Question from Jay

Dear Debra, we are a military family moving from one place to another, and we are approaching our time to move again. I found a beautiful brand new apartment complex that just opened in april 2012, and the idea of living in a brand new place is very tempting, (especially if you think about the risk of finding bugs, which is a common issue in apartments). I was wondering what were your thoughts about it, considering that the place has probably not off-gassed yet at all, that everything is brand new, (carpets, cabinets, and wooden floor). Should I just move there and let it air out for a few days? Or do you think that an older place would be better? Thank you in advance for your advice.

Debra’s Answer

Let is air out a few days? No. New apartments need more than an airing out. They are filled with toxic chemicals from carpets and particleboard cabinets especially. You’d need to do a major makeover to make it healthy.

I would recommend an older apartment where materials have offgassed. You may be able to kill a lot of the bugs with a major heat treatment or other nontoxic method.

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Question from Vicki in Oregon

Hi Debra Do you know anything about Okabashi Shoes

Debra’s Answer

Just looking at their website it says:

It’s great they are made from recycled material, but recycled doesn’t always mean nontoxic.

I called their customer service and left a message, but I’m not hopeful they will tell me the plastics or the anti-microbial agents.

This is the type of product I reject because it’s made of unknown materials that might be toxic in general and there are no specifics.

If I get an answer from them, I will post it here.

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Question from Chris

Hi Debra! I recently purchased a wool bed from Shepherd’s Dream and am waiting for it’s arrival. I have an ash platform bed from Bedworks of Maine. The slats are unfinished but I find the natural odor of wood bothersome. I have already put them in the sun and it helped some, but not enough. Can they be finished or sealed with the shellac you recommend or something else so I can’t smell the wood or would this compromise the mattress? (I also have a wool underpad to go on top of the slats so the mattress will not be directly against them). I cannot have any latex so those cushy strips are not an option either. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Yes you can seal the wood to block the odor.

The most natural sealant is Zinsser Bull’s Eye Shellac. It is a natural product, liquified with volatile solvents. Once they evaporate all that’s left is the natural material. This is used as a sealant to block odors by many people with MCS.

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Question from Christal Janis

I love Tea but 99% comes from China or Japan. With the toxic conditions in China and the toxic air now in Japan, where can a person get safe tea? Thanks

Debra’s Answer

“China” and “Japan” are large areas with varying amounts of air pollution. While air pollutants certainly can travel around a country and around the world, there is more air pollution near the source of pollutants than far away. So the air quality in a city or industrial area is much more polluted that where tea is grown.

I suggest learning more about where teas are actually grown. Chinese teas come from five provinces. Yunnan, for example, is close to the Himalayas. The tea is grown at high altitudes where the air is very clean.

Japan produces almost exclusively green tea, which is almost all consumed right in Japan.

The largest tea exporter in the world is actually India. Other areas that produce tea are Ceylon and Formosa, East Africa, and Russia.

If you are a tea lover, I would suggest you forego the supermarket teas sold in teabags and head for the natural food store or a specialty tea shop or website, where they will know where their tea is grown.

Another option is to switch to herbal tea. Herbs can be grown almost anywhere. I grow mint in my own backyard for tea, and stevia to sweeten it.

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Question from John

I have M.C.S. I’m considering moving into a new condo unit that is 3 years old. It’s furnished (model) and no one has ever lived in it. Do you think it’s “safe” at this age or would 5 years be significantly better. I re-injured myself last year through anesthesia and a new piece of furniture that emitted formaldehyde. I don’t want to take any more risks. What do you think? Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

Personally, I do not think that 3 years is long enough for a new condo to outgas. Five years would be better.

I don’t live anywhere not built before 1965. Why? Because that’s when they stopped building with real wood and switched to particleboard. Particleboard subfloors, particleboard cabinets, particleboard doors…Certainly it’s outgassed since 1965, but these buildings also have no charm, or beautiful solid wood floors and workmanship is usually shoddy.

Of course there are also toxic problems with renovated buildings. But 3 years is just too new.

If you reinjured yourself and you are very sensitive, I suggest considering doing something to remove toxic chemicals from your body. See my [Toxic Free Nutrition website]=http://toxicfreenutrition.com .

