Question from Kelly

We had an oil based low voc polyurethane applied to our hardwood floors on the entire first floor of our house. Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of the toxicity until after it was done and still smelled for weeks and I started researching.

We have a young child and was running air purifiers but after 6 weeks and a lot of research on that and the carpets we had installed in the other room at the same time we decided to remove all the hardwoods and put tile down.

As floors were pulled up we realized all the quarter molding around the floor perimeter was tacky – assuming the contractor replaced wood before curing occurred.

I am concerned that my child being around that for 6 weeks (a few hours a day) could have harmed my child. Do you think this still tacky polyurethane under the wood could have out gassed enough to cause long term damage or would the fumes have evaporated quickly and/or the wood molding on top of it blocked fumes?

We ran air purifiers all the time and left windows cracked. I am just very nervous.

Debra’s Answer

This is a difficult question to answer.

First I just want to note that there is no such thing as an “oil based low voc polyurethane”. Oil-based polyurethane is not low VOC. I just checked and couldn’t find one. So it sounds like standard oil-based polyurethane, which contains toxic solvents and takes a long time to cure.

I’m looking at a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for an oil-based polyurethane finish product and the volatile toxic chemicals are mineral spirits, aromatic 150, and napthalene.

Right in the MSDS are warning messages for these three ingredients, the same warning for all three:

So without a doubt, these are toxic chemicals to avoid if one can.

Question from Chris

Hi Debra, We have a 3 year old Maggie couch from Bob’s that is primarily foam. I am guessing it is still pretty toxic as it isn’t that old but we were not aware of the many toxic issues when it was given to us. We’d like to get a futon to use as a couch instead as it seems to be the most cost effective.

We are considering the Dreamton mattress from White Lotus with the EverGreen foam core, surrounded in green cotton and wrapped in wool. Do you have any experience with this mattress or type of foam?

I am also concerned about their wool as I’ve read many negative things about how New Zealand sheep are treated and I want no part of that if it’s true. I’d prefer all wool from Shepherd’s Dream as I have their bed but there is no way I can afford another one.

Also, if were able to save enough for wool/cotton from Heart of Vermont, do you know how well they wear as a couch? We don’t want all cotton and I can’t do latex.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much! Chris

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any advice?

I don’t have any experience with these mattresses except that I have visited the workplace where they make White Lotus mattresses and found no materials that I considered to be toxic. I don’t know anything about how the sheep are treated for their wool. Give them a call and ask them.

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Question from Erin

Hi Debra, We have two young children and I’m worried about their toxic exposure.

My husband has finally agreed to ditch our conventional sofa set — as long as I don’t spend money replacing it.

We also have a 2-year old all-cotton futon (non organic, treated with boric acid) with an untreated hardwood frame that could replace one of the sofas.

I think pesticides do break down over time—does boric acid also?

Even though I know it is not a perfect solution, this seems to be a *less* toxic option, but I wanted your opinion first. Thanks for all you do!

Debra’s Answer

Yes, this futon and frame is less toxic than your conventional sofa set. Well done on your progress!

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Question from Greenmom

Hi Debra, Do felt/jute pads for area rugs have fungicide or pesticide? They claim to be Mold/mildew/moth resistant and I’m wondering whats used to achieve that?

Specifically, I’m looking at this: www.rugpadcorner.com/shop/ultra-premium/

Thank you for all the help, you are a great resource!

Debra’s Answer

Well, I called the company (you can call them too) and was told there are “no chemicals, glues, or adhesives” in any of their products. They only use recycled or natural materials.

They may be making the claim to be mold/mildew/moth resistant because of the natural latex rubber. I specifically asked if there were pesticides or fungicides and they said that the manufacturer says there are none.

This pad might smell like latex, but otherwise, this site looks like a good find!

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Question from Michele

I just came to realize that I have been giving my child cranberry juice and found out there is benzene in it.

Cranberries have natural benzoic acid and the company adds absorbic acid (vitamin c) and together they form benzene.

