Question from Kristen

Do you know if Thirty-one products are made of safe materials? I’ve checked their website but can’t find what materials they contain. Thanks for your help!

Debra’s Answer

I couldn’t find their materials either.

What I do in this case is

But my experience has been if the materials are natural, the website says so.

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Question from Gigi

Hi Debra, I just found out about the Monsanto Protection Act last night. It was slipped in during the dead of night.

The new law that lets biotech companies like Monsanto escape litigation This law was created by a Republican and was supported by Democrats.

President Barack Obama inked his name to the bill, H.R. 933, & in doing so signed off on a deal that essentially prevented a government-wide shut down. The president approved a provision that lets the companies that make GMOs & GE seeds step over legal hurdles in the future regarding lab-made products that may later be proven to be dangerous. Included in the bill is a rider, Section 735, which says federal courts cannot intervene and halt biotech companies from planting and selling GMO goods to the public, even if testing proves them to be potentially hazardous to the greater public.

http://rt.com/usa/protection-act-monsanto-apologizes-229/

What can we do?

Debra’s Answer

Organic Consumers Association is already on the ball with this:

Urgent Alert! Tell the Senate to Strike Monsanto’s Rider From Their Continuing Resolution

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Question from gloria g

Hi, I am looking for toxic free closet solutions regarding shelving. I understand that solid wood comes only in 11 1/2″ widths which is not wide enough for me and, shelving wider than that has glues which are toxic. Perhaps there are closet storage companies that use non toxic wood solutions but I have not found them. Do you have any thoughts about this? Thanks very much!

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know of any offhand, and I’ve looked.

I just have shelves built for me.

I have a couple of ideas.

At Lowe’s there is a department where they sell boards made of various woods that can be used for shelving, building furniture, etc. In my local Lowe’s it’s near the wall molding. It seems to me they have 16″ wide shelving.

And also they have tabletops made of strips of wood glued together. Wood glue actually is not toxic, so if real wood glue is used, it’s OK. I’ve used these before with no problem.

Or you could contact someplace like tablelegs.com and see if they can put together something for you of the right width. Just use yellow woodworkers glue and you’ll be fine.

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Question from Linda

In case you haven’t heard, the Milk & Dairy Board has submitted a petition for the government to allow milk, yogurt and most dairy to have toxic chemicals added with permission to not disclose or list any of that on the ingredients’ label!

Mainly it’s HFCS and artificial sweeteners & flavors.

Dr Oz yesterday gave this link to comment and make ourselves heard before they close it (I think in May is the deadline to write your comments in.)

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2009-P-0147-0012

Debra’s Answer

You all should read this carefully. They want to be allowed to use “any safe and suitable sweetener.” What THEY consider safe and suitable is probably not what you and I consider safe and suitable.

As always, my viewpoint is PUT EVERYTHING IN THE PRODUCT ON THE LABEL.

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A new study found that the cabins of airplanes from all nineteen commercial airlines have high levels of flame retardants in their dust. And one was measured at concentrations more than 100 time higher than found in dust collected from homes and offices.

While exposures to the brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) and others used in seats, carpets, walls, overhead bins and pillows have not been associated with any health effects from exposure in the airplane environment, these flame retardants are known to be toxic and cause cancer.

Female flight attendant have a 29 percent higher risk of all cancers, including a 35 percent higher risk of breast cancer than the general public. They also have a 62 percent hight risk of miscarriage and stillbirth than the general public.

Environmental Health News: Flying the flame-free skies: High levels of flame retardants found on airliners

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Just released this past week, this new guide rates more than 2000 cleaning products on an A-F scale for toxic exposures.

I really appreciate all this research and it’s a great tool for researching whatever products an average person may be using so they can see how toxic their products are, however, it’s not an easy guide to finding nontoxic products.

To find the least toxic products, go to the menu on the left that says “Products” at the top and click on the type of cleaning product. It then gives you the choice to choose the lists from A through F. A vast majority of the products rate D and F.

Many of the smaller companies making the best nontoxic products that I’ve put on Debra’s List are not even included.

But if you want to know how toxic the cleaning products sold in most stores are, this is a great resource!

EWG’s 2013 Guide to Healthy Cleaning

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Question from John

Hello. Would like to know if its possible to get rid definitely of that persistent vanilla-scent odour left once I applied some amount of termoplastic rubber gel (Mulco label) inside a washing machine?

Thanks, Jon

Debra’s Answer

I don’t think so. You didn’t give me an exact name for this product, so I searched for “Mulco rubber gel” and found a technical data sheet for “Latex 9000”. It says that is a latex-based sealant with polyurethane added.

Interesting you picked up the vanilla scent, as Talalay latex is known to have artificial vanillin added. This is incorporated into the latex when it goes through the vulcanization process to turn it into rubber and is intended to be an integral part of it. It’s only function is as a scent.

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Question from Alice

Hi Debra,

Can you recommend a NON TOXIC POLYURETHANE SPRAY or paint . We want to protect some outdoor furniture from rain, wind and sun.

Thanks for your help with this.

Debra’s Answer

I would say there is no such thing as a “nontoxic” polyurethane spray. There is “less toxic” polyurethane spray, which would be any brand that is water-based. Water-based finishes do not contain the toxic solvents, but still contain petrochemicals.

Just type “water based polyurethane exterior” into your favorite search engine and you’ll get lots of products to choose from.

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Question from Need A Cable

Hi Debra, I need to buy a 100ft internet cable for my home but was unable to find the one that would be pvc-free. Do you by chance know where I can find one?

Debra’s Answer

I wasn’t able to find one.

Readers? Do you know of any?

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Question from Rachel

Hello! I am wanting to use a natural soap to bathe with and make laundry detergent. I came across Kirks Castile Soap. I found a recipe on their website on how to make homemade laundry soap. Do you know if the bar soap has any “toxic” ingredients? I also thought about using Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap to bathe with. What are your thoughts?

Debra’s Answer

I used Kirks Castile Soap many years ago because it was one of the only soaps I could find at the time that didn’t have artificial fragrance and colors in it. However, it’s made primarily from coconut oil, which made my skin so dry I had to stop using it. Just went to their website to check the ingredients and OMG! Lots of industrial chemicals! Compare these ingredients with any of the natural handmade soaps I’ve listed on Debra’s List. This is also a good source for soaps for bathing. I have no objection to Dr. Bronners, but to me, handmade soaps are more interesting and they are made by hand.

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