls). Three areas in all. It was done over a...

Question from Irene I purchased a furniture set made mostly of birch wood (manufactured by College Woodworks), however, it was painted with oil paint. Two years passed since the purchase, and I can still recognize some smell coming from the paint. Is it toxic? Thank...

Question from amy Debra so naturepedic claims to have organic mattresses......how do i know that these mattresses are truly organic? What questions should I ask the representative that I talk to, what should I look for. I made the mistake, not knowing about offgassing...

Question from Sarah Are there any silicone bakewear products that are safe? What to watch out for? I saw a popsicle mold today advertising "made with " polypropylene" Is this really safe? Presidents Choice brand. thank you! Debra's Answer Silicone bakeware products...

According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control, girls exposed to high levels of dichlorobenzene had their first period seven months earlier than girls with lower exposure. The age when a girl has her first period has fallen over the past century from an...

Paper register receipts are on their way out, but not because they are toxic or waste natural resources. Merchants want to move to a digital payment system so they can get more information about what we buy. At least we won't get BPA all over our fingers when we buy...

Question from Ali I have custom window seat cushion, which I had made in 2008. The insert is polyurethane foam, and I am concerned that it may be coated in chemical fire retardants. The fabric cover zips off, so theoretically I could replace the insert with an all...

Question from TerryAnn Living here in the Northwest, we all get roof mold. I am very concerned about using any toxic products that would wash down into the yard and be around where my dog could walk through it. Even using a pressure washer to wash it off will result...

Question from Hannah So, I know you have addressed polyurethane quite a bit. But my question is regarding a mattress made by a company called Cotton Cloud, here in Portland, Oregon. They claim to use no flame retardants besides boric acid in some models. The...