From the samples done that I found documented online the level of benzene is less than 2ppb which is less than the 5ppb allowed in drinking water.

However, I am concerned I could have given my child too much benzene since I have been using this juice for 2 years.

Did I raise my child’s risk for leukemia and is there any statistic that shows the risk? Thank you

Debra’s Answer

This is old news.

I’m looking at a news article from 2006 that says:

Here are the key things that made benzene form

If there is no sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate in your cranberry juice you have nothing to worry about. No benzene was formed.

And even if your cranberry juice did contain these benzoates, it would also need to have been exposed to light and heat. Chances are low that 100% of the cranberry juice contained benzene.

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Question from Question from VA

Back to school time! My son needs a new backpack and lunch box. I know all the shiny, decorative ones are not very safe so my question is between Lands End, LLBean and Kids Travel Zone, which would you recommend most for both backpacks and lunchboxes.

Thanks for your website. Very informative!

Debra’s Answer

Well, let’s see…

Land’s End – nylon, polyester, water-repellent finish, EVA foam

LLBean – nylon

Kid’s Travel Zone – polyester

None of the above.

I would get a cotton canvas backpack

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Question from Jenny, NS

My grandmother watches my two children and she has an old antique china cabinet in her dining/eating room. It is just there as decoration and no one uses it however it was probably a hundred or so years old and I am sure it is coated with lead paint. Do I need to be concerned with this around my children if they only eat in that room and don’t touch or play with the cabinet? It has a high sentimental value so i cant ask her to refinish or remove. Thank you

Debra’s Answer

No, you don’t need to be concerned if all they are doing is eating in the room and don’t touch it.

Lead is a particle, not a vapor. The danger comes through being absorbed through the skin or ingestion, such as children eating paint chips. Exposure could also come from inhaling dust that contains bits of lead paint, such as from sanding lead paint off of woodwork.

I think your kids are fine.

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Question from Bonnie Johnson

I have always loved farmhouse type sinks. I have an old home and wanted to get one put in when I do the new countertop. I am looking at granit or some sort of stone for that. My understanding from my contracter is that I would not be able to handle the seal etc used to install a farmhouse sink and there are questions about bacteria growth? Does anyone here have one and if so what did they use to have it installed. Debra what are your thoughts?

Debra’s Answer

I love them too and wanted to install one in my kitchen but it was beyond my budget.

Readers, has anyone installed one and can answer Bonnie’s questions?

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Question from Erin

Hi Debra, My son needs a nap roll or sleeping bag for naptime at preschool. I didn’t want to buy a regular one new (I am concerned about fire retardants that might be added). So I was going to send him with a vintage one from the 70’s. It is cotton with polyester fill. I figured it would have off gassed by now. But, were these types of items treated with fire retardants back then? My husband is not excited to spend 10x the price to get an all cotton or wool one. Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Well, not only could a product from the 1970s contain a fire retardant, fire retardants then were even worse than the fire retardants used today. <

This from Huffington Post: Flame Retardants Remain Widespread in Children’s Products

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Question from outgassing from new leather couch

I just purchased a new leather couch and it is really off gassing. What do they usually treat leather with and which chemicals are off gassing? Also, is there anything to do to move the process along faster.

Debra’s Answer

Here’s a link that gives a list: International School of Tanning Technology: Chemicals Use in Leather Processing. However, it doesn’t list all the specific chemicals, some are groups of a type of chemical. And it gives no indication of toxicity.

I’m clicking around looking at websites that sell chemicals for leather tanning and they are talking about chromium, polymers, styrene, acrylic, aldehydes…

Regardless of the specific chemicals, if you want to speed up the outgassing, use heat. Put the couch out in the sun or in a small room with space heaters.

Or just return the sofa.

On the other hand, there are some “green” products for leather tanning that are much less toxic, such as those made by Chemtan.

And different types of leather may use different chemicals, so the only way to know for sure is to ask the manufacturer.

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