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Question from nancyk

What do you think of the new SmartSilk pillows, comforters, pads,etc. They are certified by the AAFA, which certifies a lot of things I don’t care for and the owner of Smart Silk agrees with me. I have a friend who got the mattress pad and adores it and it is washable in cold water.

Debra’s Answer

The description looks good to me: 100% silk fill, 100% cotton cover, no chemicals, no flame retardants, machine wash and dry…nothing toxic here and many benefits.

http://www.smartsilk.com/topic/27-our-silk_advantage.aspx

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Question from Annie

I’ve been using Post-It Notes for years and never had a problem with them.

The other day I bought a new package and the notes had an odor for the first time. Did they change their adhesive?

Debra’s Answer

I’ve been using Post-It Notes for years too and always appreciated that they were nontoxic and odor-free.

Yet, this past week I too purchased a new package and it had an odor for the first time.

So I called 3M Customer Service to ask about the adhesive.

They told me that they now use three different adhesives on their various Post-It products.

One is the original adhesive, which is what is used unless otherwise stated. I looked at the MSDS for Post-It Notes and it says only “adhesive” and that no health effects are expected from inhalation.

Then there is a stronger adhesive for the Super Sticky Notes. Again not toxic.

Question from Cathy

Hello, I have just purchased another of your books as I have found them so helpful through the years. My husband and I are hoping that when he retires in a year or so to move to a more healthy area.

I have allergies and chemical sensitivities. My allergy doctor says the mountains or seashore can sometimes be helpful. We have always loved Florida and are just starting to look at the west coast or perhaps the east around Titusville or surrounding areas. I hope Debra and other readers from Florida can chime in on this.

For one thing, and I read your updated report on how you live, how far from the coast do you think one can live, as the crow flies, to actually benefit from the clean sea breezes? I know when I walk on the beach my respiratory system feels better. I know we couldn’t afford a beach house, and we would be a bit worried of costs related to insurance and hurricanes. Any advice or cautions would be greatly appreciated.

Based on the weather records of the past several meteorologists share a common belief that the Clearwater area is in an advantageous position with respect to hurricanes. They call it a Native American blessing that has placed Clearwater in a strategic geographic location that has averted hurricane crisis to a great extent. The reason is this. If a hurricane must hit any one of the western cities of Florida, it must take a sharp turn going around the southern coast of Florida, which is rather an unusual phenomenon with hurricanes. This is why Clearwater has never had greater troubles with hurricanes.

Debra’s Answer

First let me say, about costs. Here is Florida the actual cost of houses is very low compared to other parts of the country. However, the insurance is very high by comparison because of hurricanes.

If you want to live close to the beach, do find out what the history of hurricanes are in that particular area. Where I live there hasn’t been a hurricane in I think 40 years or more. I’ve lived here ten years. Once it looked like a hurricane would hit, but it didn’t.

Just looked up about hurricanes in Clearwater. Here’s what it says on the Awesome Clearwater! website:

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Question from Renee’

I was in my husbands 2010 MKS lincoln yesterday after it had been parked in the direct sun. Upon getting in, the smell was uncomfortable to me and I had to open the windows while driving. After a few hours, I was severly tired and laid on the bed and slept for 9 hours and woke in a stupor with my asthma full bloom, headache and extreme exhaustion. Do I see a doctor or will this pass? My husband was not affected.

Debra’s Answer

First, NOBODY SHOULD GET IN A CAR THAT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN. Car interiors are full of synthetic materials that are outgassing toxic chemicals all the time, but when a car sits in the sun, it turns into an oven that causes even more toxic chemicals to be released, often to very high levels.

Before getting into a car that has been sitting in the sun, open both doors and allow air to flow through before getting into the car. It will be cooler if you do this, too.

It sounds to me like your body was overwhelmed by toxic fumes released from the car interior.

Your reaction indicates to me your body has a very high body burden, and this exposure pushed you over the edge into symptoms.

You could visit a doctor, but it’s likely he won’t recognize this.

Here is a list of the types of healthcare professionals who could help you.

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Question from Maria Mag

I just purchased an antimicrobial toilet seat cover! It is plastic throughout. Are these safe to use? Will this affect skin at all?

Debra’s Answer

In order to answer this question I would need to know

You can try to get this information from the manufacturer.

Though there are different types of plastics and antimicrobials, as a general rule I try to stay away from them, especially if I can’t find out what type they are.

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