Question from Janice

Hi Debra-

My soon to be 18 year old son wants a new cell phone (smartphone) for his birthday.

Any thoughts on CDMA vs. GSM? Is CDMA technology still considered safer?

I just did some research and I read that LTE is going to be introduced soon. I know you recommend the pong case as well but what technology /network provider would be the safest. I’m confused.

Thanks for your help.

Debra’s Answer

I can’t find anything on which wireless technology might be safer than another.

Anyone have any ideas on this?

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Question from Melissa

Hi Debra,

We are hiring a contractor to install our new stove and to repair the surrounding cabinetry (which was damaged during attempts to repair the old stove). The contractor says that the only products he will be using are “denatured alcohol” and “odorless mineral spirits,” both of which he says are generic products (i.e., he was unable to specify brands being used).

I told him that I am chemically sensitive and that I have two young children at home, so I am concerned about what he would be using. His response was that we should not be home when the work was being done but that the fumes would dissipate in about two hours and there would be no after-effects or off-gassing. I have done some research on these products and both appear to have harmful fumes, but I have found no information about lasting effects.

What are your thoughts on these products? If you think they are bad news, do you know of any comparable and safer alternatives?

Thanks in advance,

Melissa

Debra’s Answer

You are right that both have harmful fumes, and your contractor is right that both will dissipate in a few hours.

Both of these substances are solvents, which evaporate quickly.

You leave the house while the work is being done and be sure to tell him to have all the windows open while he is using these chemicals. Fans, too, would be even better.

I don’t know the purpose for which he is using these chemicals, so I can’t suggest an alternative.

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Question from sue r.

Is there any natural remedy for dandruff? I am extremely sensitive to odors and head is irritated by the ones I have tried.

Debra’s Answer

Actually, in my very first book, Nontoxic & Natural, published in 1984, there is a remedy for dandruff: baking soda.

“Simply rub a handful of dry baking soda into wet hair and rinse. For the first several weeks of use, hair will be drier than normal, but then the natural oils will begin to make your hair very soft.”

Anyone else have a suggestion for this?

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Question from Bonnie Johnson

Bona floor cleaner has a new one called Free and Simple. Has anyone tried it?

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Listen to my interview with Mind the Store Campaign Director Mike Schade to hear more about WalMart’s policy and what other retailers are doing to reduce toxic chemicals.

In a stunning bold move, WalMart is now insisting that it’s vendors eliminate toxic chemicals from their products or fully disclose them to the public.

*By January 2015 all manufacturers who sell cleaning products, cosmetics, baby and personal care products will have to disclose the ingredients used in their products online. This is important because cleaning products in particular are not required by law to disclose their toxic ingredients on the label (they are required to disclose them on a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). By January 2018, any toxic substances still in products will be required to be disclosed on the label.

*Walmart now has a list of about 10 priority toxic chemicals which they are seeking to reduce and eliminate from cleaning products, cosmetics, baby and personal care products. The list will be released later.

*Walmart will work with their suppliers to move towards safer alternatives. They are working with groups who are doing the research to make these kinds of transitions.

*Walmart brand cleaners will no longer contain toxic chemicals outlined by the EPA’s Design for the Environment program. This program has a lengthy list of chemicals that can’t be used.

This doesn’t mean that WalMart will suddenly become our one-stop-shop for all things toxic-free, but they are taking the lead to make the products they sell less toxic, and that’s a good thing. Because if a manufacturer goes less toxic for WalMart, that same less toxic product will be sold everywhere.

Read Walmart’s policy

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Question from Mira

Hi Debra,

My finances are such that I can afford a small condo but not a free-standing home. My HOA will not allow wood or tile floors in my 2nd floor unit (the 2nd floor is best for me because I have mold allergies and I’m further away from the ground). They will allow carpeting or cork. I’ve been testing 100% wool carpet samples, but I’ve reacted to them thus far. There is a cork company called WE Cork located in New Hampshire that makes cork flooring that looks like wood. The MSDS for this “Serenity Floating Floor” is here:

http://www.wecork.com/wp-content/forms/FloatingFloorHDF-MSDS.

My concern of course is the formaldehyde. When I talked with them they said the formaldehyde is in the high density particle board which is sandwiched between two layers of cork; there is also a top coat of water based polyurethane sealant that is applied in a heated state which increases its strength/hardness. There will also be a polyethylene moisture barrier laid on the subfloor before the cork is laid. There would be a 3/8″ gap between the floor boards and the walls to allow for swelling without buckling. They said I could use a water based polyurethene coating on these edges to completely seal anything I could be exposed to. If I did this, do you think it could be a “safe” floor? I would alert the installers to wear protective gear.

Another cork company is Wicanders who also make cork flooring to look like wood in their Woodcomfort Floating Floor collection. Their main offices are in Portugal and I can’t find an MSDS sheet on this product. 

