Question from Cat

Hello, Yesterday my husband realized his tire was flat so he took my car to the shop with the tire in the trunk for repair. He then used my car to go to work. Today, when he went to pick it up he realized it was not able to be repaired so they mounted a new tire for him, so he could get to work. He put the new tire on the wheel in the trunk of my new car. As we were pulling out of the tire shop I became worried. The tire was in the trunk and I really couldn’t smell it, but he didn’t put anything down in the trunk of my new car and as we drove I worried that the fumes would collect in the trunk and seep into the cab of the car. I am newely pregnant and a bit paranoid. I made him vacume the trunk out and then I placed a blanket down in the trunk before taking the car shopping…should I be worried I was exposed to chemicals in the transpport of the tire and using the trunk after?

Debra’s Answer

Tires are made of synthetic rubber, which do outgass a fair amount of pretty toxic chemicals, including benzene, toluene, and xylene (and about seventy others). These chemicals can cause harm to developing fetuses. However, the amount you were exposed to makes a difference.

From your description, it sounds like you weren’t exposed to much emissions, if any, however I would stay away from tire stores, where there would be a lot of these chemicals in the air.

By the way, here is the full list of toxic chemicals found in tire emissions:

Well, the original got lost during one of my transfers from website to website. So here are some new updated lists:

Note 37: Volatile Organic Emissions from Automobile Tires

HEaLTHY BUILDING NETWORK: Avoiding Contaminants in Tire-Derived Flooring

HUFFINGTON POST: Scrap Tire Playgrounds Lighten Landfills, But Raise Cancer Fears

While I am all for doing things that help the environment, this is a prime example of how an action can be both green and toxic at the same time.

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Question from Brittney

My husband & I are taking a 5-7 day hiking trip into the mountains in Washington state. We will have some access to creeks & lakes at a high elevation. I was wondering what a good portable water filter brand would be for that or sould we just use a camel pack or some kind of container? If you recommend a container, what would you recommend that we use? We have to pack light so something light weight, collapsable or something I could clip to my pack would be preferred. Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t been backpacking for years, so haven’t researched this lately. Readers, what are your recommendations?

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Question from Heather

I saw a query about emfs from a sonic toothbrush. I wanted to get a clarification if the emfs are due to the toothbrush being “sonic” or just being an electric toothbrush of any sort. Also does it matter if the electric brush is plugged into the wall vs. powered by batteries? Thanks so much, am in the market for better toothbrushing for my kids.

Debra’s Answer

I used a sonic toothbrush for many years because I believed it was the best method to reduce plaque.

However, about a year ago, I decided to try the method of toothbrushing recommended by my biologic dentist and it works even better. No electric or sonic toothbrush needed.

Dr. Behm calls it “The Secret”, short for The SECRET to HEALTHY GUMS or HOW to KEEP YOUR TEETH for the REST of YOUR LIFE!

This is what I do now and the condition of my teeth is better than ever!

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Question from Cecilia

Dear Debra, we are considering remodeling our home, and one of the things that I would like to do is moving my laundry room out of the basement. It seems that there is a nice possibility of doing this by putting the laundry in the second floor. A laundry with natural light and ventilation sounds really nice, but what about having the laundry so close to the bedrooms? Is there anything specific that would make you recommend against it, even before considering materials? Thank you! Cecilia.

Debra’s Answer

I totally understand! I used to have my washer and dryer down in the basement and never wanted to go down there to do the laundry. Now, in a different house, my washer and dryer are in the mud room next to the kitchen and it’s so easy to do my laundry!

I can’t think of a reason why not to have laundry next to a bedroom, but since I’ve never had that, there may be drawbacks I can’t imagine. Readers, please contribute your experience. I’ve seen washers and dryers in hallways behind folding doors. They would make noise so you wouldn’t want to run these machines while sleeping. Water probably will leak so you would want to place the washer and dryer on a waterproof surface.

Not thinking of anything else.

Readers?

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Question from Shirley

Hi Debra, We painted 3 rooms in our house with YShield black paint ( it is from Germany and supposed low VOC and is to block emf’s wifi and cell phone coming into the home) I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and multiple chemical allergies and migraines so it was recommended to me by a couple of people and a dr to use this paint. You ground the black paint into an outlet so that the emf’s that come in get grounded. We painted over the black paint with Lifemaster Glidden Low VOC paint.

It was done 4 weeks ago and I still am reacting with a burning tongue, lungs and skin when I come into the house. Perhaps we should of primed over the black paint? I am not sure if I am reacting to the black paint or the low voc Lifemaster. Someone has said to prime over the walls with AFM safecoat paint. What do you know of this paint. Someone else said to use Mythic Paint or to hot box the house, bring in huge heaters and bring the temp up to over 100 degrees and bake the chemicals out of the walls. Help, Homeless in Ottawa.

