Question from TA

Hi Debra, I ‘ve seen a variety of ornament craft ideas, in which an ornament is made of clay, salt dough, etc, and then covered with a clear coat. I’d like to try something like this with my child, and the clay and salt dough seem quite safe, but I’m wondering if you can recommend a safe product for the clear coat. I think the ones most people are using are probably an aerosol, toxic product. I’m not sure where to find a safe one for this type of crafts. Even though it’s now past Christmas, this applies to other crafts throughout the year as well.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know of a spray clearcoat that’s not toxic.

Readers, any ideas for this?

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Question from TA

Debra, I’m looking for products to finish some wood furniture. Given that the items will be used by my child, I’m looking for things that are safe, durable, and possibly even safe to eat off of (in the case of clear-coating a wood table, for instance). And I’m sensitive to strong odors, so it needs to be low-odor as well. I know that AFM make Polyureseal, and we have actually used that previously for a couple of smaller things, but I haven’t yet looked into whether it’s safe for food contact.

I know that you recommend Old Fashioned Milk Paint, but I believe you used that for painting walls rather than wood furniture, correct? I see on their website that it does need a clear acrylic finish, and they recommend AFM Safecoat Acriglaze for that. For children’s products, which will inevitably come in contact with water, we’d need to use that finish, apparently. Are there any other paints that are safe to use “as is” without applying a clear finish on top?

Debra’s Answer

This is a difficult question to answer off the top of my head.

I searched for “food safe paint” and got a variety of answers, including one that said all paints and finishes are safe once they are cured! I wouldn’t agree with that!

Some toys say that the are painted with safe paints. If I remember correctly, these are usually paints that don’t contain heavy metals.

I would contact Ecos Paints and see if their paints and finishes meet your needs. I searched for “food safe” on their site and nothing came up, but they have a pet paint. The page says “For animals, this problem is doubled, because they are in the habit of actively sniffing their environment and even licking, biting and chewing things that we would never put in our mouths. As a result, pets actively ingest the harmful chemicals that normally remain on walls, floors and doors.”

And their pet paint is designed to be safe for pets and their behaviors.

Readers, any suggestions?

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Question from TA

Debra, I’ve read some claims that wool burns at a lower temperature (600 degrees F, as I recall) than the extremely hot temperatures involved in the open flame test that mattresses must pass. So the claim is that the wool isn’t an adequate flame retardant and thus other things are being mixed in with the wool.

I think the idea that was being put forth was that things are being added to the wool itself; in other words, the mattress manufacturer isn’t intentionally adding any flame retardant to the mattress, but rather the wool itself is being produced in a way that it includes something for fire retardant purposes, since the wool alone can’t withstand higher than 600-degree temperatures.

Have you heard anything like this? The concern was that we could be buying something for it’s non-toxic attributes, while it might actually contain something as bad or worse than what we are trying to avoid.

Debra’s Answer

Wool typically is considerable to be non-flammable in it’s natural state.

A fabric made entirely of wool is difficult to ignite, burns slowly, and has limited ability to sustain a flame.

I came across a website that was showing how wool ignites. They were burning a piece of yarn hanging down, surrounded by air.

This is not the way wool is used in a mattress or furniture as a flame retardant. There it is a layer of fabric with very little air around it.

If someone is claiming that wool must be treated to pass the new open flame test, the proof should be showing a mattress or sofa in flames with a wool fire retardant barrier in place on the mattress or sofa.

Last year I actually spoke with a flammability research test engineer from the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation in Calfiornia, who was working on the new flammability regulations there. He told me that all manufacturers need to do to make cotten, linen and hemp pass the new smolder test was to add a layer of wool beneath.

The liternature overwhelmingly agrees that the flammability of wool in it’s natural state it low. There is no need to add chemical flame retardants.

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Question from PT

I am in search of a portable filtering device to take on vacation. I found this Clearly Filtered pitcher and it looks like it has some of the important certifications. What do you think?

www.clearlyfiltered.com/test-data

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

I can’t really evaluate this because the site doesn’t give enough information. It claims to remove everything you would want to remove, but it says nothing about the filter media, so I can’t confirm their claim.

Also keep in mind the pitcher is good for only 200 gallons, which is probably enough for your vacation.

It’s probably fine for a temporary filter, but again, the site doesn’t give enough information for me to give it a proper evaluation.

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Question from TA

Debra, are you familiar with PureBond formaldehyde-free plywood? It is apparently available at Home Depot, and it is soy-based rather than using the urea formaldehyde. I typically avoid soy (have a bit of a food sensitivity to it and don’t think it’s great for us overall), but in this instance, we won’t be eating it, and it seems much better than typical plywood. But I’m wondering if you are familiar with it and recommend it, or if there are any other concerns I should be aware of with this product.
purebondplywood.com

Along the same lines, I’d like to know what type of materials you would recommend we use as the backing for a bookshelf. We’d like to construct a wood bookshelf to contain children’s building blocks, and this question will come up for us as we attempt to make DIY versions of other types of furniture for our child and our home. These types of bookcases typically have a particle board or fiberboard backing. Wanting to avoid the formaldehyde in those, I’m wondering if the PureBond plywood would work, or if there is a thinner (lightweight) option that is safe. We thought maybe a lower grade of pine would be one option, since the aesthetics aren’t important for the backing which will hardly be seen anyway. Other ideas?

