Question from Brian

My dentist prescribed a night-guard for bruxism and the lab sent me the MSDS sheet and assured me the device was BPA free.

However, after reading the MSDS sheet for the main ingredients of the plastic/acrylic (Modified Ethyl Methacrylate Monomer and polymer), I found they have very similar toxic effects as BPA, including the following: Eye Causes irritation, skin irritation, absorbed through the skin, may cause sensitization by skin contact, irritating to mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. Symptoms of exposure may include burning sensation, coughing, laryngitis, dyspnea, headache, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and unconsciousness. May cause sensitization by inhalation. Causes gastrointestinal irritation. May cause nervous system damage. Embryotoxic and/or foetotoxic in animal. To the best of our knowledge, the chemical, physical, and toxicity of this substance has not been fully investigated”.

Given the toxicity of the BPA free ingredients, are there any effective, non-toxic alternatives?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know of any. Readers?

Question from C Thomas

I have a long history of storing non-food items in plastic tubs, and have many of these in my home. But in the past two years, there has occurred a clear and obvious difference in the plastics used in the general storage tubs sold in the big box stores. They reek of an unpleasant odor, which does not resolve even after airing them for as long as a year, or by storing cedar chips in the tubs for months, washing with vinegar then leaving them in the sun, or any other method I have tried. Not only does fibrous content (clothing, books, papers) pick up this odor, but I assume that VOCs are at the root of the problem which carry health risks to chronic exposure to the source. I have refused to purchase such odiferous tubs after noting the problem with the first couple of tubs; however, I continue to have need to acquire more general item storage tubs and am hoping you can offer some information on this issue and perhaps a source for safer tubs at a reasonable cost.

Thank you very much.

Debra’s Answer

You don’t say what size or shape of tubs you are looking for, so let me just answer your question generally.

I would call the manufacturer and find out what type of plastic the tubs are made from. Often they are polyethylene or polypropylene, which should not produce this odor, but could be polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which would. You don’t want to be breathing PVC.

Not all tubs are made from the same plastic, so check around.

Readers, any suggestions?

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Well, now we’re going to need to start checking to see if common everyday products are transmitting radio frequency signals through our homes.

Sunday’s LA Times had an article about an explosion of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transmitting chips going into anything that can contain a battery and a transmitter. Thermostats, tennis rackets, home entertainment centers and more are all being designed to constantly feed information to the user’s smart phone or tablet with the intention of improving performance, health and happiness.

I don’t have wi-fi or a cordless phone or a wireless printer and I don’t want any wireless in my home. Yet it could now be in almost any consumer product.

If you are aware of consumer products that are transmitting, you are welcome to list them here, along with products of the same type that are not transmitting.

CES 2014: Consumer electronics show to feature ‘Internet of things’

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Question from Katie

Hi Debra, I am grateful for your site and the information it contains. I am trying to find safe bedding for my family.

I purchased some 100% cotton blankets (non-organic) but now am concerned that they may be treated with flame retardants or other chemicals.

In your opinion, are regular cotton blankets a good option for those of us trying find chemical-free bedding? (I can’t afford the organic kind, which I know would be preferable).

Thank you for your expertise and insight!

Debra’s Answer

It is always preferable to purchase organic cotton, because it is very well regulated to be free of toxic pesticides and other chemicals that contaminate the environment, adding toxics to our air, soil, and water which we then breathe, eat, and drink.

However, once the cotton is processed into yarn to make fabric or blankets, those chemicals are no longer there. There have been lab tests done on this.

To the best of my knowledge, regular cotton blankets are not treated with fire retardants. I have purchased a number of cotton blankets over the years and have never had a problem with any of them.

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Question from amie

Odor in closet from a orange that had molded! My daughter left it in her closet in a coat! Yikes about a week later I could smell almost a chemical like odor. Found the orange completely covered in mold. Removed it and it has been 5 days later cant seem to get odor out. I have ventilated closet and room and have a IQ air filter running in closet..Can you recommend anything to get this odor under control Thank you

Debra’s Answer

If it smells “almost chemical” it may not be mold you are smelling. Most oranges pick up fungicide from the packing material they are wrapped in for shipping. I used to think that smell was the smell of an orange until I smelled an organic orange for the first time.

Readers, any suggestions for this?

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Question from Jose

I have been offered a set of copper cookware that was used only as display, for which purpose they were dipped in a vat of Rustoleum Pro Finish polyurethane. The seeler thinks it is possible to remove the polyurethane and make this cookware safe for use. What is your advise?

Thanks,

–J.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know how to remove polyurethane finish from copper. But even if you could, I’m reluctant to agree with using copper cookware. If the interior is copper it can leach copper into the food. If the interior is tin, it can leach tin into the food. If it’s stainless steel, it would leach nickel and cadmium.

