Question from Dewbra

We are building a closet and finishing our laundry room, side by side in our basement. I react to the paper on sheetrock/drywall and want to us the Fiberglass drywall as it is recommended for basements and damp areas. Do you have any info on how it would be for a SEVERE MCS sufferer. We have a dry basement only through use of dehumidifiers. Debra

Debra’s Answer

I have no experience with this product. Readers? Any comments?

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Question from Andie

Hi, need a new washer and all of them have the CA Prop 65 (toxic chemical exposures to consumer). Is there ANY way to avoid these chemicals, while doing laundry? Thank you!!

Debra’s Answer

This is the second question about Prop 65 this week! First read Q&A: Breville Glass Kettle and California Proposition 65 Warning about Proposition 65.

I found some posts online that said that products can be required to display the warning if there is lead in the power cord, even if there is no other toxic exposure.

There was one post where a reader asked specifically about what part of the Kenmore clothes water is a concern under Proposition 65

The answer from the manufacturer was “lead (contained in the solder used to attach electronic parts to the printed circuit boards), brass, PVC and a multitude of other everyday materials that contain trace levels of chemicals on the list.”

Lead in the solder and PVC in the drain system of the washer will not come in contact with your laundry. So the Proposition 65 label probably does not contain any toxic chemicals you or your laundry would be exposed to while washing your clothes.

This is a perfect example of how Proposition 65 is not helpful. If we are going to have toxic products on the market we need correct warning labels. Better yet is no toxic chemicals, no warning labels.

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Question from Lyn

I had been looking for an electric glass kettle and finally found the Breville the Crystal Clear 1800W Schott Glass Kettle. When I opened the box it had the following warning: “California Proposition 65 Applicable to California Residents Only This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.” I called Breville to find out what chemicals in this glass kettle could possibly cause cancer, etc. The answer I received is that they put this notice on all their packaging for all their products to meet California standards, whether or not the product contains any of the hazardous chemicals. The person I spoke with didn’t know whether any part of the kettle contained any hazardous chemicals but it should be OK. I got the same response from William Sonoma where I purchased the kettle. Is there any way that you know of to find out more specifically the possible chemicals this individual kettle may have? Or should I just return it?

Debra’s Answer

This is one of the problems with Proposition 65. It’s not correctly applied. It’s supposed to give you a warning on individual products that contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

I don’t know of a database that lists all the products that contain the warning and the chemical that prompts requiring the warning. Wouldn’t that be useful? To me “it should be OK” is an insufficient answer.

I’ll tell you though that I used to live in California and these warnings are so common that you get to a point where you don’t even look at them. And that’s partially because they don’t say what the chemical is so you can’t evaluate for yourself.

Here’s an article about the pros and cons of Proposition 65. Los Angeles Times: Are Proposition 65 warning healthful or hurtful?

Here’s a great article about Proposition 65 that includes what steps to take to find out what the chemicals are that make the product require the warning label. American Cancer Society: Cancer Warning Labels Based on California’s Proposition 65

To answer your question, I would just visually inspect the item and see if any part of it looks like it might contain toxic chemicals. Just looking at the photo, there is a metal heating element, and is the base inside the pitcher metal or glass? The heating element might release metals, the stainless steel can release metals.

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Question from Bonnie Johnson

I have old wrought iron crank windows with sceens all over my house. I am getting ready to sell hopefully next year so relacing them would not be cost affective. This year I have carpenter ants in different locations. I have sealed any spot I find them with Elmers glue and it works well. However the screens on my iron windows are not sealed tight in some areas. That is where they are coming in. I was looking for a glue to use around the iron screen from the inside that is not toxic. Last year I had a closet that was sealed by a handy man with a silicone calk and I still can not go in that room. I am trying to avoid that mistake again. Any ideas on what to use?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any experience with this. Readers?