Final question – is Baltic Birch plywood safe? I see alot of children’s items are made with that. They’re typically items that are sold by higher-quality brands and websites that sell natural-fiber items, but I’m always wondering if that type of wood is safe.

Debra’s Answer

PureBond formaldehyde-free plywood is fine. I haven’t used it, but I don’t see a problem with it.

You can use masonite as a backing for a bookcase. It’s just wood particles pressed together with steam. No resins.

Baltic Birch plywood is made from solid birch veneer, cross-banded, and laminated with exterior grade adhesive. Exterior grade adhesive is less toxic than interior grade. I’ve never used or inspected this plywood, so I have no first hand experience, and I also couldn’t find a MSDS to check for toxic ingredients. I would contact the manufacturer of those toy products and see if you can get more information about the material. It looks to be safer and higher quality than other plywoods, but I’m lacking information.

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Question from Jenny

Help-our neighbors just fumigated their home today. The house is behind us about 50 feet. But never the less on the side of babies room. Their home is entirely tented. I am hoping if we close our windows it will be enough. Do we need to relocate until this is done?? Thank you so much!!

Debra’s Answer

The whole point of tenting is to enclose the toxic fumigation gas so it doesn’t escape.

I wasn’t able to find anything on the internet about people being harmed outside of the tent.

But I did find an article that explains the safety measures used in fumigation: Are Termite Tenting & Fumigation Safe?

This article also says that once the home has been aired and cleaned properly, there is no residue of the fumigant left. They warn that tenting and fumigating does not offer protection against future termite infestations.

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Question from Parn

Hi Debra,

Do you have any experience with Ecos Paints?

I narrow down to two paints that I may get, Natura and Ecos. Do you like one better than the other?

I know that Natura had some problem in the past.

Is there any other paint that you like beside this two?

I tried Mythic years ago. I liked it fine. I read that some people had problem with linger smell recently.

Thank you.

Parn

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t used Ecos Paint to paint an entire room, but I have some samples and I was very impressed with them.

I did an interview with Julian Crawford, CEO of the US distributor of Ecos Paints and like what he had to say. You can listen to the interview and decide for yourself. Next time I paint, I’m going to try Ecos.

The other paint I would recommend to you is Old Fashioned Milk Paint. It’s made from only natural ingredients and simply smells like a glass of warm milk. I have painted a whole room with this paint and it’s beautiful.

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From Debra Lynn Dadd

A new study shows that Bisphenol A—and the “BPA-free” bisphenol replacements are at least 100x more toxic than was previously thought.

Research: Bisphenol A (BPA) Causes 100x More Harm Than Previously Imagined

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Question from Terry

Hi Debra, congratulations on the work that you do to make our environment a safer place.

I’m hoping you can give me your opinion. I’ve researched a lot about baby mattresses as we have twins due in 2 weeks.

I am leaning towards a 100% organic wool mattress in an organic cotton cover. I’m worried it will be too soft for newborns as we are continually told the most important thing is firmness. Australian SIDSANDKIDS here still recommend a firm foam mattress and advise against natural fibres like cotton and wool cores as they believe they are too soft.

I spoke with them about this today. They have no belief in the toxic gas theory. So it’s really frustrating.

I have been tossing up between an organic cotton futon and the organic wool futon. I have read that cotton futons can hold too much moisture and will harbour more bacteria and dust mites. Do you think this is likely? The only thing that worries me about wool is it may be too soft, baby could possibly be allergic to wool, and also Dr Sprott from cotlife2000 in NZ has a bedding analysis on his website which shows wool containing high phosphorous levels. He seems to recommend mattress wrapping for all mattresses whether organic or not.

Do you have any concerns about a 100% cotton futon or 100% wool futon, and which would you recommend the most? Thanks for taking the time to read my email, as I’m sure you get hundreds.

I really appreciate your advice as I really need to decide to ease my wifes pregnant mind:). Thanks Debra.

regards,

Terry (from australia)

Debra’s Answer

My best recommendation is a Naturepedic baby mattress. It is just the right firmness and organic cotton. They do not use wool because babies may have allergies to wool.

If you can’t have a Naturepedic mattress shipped to Australia, and your only choices are organic cotton or organic wool…firmness IS very important for babies. I would probably follow Dr. Sprott’s recommendation and get the firm mattress that is available and wrap it to reduce toxic gases.

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Question from Wendi

Debra, just a note from a newbie in your peanut gallery:

I am more-often-than-not challenged in comprehending facts that help me make decisions, yet found your explanation of PEVA vs EVA (in shower curtain liners…) EZ to understand. Thanks for that!

NOW I wanna know – where can I find a heavy weight PEVA (8g or more), or even EVA, that measures at least 72″ X 72″???…(a few inches wider is even better). So far, everything heavy AND large AND PEVA/EVA is not quite wide enough for the tub/shower in the condo I’ve rented for a year…

Care to help??…w.

Debra’s Answer

Try a local TAP Plastics store. They do sell plastic sheeting cut to size. Don’t see PEVA on their website, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have it in the store and they may be able to order it for you.

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