After much searching I finally found something close to an MSDS sheet for Wicander’s.   I’m passing the link along to you in case it helps you answer my question.   It has some chemicals but is Greenguard certified.   I’d be grateful for your take on chemical safety for someone with MCS (me).  Of course I will test with samples, but I’d love your input as well.

http://construction-environment.com/download/CY1ad5db03X1410d356259XY5c2/EPD_AMO_2013111_E.pdf?ITServ=C1f827654X1451b8eb9e8XY2740

They list formaldehyde emission as E1.

I would appreciate your thoughts on both of these products.

Thanks so much!

Debra’s Answer

I’m reluctant to say that any flooring that emits formaldehyde in any amount could be safe.

All these emissions ratings for formaldehyde don’t mean “zero.” They are small amounts.

Have you tested samples of either of these corks?

Let’s examine the WE layers in order:

* top coat of water based polyurethane sealant that is applied in a heated state which increases its strength/hardness
* cork
* high density particle board
* cork
* polyethylene moisture barrier laid on the subfloor before the cork is laid

Cork would not block formaldehyde, but the polyurethane sealant might. And more layers of sealant would block more formaldehyde, especially if you used AFM Safe Seal which is designed to encapsulate formaldehyde. If you were to apply that as a topcoat over the flooring, I think it would be pretty safe. At least the best you could do given your choices under the circumstances.

In this document from Wicanders it says that the cork is attached to PVC and high density fiberboard (outgasses formaldehyde).

Cork is only 29%.

55% is high density fiberboard.

6% PVC.

Formaldehyde emissions are class E1. That means it’s emitting formaldehyde.

Greenguard certified doesn’t mean no emissions. It means the product has less than a stated limit of emissions. If that number were 10, some products certified have 9, some 8, some 7 etc, some 0.

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Question from SallyS

Debra,

I have MCS and am facing a lot of medical procedures, frankly part of the dread comes from the exposure to all the toxins in the medical arena.

From the medications to all the plastic and toxic chemicals used to clean such, all the way to the beds and the food. Last year I was hospitalized and the worst thing was the smell, the humming of machinery, and the awful things that I cam in contact with such as plastic, vinyl bed, and so on. The more doctors I see the worse it gets, seeming to accumulate in my system and throwing things off – it takes some time to recuperate from each occurrence and feels like going backwards.

Have you any suggestions as to how I can better cope with such? I truly appreciate any input.

Sally

Debra’s Answer

First, I know there are some healthcare organizations who are becoming less toxic.

Kaiser Permanente is one.

There’s an organization called Health Care Without Harm that is working internationally to “transform the health sector worldwide, promoting environmental health and justice.”

You might contact them to find out which hospitals in your area might be less toxic.

Readers any suggestions from your own experience with a hospital stay?

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Question from Andie

Hi — am looking for a new home in a del Webb community (retirement for active adults). Many of their homes have a system called Taexx pest control in-the-wall. I googled it and it seems as if the insecticide can waft out through the outlets, etc right into your living space! Any idea about this system? Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Sounds like a bad idea to me. I wouldn’t live in this house. Do they say anywhere what pesticide is being used?

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Question from Joy

I am looking at flooring for an under grade basement floor. I have been warned not to use solid wood as it will warp.

I am looking at engineered wood (Eco Timber), strand bamboo (Prefinished Solid Locking Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring) or Cork (Wicanders).

I am told they all use no VOC adhesives.

I want to be sure they are safe?

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Here’s a past post about Eco Timber Engineered Flooring.

Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring does emit formaldehyde. It’s made by cutting the bamboo into strips, shredding it, intertwining the shreads with a “bonding agent” and heating it or not heating it depending on the color. You can ask for a formaldehyde emissions report. Here’s one I got quite easily over the phone that shows 0.05 formaldehyde emissions from this particular brand: bamboo formaldehyde emissions test results.

Cork, I understand from a previous post today is adhered to a layer of fiberboard, which may emit formaldehyde (see Cork Floor).

Is there a reason why you can’t install ceramic tile, or natural linoleum, or paint the floor. I honestly would install any of these in my house.

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Question from Emily

Hi Debra,

The office I work in is a very old building (one of the oldest in the city, if I remember correctly), so the ventilation leaves much to be desired. On top of this, the building next to it was recently demolished, sending particles into the air (and nearby buildings) that the newspapers say may take several months to dissipate completely. They also replaced the carpeting on the entire floor just prior to this, although I did not notice any odor from it, which is unusual for me. Since my company has moved into this building several months ago, I (and other department co-workers) have noticed that I have been sneezing more often, and my nose is almost constantly stuffy.

I was wondering if I had any options for improving the air quality? I am planning on getting a few plants for my desk once the local gardening centers open for spring. The large room where my cubicle sits receives zero sunlight, but my horticulturalist friend picked out a few plants on the houseplant list from NASA you linked a while ago that are supposed to do well in all-fluorescent lighting (the peace lily was one of them).

Are there any other options? I did do a search on Amazon for desk-sized air purifiers, but I don’t even know what to look for in those. Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

This is an easy answer.

Get this desktop air filter from EL Foust: 160DT Desktop Air Purifier.

Many years ago I had this very air filter when I worked in an office building. I just put it on my desk and pointed it so the clean air would blow right in my direction. I noticed often people would come talk to me during breaks so they could stand next to my air filter.

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