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Question from Joan

I just found out that CARRAGEENAN is in a lot of the organic foods I buy. My daughter was so excited because she found Applegate turkey w/no hormones and antibiotics but I saw that it has carrageenan. When I researched it on line, it is confusing if it is actually harmful. Do you have any info on this? thanks so much

Debra’s Answer

I’ve not been concerned about carrageenan since years ago I found out it is a seaweed extract. Seaweed is simply boiled to extract the carrageenan. When I was in grade school, as a science project we boiled seaweed we collected at the beach and the water turned gummy. That’s about what happens with carrageenan.

But as carrageenan is now used in thousands and thousands of food products, it has become an industrialized ingredient–not hardly in it’s natural state, more like refined salt and refined sugar. Salt in it natural state is essential to life, but refined it becomes something else altogether.

Here are some articles about the potential health effects of carrageenan:

This brings up an important point I made in my book Toxic Free

Things can come from a “natural” animal-vegetable-mineral source (not petroleum), however, once it has gone through an industrial process, it is no longer in it’s natural state.

And then these industrialized natural ingredients are usually harmful to health.

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Question from Susan

We want to pour a concrete slab for a lanai. What all do we need to be concerned about? Our building code requires pre-treating the ground under the slab for termites. I am highly sensitive to pesticides. Would Whitmire Microgen Advanced Compressed Termite Bait also known as Diflubenzuron Bait EPA #499-488 be a safer alternative? I am at a total loss and don’t know what to do. Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any experience with this, but I can tell you that putting a pesticide under a slab doesn’t prevent it from moving out into the surrounding environment through the soil.

Here’s some information on the toxicity of this pesticide. Extoxnet: Diflubenzuron.

Readers, any suggestions?

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Question from LI

What do you use to travel with coffee? We thought stainless steel was the way to go until we read your article. We use glass containers to drink our water, but glass can’t be used for hot items.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t travel with hot coffee, but happened to notice the perfect hot travel mug at Starbuck’s the other day when I was getting an unsweetened iced green tea.

It’s Starbucks Stainless Steel & Ceramic Tumbler. It’s got a stainless steel exterior to keep hot beverages warm with a ceramic inner liner like a coffee mug. Sleek design too, I wanted to buy one just because they were so pretty.

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Question from “C”

I am facing having to get dentures (false teeth) can anyone offer any suggestions.. I hear there are many different kinds.. and , do they need to offgass… I hate this is happening and I just would like advice on your experiences and any suggestions/help

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any suggestions?

I personally have no experience with this, and you are the first to ask me about them.

Let’s see what my readers say and if there are no suggestions, I can help you evaluate the different materials.

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Question from Cecilia

Dear Debra, I am thinking about buying some metal shelving for closets. The description says “epoxy-bonded steel construction”. I would really appreciate your opinion about this product. Thanks! www.containerstore.com/elfa/index.htm

Debra’s Answer

It’s fine. Epoxy-bonded steel is epoxy bonded to steel with heat. The toxic fumes from the epoxy get burned off during the heat treatment, leaving a very durable finish that does not offgas.

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Question from Cristi

Hi Debra! I’ve been researching cloth diapers and everyone I’ve talked to loves the Grovia Diapers. They offer organic cotton inserts and this is what they had to say about the shell:

Thank you for contacting us! Our shells are non-toxic. We are one of just a couple other companies that use TPU versus PUL. TPU and PUL are comprised of two layers. A knit polyester layer and a “plastic” layer that is affixed to the knit layer. TPU and PUL essentially function the say way. However, TPU uses heat to affix those layers instead of chemical solvents like PUL.

I honestly don’t really know what that means and if it’s safe for the baby. I have tried some non toxic disposables and don’t like them at all. I am also planning on using organic fitted diapers with wool covers for overnights, but they are not very convenient during the day for our busy on-the-go family. Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

I’ve already written a lot about PUL, which you can read at Google: Debra Lynn Dadd PUL

I’ve also already written about TPU at (Q&A: TPU ThermoPlastic urethane).

Heat sounds better than solvents but both are basically plastics made from petroleum.

I don’t have a baby, so don’t have personal experience with this, but strictly from a materials viewpoint, the best is organic diapers with wool covers.

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