I would just forgo this cookware and choose a [safe cookware]=link to cookware page on debralist.com

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Question from Barb

Hi Debra, I am trying to find a slow cooker which is made of high quality stainless steel. – In the process of researching I came to your web-site, and I am very much impressed with all the work you did, it’s a wealth of information.

I noticed that you recommend the Vitaclay cooker. I like the fact that it is made of a natural material, but would prefer stainless steel because it is easier to clean since the cooker will be used almost daily.

Since stainless steel slow cookers are very hard to find, I am thinking of getting a slow cooker base and a stainless steel Dutch Oven.

I found a used slow cooker base whose surface is made of aluminum, but it is probably NOT anondized. Would you happen to know if the aluminum surface of such a slow cooker base would give off toxic fumes when hot.

I would greatly appreciate your comments. There is also a company called Lifetime Cookware, which sells slow cooker bases. I have e-mailed them to get information on the surface material they use. On their product web site it shows a shiny surface, perhaps anondized aluminum, would that be ok to use for a slow cooker base, or would it also give off toxic fumes when in use for hours?

Debra’s Answer

I was really interested in your question because I didn’t know you could buy slow cooker bases separately.

As for your question about heated aluminum creating toxic fumes, it doesn’t. The problem with cooking with aluminum is the contact between the aluminum pot and the food. When there is contact, aluminum can leach into the food, but heating aluminum does not release toxic fumes into the air at cooking temperatures. It would be interesting to research the various bases, though, and see what they are made of. If you’d like to do that, I would be happy to publish the results here. You’ll want to choose one that doesn’t have a non-stick finish. Other than that, any metal is OK.

Here are the ones I found.

360 Cookware

NutraEase

Lifetime Cookware

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Question from JennyD

We are buying/building a home and found out that there is some mine rock that was used as fill for the lot that our house will be on.

I don’t know much about mine rock and was wondering if you could tell me if there is anything to be concerned about? Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

This is a difficult question to answer, and someone more experienced in this field than I may have a better response. But I’ll tell you my best logic.

First, according to National Wildlife Federation: Hard Rock Mining Pollution, hard rock mining is “the single largest source of toxic waste and one of the most destructive industries in the country.” These are the mines that product gold, silver, copper, and uranium.

A lot of rock waste is produced and that may be the rock that is used for fill on your property.

But is it toxic?

As best as I can determine, it’s not the rock that is toxic, but the cyanide and sulfuric acid and other toxic chemicals that are used in the mining process and then are dumped into waterways that are the toxic problem.

If you are concerned and in doubt, I would suggest you get your soil tested or ask around locally to see if you can learn more about your particular local rock fill. It’s likely others nearby have asked the same question.

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Question from Hope

Help! I just learned that the high chair tray my daughter eats off of is not so good. I’m looking for a non toxic surface for her to eat off of. She’s eating finger foods straight off the tray at the moment. Bowls are out of the question. She’ll simply play with them. I’m thinking that some sort of a placemat to cover the tray would be best. I’ve heard silicone isn’t all that safe. I’ve heard even the safer plastics such as #4 aren’t really all that great either. What about eating off of a cotton placemat? What other options are there? Thanks a million!

Debra’s Answer

You could use a cotton placemat if you wash it every time you use it. Or a cotton napkin or towel. These are items that regularly come in contact with food anyway.

I personally am not concerned about silicone baking mats. I use them almost every day for baking and roasting.

I piece of wood chopping board would be good.

It would just need to be something you can easily clean and sanitize with hot water.

Readers, any suggestions?

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Question from Terry

Hi Debra, Re: Disaster Food Storage

I have been searching for a reputable company that sells organic freeze dried fruit and vegetables to be used if we have a disaster e.g. major earthquake. Someday maybe I’ll have the time to learn to dehydrate fruits & vegetables but right now I need to stock up. Most of the freeze dried food mixtures are loaded with salt. Any information would be welcome. Thank You & Happy Holidays

Debra’s Answer

Have you checked out the Survive2Thrive 40 Days and Nights Organic Preparedness Pail? It contains wholefoods and superfoods like beans and quinoa rather than prepared foods that contain salt.

www.amazon.com/Survive2thrive-Organic-40-day-Nutrition-Emergency/dp/B009V9W24I

Another place to look is www.prepsos.com, which has prepackaged kits but also individual foods stored to last 20 years.

But rather than buy someone else’s idea of what you should eat, I would suggest getting your own foods and packaging them properly. It’s suggested for emergency supplies that you rotate them out into your regular meal plans, anyway.

For example, there are foods I always have on hand, like nuts and beans. When the beans run down, I buy more, so I always have a couple of pounds of half a dozen different types of beans.

Here is the contents of the Survive2Thrive box:

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