Debra’s Answer

I’ve never used YShield paint so I don’t know anything about the protocol for covering with another paint that is a color that is more to your liking. But I’ll give you some general comments about painting.

1. Paint takes a couple of weeks to really dry, at least. Only a few hours to be dry to the touch, but at least several weeks to be “cured,” which is dry through and through. So when you paint another paint on top, it makes it more difficult to cure the paint underneath.

2. So now you have two paints that are not quite cured. I don’t know if you are reacting to one or the other or a combination of fumes from the two.

3. PAINTS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO BLOCK FUMES. So painting over your paint with another paint will not help. A sealant painted over may help, but then you have outgassing of the sealer, with more chemicals.

4. My favorite method is to use heat, however, I don’t know how that might affect the YShield paint.

I would start by calling YShield and see if applying another coat of paint might cause problems. And ask if you can use heat. Then I would use heat if that’s OK.

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Question from audrey

I would like to know if anyone with mcs has had a dental implant – success or failure – meaning were you able to tolerate it or did it make you sicker. Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from anita

My newborn great grand son does not seem to get enough milk from his mom–any good formulas on the market to use as a backup?? thanks so much

anita wassweman

Debra’s Answer

Readers, I don’t have any experience with baby formula. Which have you tried and liked?

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Question from green-earth

Hi Debra, Do you think we should be wary of buying electronics from Japan because of last year’s nuclear disaster over there? I need to buy a cell phone soon, and I’m worried that it may be impossible to find a cell phone without parts that are made in Japan. Batteries are often made there, so is the glass on some smart phones. I’ve tried contacting companies to find out this information but they do not disclose where their parts are made or where their phones are assembled. What do you suggest?

Debra’s Answer

I just don’t know enough about radiation to know if any radiation that may be present would still be present after manufacturing the items you mention.

I personally am not concerned about this.

Remember that we have many exposures every day that we cannot control, which is why half of my book Toxic Free is devoted to detoxing and strengthening our bodies to better withstand those exposures we cannot avoid.

Of course, you could just not use a cell phone.

If you do use a cell phone, I am more concerned about the radiation generated from the use of it than the radiation that might be in the parts. I have a Pong case to protect me from radiation exposure from my phone.

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Question from Ingrid Ramsay

I am designing a closet for a client. She has a moth problem and I was going to back some of the walls with aromatic cedar. However, she was told that aromatic cedar is ‘toxic’. I think the wood dust is toxic, when the material is sawed, When it is installed maybe someone could be allergic to it ? Also does it really keep the moth’s larvae from eating the natural fibers ? What is the best natural solution?

Debra’s Answer

I found a great webpage called Wood Allergies and Toxicity that addresses the toxicity of all types of wood. It has an extensive “Wood Toxicity and Allergen Chart” that reports Cedar, Aromatic Red as an irritant to eyes and skin, but nothing more. Many people with MCS, however, react to cedar badly, so it’s often not recommended for that reason, but it’s not particularly toxic otherwise.

Aromatic cedar is a natural wood that has been used for natural moth control for who-knows-how-long. There is some question, however, as to whether or not it kills the moth larvae, which is what eats the wool. Technically, it’s not necessary to kill the moth larvae, only repel them away from your stored items. Cedar will do that.

In my book Home Safe Home (now out of print), I wrote that the best way to protect your clothing from moth larvae is to make sure they are not on your clothing when you put clothing in the closet.

Once you know your clothing is free from larvae, as a back-up you can use natural repellants. If you don’t want to use cedar, these plants are known to repel moth larvae:

If you can’t find cotton sachet bags, use cotton baby socks and fasten them shut with a safety pin.

Question from magda

Hi Debra! I have questions about comforters. I need healthy option without chemicals and fire retardant. I can’t afford organic comforters ( I need 4 so it’s a lot of money for me) what is the best option for me? Thank You 🙂

Debra’s Answer

White Lotus Home has great quality products at affordable prices. Here’s the webpage for their “green cotton” comforters: www.whitelotus.net/green-cotton-duvet/. They often have sales. You could get on their mailing list and you’ll be notified. I often announce them too but best to get on their list.

If that’s still too expensive, a couple of years ago when I was visiting San Francisco, I got a very inexpensive feather/down comforter at IKEA with a 100% cotton cover. Machine washable. $39.99. www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60133498/

There are no federal requirements for fire retardants on bed clothes, but check with IKEA to see if they add fire retardants. Things change so frequently that it’s difficult for me to keep up with companies, unless, like White Lotus Home, they have a dedicated “no-chemicals” policy.

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