Super Search

Submitted questions will be posted with my response by the following Tuesday or before.
Submitted comments will be moderated and approved within 24 hours.

Odor in New Washing Machine

Question from Margaret

I recently bought a new portable washing machine by Haier that has a polypropylene tub. It has an EXTREMELY strong new odor. Over the past 2 weeks I have tried various things trying to remove the smell: Using a 500 W Halogen Construction Lamp to speed up the outgassing (for about 25+ hours), also, applying a baking soda paste and spraying with vinegar, then running the washer with a few cups each of vinegar and baking soda, etc. Do you think these measures will work in time? Or do you have any other ideas for how to speed up the process? Other products to suggest maybe? Many, Many Thanks! Margaret

Debra’s Answer

Hmmmm…polypropylene doesn’t usually have much of an odor, so I’m not sure what you are smelling.

Readers, any suggestions?

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Dust hazard from sanding floors?

Question from hellokitty

Hi Debra! Thank you for the wealth of knowledge you are providing. I am trying to create a safe home for my family and your site and book have been of great value.

I want to have the Mexican tile and solid wood floor of my house sanded and polished. Is this a toxic process? I am mostly concerned about the dust particles. I will choose non toxic products for the polish/seal but I don’t know what to do about the dust particles after the sanding.

My wife has MCS and I we small children and pets. What would you recommend? Thank you!

D.K

Debra’s Answer

That amount of dust is a a dust hazard, not necessarily toxic, but a hazard from the amount of particles in the air.

I’m assuming you are going to have the sanding done by a professional. I’ve never had my floors sanded, but I imagine they should have some method of controlling the dust they are creating. That would be a question I would ask before agreeing to have them do the work.

There should be no residual dust from the job, but I would give the house and every surface a good vacuuming after the sanding is done. They should do that anyway, because they don’t want to have any excess dust around when they are applying the new finish.

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Nontoxic Centipede Control

Question from Bonnie

Centipedes are invading my older home. What can I use? They seem to be multipling every year. Three years ago when I inherited the home I saw several. We were doing some remodeling so we figured they just left after that. No so. Last year quite a few and they are coming up stairs. Ick, Ick, Ick. Someone said spray the basement but with what? It is such an old home there is no way to caulk every spot they might come in. I need help. I killed one in my bedroom last night.

Debra’s Answer

Well, first keep in mind that centipedes are a highly beneficial insect, eating lots of fleas, ants, flies, silverfish, roaches, ticks and other pests. One site I was researching on said, “Forget about using insecticides against them, they ARE insecticides! Get rid of your centipedes and you will almost certainly increase the number of TRUE indoor pests in your home.”

If you don’t want them in the house, just catching them by putting a drinking glass on top and slide a 3×5 card underneath, so you can pick it up and take it out to the garden, where it really belongs. Centipedes can live as long as five or ten years—eating pests all the while.

If you must kill them, use diatomaceous earth, an abrasive powder made from the fossils of diatoms (tiny sea creatures). It works by cutting open the exoskeleton of crawling insects. With their exoskeletons damaged, the bugs dehydrate and die, usually within 48 hours. It works on slugs, earwigs, millipedes, centipedes, silverfish, cockroaches and ants. You can use it safely both indoors and outdoors. Just sprinkle the powder where pests are likely to crawl, live, or hide.

But if you can appreciate the the benefit of their presence in your ecosystem, and simply take them back to their home when they stray into yours, that is the best option.

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Can Pesticide Vapor Move Through Walls?

Question from Murray

Hi Debra.

Can pesticide vapor move across/through drywall between units in a conjoined block of units? How? (I guess obviously via cracks, pipes, etc.?). However, what about moving across the porous gypsum component of the drywall product? Everything I’ve found strongly suggests that this can occur.

This opens up a big can of worms re poisoning from insecticide “bombs” and repeated domestic pesticide sprayings, does it not? I’d like to use your answer in a major Essay I’m writing as we speak, if that’s OK?

Kind regards, Murray Thompson

Debra’s Answer

This is a question I can’t give an absolute answer for because all buildings are different.

Yes, if there were cracks, pipes, electric outlets, etc that had a direct connection between the two units, pesticides and other toxics could certainly find their way from unit to unit. However, I’m not sure what the likelihood is of those spaces being there between units. I would think that buildings would be constructed to be individually sealed.

