Question from Bed Question

Questioning my recent order of a new “big kid” mattress for my 3 year old son. He has no allergies, I am simply trying to get the toxins out of our house.

That said, I purchased a double sided Pure Echo Mattress from mygreenmattress.com.

I had one inch of Talalay latex added to each side. Now I am reading Talalay latex is not that safe and that Dunlop latex is a better product?

Quite honestly, I am finding it impossible to figure out who is telling the truth. Can you at least tell me if this mattress is better for my son (and our home) than purchasing one from a conventional mattress store?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know where you are reading about latex, but I will tell you what I know.

I recently have been researching latex and can’t go into the whole story here, but to answer your question about Talalay and Dunlop…

Here is a page from a manufacturer of Talalay latex that thoroughly explains both types: http://www.latexfoam.com/latex-material/how-latex-is-made

Talalay and Dunlop are two processing methods. But the materials used are the same. One is not more or less toxic than the other. The difference is in the quality. “Talalay latex is like a chocolate soufflé; although the process is long, your end product is a buoyant, airy, complex delight. Dunlop latex is more like a tray of brownies; tasty, but dense and flat in comparison.”

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Question from Angelique

Does anyone have experience with Bona or Safecoat wood floor finishes? Or any other finishes? And I mean PERSONAL experience, or the experience of another chemically-sensitive person. We don’t need stain, but if we decide to install 100% mesquite wood floors (nails only, no glue) we will need a sealer. For my husband’s office we’ll need an “ordinary” sealer, but my husband wonders if we want to put the wood in the kitchen too, instead of new tile (our tile is very chipped) so I think that will need a thicker, more waterproof sealer. The wood company likes Bona products. I have had good results with other Safecoat products.

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Any experience with these products?

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Question from Shelly

Hello Debra. I thought I read about a rebounder on your site but can’t find any links. Do you have an opinion about using rebounders (mini-trampolines)?

Thanks,

Shelly

Debra’s Answer

Yes. My opinion is they are great exercise. Especially to move the lymph system, which is vital for moving toxic chemicals out of your body. Unlike your blood, which moves by the action of the pumping of your heart, your lymph fluid moves only when you move your body. So daily exercise is extremely important.

The problem is that all the rebounders I’ve ever seen are made from some material that smells very strongly right out of the box. However, it does outgas fairly quickly. I have my rebounder in a corner of my living room and it doesn’t smell at all.

If you can rebound outdoors with fresh air, that would be all the better.

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Question from Kimberly

Do you know anything that helps if you have an “adverse reaction” to monosodium glutamate or it’s too numerous hidden names. I have also found it at every turn. Sometimes I feel like I am going to die…bad feeling! One time passed out fell on my face, busted my lips and my nose. Had a concussion. I am suppose to believe… FDA says it is safe.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know what can stop an MSG reaction. My advice would be to simply prepare all your own food from fresh ingredients. That’s what I do.

Readers, any experience with this?

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Question from Lisa

I’m hoping someone can help.

I’ve lived in a small cottage for three years and have had no health issues. I’m chemically sensitive, but this place has been perfect. And I’m in super health and very fit.

In December, I started having symptoms out of the blue while in the cottage (headache, lung pain, hoarseness, fatigue, dizziness, foggy head, dry cough, etc.) similar to those that I experience when exposed to chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene, etc. I felt so bad that I moved to friend’s house for a week and was totally fine again. The symptoms returned when I returned to the cottage. I left again for a weekend and was great again. All symptoms back when I returned.

I had PG&E test for CO and gas and they found nothing. I had the cottage tested for mold and it came back with an extremely low count (much higher outside) and the inspector said that it was very very low, that there’s more mold outside. I have no sinus issues or itchiness. There is no new furniture and nothing about the environment has changed. Nothing is new. I even asked the neighbors about pesticides and nothing.

I’m hoping someone can offer ideas about anything I might be missing here. Again, have been fine for three years. Am fine when out for a day. Someone mentioned florescent bulbs as a possible problem, but none are broken and never have been. Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Any ideas?

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Question from kathy

I need to get area rug pads – I would like more than just the grip kind. A thicker, felt-like one is ideal. Do you know of any sources that are not toxic, don’t off-gas, etc.

Thanks,

Kathy

Debra’s Answer

You might like Earth Weave’s Enertia Carpet Padding

They also have an all natural rubber gripper pad.

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Question from EK

Hi Debra! I’m looking to buy a new a comforter and unfortunately i’m allergic to feathers and my husband doesn’t handle wool very welI. I came across a comforter which was made of recycled polyester and lyocell fibers and was hoping you would be able to explain what this is and if its a less toxic option than polyester. I’d also like to thank you for many years of guidance!

Debra’s Answer

Recycled polyester isn’t any less toxic than virgin polyester, it’s just recycled rather than going into a landfill.

Lyocell is a type of rayon. Rayon is made from regenerated cellulose fiber of various types. In the past, rayon was usually made from cotton fibers too short to spin into yarn. Lyocell is made from wood pulp. Bamboo fabrics are made by the same process, but will cellulose from bamboo.

There are other natural comforter fillings you might want to try, including silk, milkweed, cotton…there’s even a bamboo comforter with bamboo cover and fill. Google each of these for sources.

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Question from Annie

Do u think glow in the dark stickers are bad? I assume they have some sort of phosphor containing chemical on them? Bad to touch?

Debra’s Answer

All glow-in-the-dark products contain phosphors, a substance that radiates visible light after being energized.

Chemists have created thousands of chemical substances that have a phosphor effect. Phosphors have three factors:

The type of energy they require to be energized

The color of the visible light that they produce

The length of time that they glow after being energized (known as the persistence of the phosphor)

A glow-in-the-dark toy needs a phosphor that is energized by normal light and that has a very long persistence. Two phosphors that have these properties are Zinc Sulfide and Strontium Aluminate. Strontium Aluminate has a much longer persistence than Zinc Sulfide does. Whatever the phosphor, it is mixed into a plastic and molded to make something glow-in-the-dark.

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Question from Sofas

Hi Debra, your website is great! So glad to have found it. I’m finding the organic toxin free furniture is so very unaffordable. Is there any website you have come across that doesn’t have flame retardants at least. Basically second best I guess. Ikea? Looking for a couch or two. From Canada too.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know of any readymade sofas that do not have fire retardants of some kind or another. They are required by law.

I suggest that you type “sofa” in my site search box and read all the other posts on this subject, if you haven’t already.

Readers? Any suggestions?

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Question from GREENDAD2B

Debra – you rock. Just interested as to why the Ikea Sniglar is okay in your book, given the fiberboard. Hoping you have a great explanation so I can buy it and be happy that it’s not only the offspring of the wealthy who get to breathe clean air. Thanks

Debra’s Answer

I saw this crib at IKEA. The frame is solid wood. The fiberboard is the platform on which the mattress sits. I don’t believe it is particleboard. There are many different types of “fiberboard.”

I don’t have a crib in front of me at the moment to look at it again. But even if it is particleboard, that platform could easily be replaced and the crib is very inexpensive.

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