That said, I believe that buildings can have air exchange between units through the ventilation system. But again, may or may not. This needs to be checked on an individual basis.

Now, as to your question about pesticides or other volatile chemicals can get through drywall, the answer appears to be no.

On the GreenBuildingAdvisor.com website it says:

What have you seen that suggests there can be air movement through drywall? Yes, it is porous in that water can move through it so theoretically air could move through it too, but as indicated above, it is considered an air barrier in building circles.

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Smoking Will Kill Up To A Billion People Worldwide This Century

That’s the conclusion of John Seffrin, chief executive of the American Cancer Society.

Smoking kills more than half of all smokers, mostly from cancer.

Smoking will be the biggest public health disaster in the history of the world.

Smoking is still the most important cause of cancer… If you smoke a few cigarettes a day, it will be the most dangerous thing you do.

The Independent: Smoking will ‘kill up to a billion people worldwide this century’

In another story about smoking, experts say that the harm caused by smoking can be passed down from generation to generation, with a smoker’s grandchildren also likely to be affected. What happens is that smoking during pregnancy can “switch on” bad genes, which are then passed on.

Daily Mail Online: Women who smoke during pregnancy could put their future grandchildren at risk by switching on faulty genes

Cigarette smoke is one of our most toxic exposures. If you smoke, quit. Avoid second-hand smoke.

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Wireless-free listening and reading devices?

Question from deniseo

I have made my house as wireless as possible to avoid EMF exposure. I am looking for information about using Ipod’s and ereaders. Can wi-fi be disabled in these devices and is that adequate to eliminate exposure. I don’t have the ability to purchase and then measure with a meter. Any comments and thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know enough about how these devices work to answer this question.

Readers, any thoughts?

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The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act

Question from Lana

What is your stance on California’s Proposition 37, The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act? Do you agree that GMO’s should be clearly labeled on food product packages?

http://www.carighttoknow.org

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Of course I agree that GMOs should be clearly labeled on food product packages.

But I think this isn’t enough. GMOs should be banned altogether, as should industrially processed food. The ONLY food that should be sold is fresh organic whole unprocessed foods, to be minimally prepared at home.

I also think that toxic chemicals in products should be clearly labeled on product packaging of all kinds, and better, yet, they shouldn’t be in products at all.

If I lived in California, I would vote in favor of labeling. So all of you reading this who live in California, please go vote for me.

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Brand New Apartment Is Making Me Sick

Question from B Kyser

Hello I was reading the advice you had for the New Apartment question from another person. My question is what can I do if I have already moved into this brand new apartment complex and at first it didnt bother me, a week or so, but we were busy and running in and out, now I smell horrible chemical smells, especially in the bathrooms. It is making me sick to my stomach and headaches. I cant afford to move. Please please advise me. I want to enjoy my new apartment.

Debra’s Answer

It’s difficult to advise you without seeing your apartment and the sources of toxic exposures.

One thing you can always do is use an air filter, but it’s always better to remove chemicals at the source.

I am available to do toxic home inspections anywhere in the world

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Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioning

Question from HEGS

We have purchased an old home without any ducts, that is heated with radiators. We are interested in installing central air conditioning and I just learned about ductless mini-split air conditioning, which is a less expensive way to install air conditioning in homes without existing ductwork. I don’t know much about these systems and I was wondering if you or your readers knew about any environmental or health concerns associated with them, and if anyone has experience with their efficiency?

Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

I think this is a relatively new product because I only just heard of it for the first time within the last month and a unit is on display in a prominent location at my local Home Depot.

Here is a simple explanation with photo US Department of Energy: Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioners

We need a new air conditioner in the near future and I’m looking at this as a replacement for ours.

The one I saw at Home Depot is made entirely of plastic, which I wasn’t fond of, however, I think the plastic needs to be researched to see what type it is and if it would pollute the air in any way.

Could you find out what type of plastic it’s made from? Then we could discuss it further.

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ARE TOXIC PRODUCTS HIDDEN IN YOUR HOME?

Toxic Products Don’t Always Have Warning Labels. Find Out About 3 Hidden Toxic Products That You Can Remove From Your Home Right Now.