Question from Vi

I’m chemically sensitive and searching all over the web for a Safe (safer : ) wood putty for interior windowsills.. primarily where the old wood sill meets the relatively new metal storm windows…so I guess they are both outside (as far as moisture etc and inside as far as VOC and other irritant concerns…

I was told I should look for a water based product and I found Famowood…but a trial of that (on tin foil) and it still has a strong “solvent” irritating odor after four days…

any suggestions?

the sills have basically contracted from the metal storm windows….some of the retraction is thin like a pencil tip…other places its at least as thick as a pencil erasure… these are old windows…no sawdust available (I saw an earlier post where you recommended that)… as I am completely ignorant of home repairs in general, am open to ANY suggestions, even of other materials… thank you

Debra’s Answer

There are a number of water-based wood fillers available. Has anyone used one they like?

Add Comment

Question from Jody

I saw Nature’s Carpets listed on your website as a natural option. But when I went to their site they list the backing as: Backing: Polypropylene / Woven Jute Latex: Synthetic Latex So the backing concerned me.

What do you know about the new backing EnviroCel — made from soy beans and PET recyclable bottles. Are PET plastic hormone disrupters? And would that occur with carpet backings or just from leaching into liquids that we drink?

Here’s the website for the EnviroCel backing: http://www.universal-textile.net/envirocelhome.html Would love your thoughts on PET recyclables — is this better than synthetic latex and polypropanol?

Debra’s Answer

PET plastics are known to be hormone disruptors but more likely so from water that has been sitting in a PET plastic bottle than from outgassing from carpet backing. And we don’t know how much PET is in the backing vs how much soy. I would say that the amount of outgassing from this carpet backing would be negligiable, if any, but I have not seen a sample. Just from the description.

Polyprolylene is of low toxicity, as is latex, however, even natural latex has an odor of it’s own that some people (including me) do not tolerate well, and exposure can develop allergies. So I usually stay away from anything latex.

The best answer I can give you is NO carpet. I have had no carpet in my home for more than thirty years. Hardwood floors and ceramic tile.

Add Comment

Question from Eddi

Hi Debra, I was wondering if you have an advise on this one. I have a humidifier in my home, pretty good brand, filterless, still it needs to be cleaned every 2 weeks or so with this little packet of chemicals. I really don’t want to use it, especially because I have an 8 month old baby. There are warnings on it not to touch it, breath it in etc. so makes me super uncomfortable using it.

Any alternative that I could use instead? Thank you, Eddi

Debra’s Answer

Readers, how do you clean your humidifiers?

I personally don’t have a humidifier (it’s humid enough here in Florida!) so I don’t have experience with this one.

Add Comment

Question from Pritee

Do you know if the Moderno Clear Dinnerware (made in Mexico – http://www.crateandbarrel.com/outlet/dinnerware/moderno-dinner-plate/s673938) is lead and cadmium free? I am aware that there are concerns about buying dinnerware made in Mexico…

What are your thoughts on the Archie dinnerware (http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/dinnerware-sets/archie-dinnerware/f45542) made from spun glass? Are they lead and cadmium free?

Finally, do you know whether Visions cookware () are lead and cadmium free given that it is not made from clear glass.

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my queries!

Debra’s Answer

I have no reason to believe that either of the glass dinnerwares you linked to or Visions cookware contain lead or cadminum.

Lead is present in glassware only in lead crystal.

Cadminum has been in tpictures of popular characters on the glassware, not because it is present in the glassware itself.

All of these items you asked about are OK to use.>/p>

Add Comment

Question from Daisy

Does anyone have any information on PTFC coatings on cookware? Recently I was at Williams Sonoma and saw their new “Gold Touch” line of cookware, which is advertised as having a non-stick ceramic coating. When I saw this I contacted the company to find out if it was a nano-ceramic coating, because I’m concerned about nano-particles and want to limit my exposure to these. They wrote back and said it was not a nano-ceramic coating but a PTFC coating. However, I can’t seem to find any information on what PTFC is using regular search engines like Google. I’d like to know if this cookware is safe to use, I love to bake and they have a variety of great looking cake pans.

Debra’s Answer

I just called Williams-Sonoma after looking at this cookware on their website.

The reason you couldn’t find PTFC is because there is no such thing. Williams Sonoma told me the finish was “PTFE ceramic.” The representative read it right off the screen. I asked her to repeat it. “PTFE ceramic.”

Now PTFE is just the same old polytetrafluoroethylene, aka Teflon, which is very different from ceramic. Teflon is a toxic plastic, and ceramic is like glass. It’s like saying it’s an apple orange.

I pressed the rep to put me in touch with someone higher up and she wrote up a ticket about this.

The customer service rep called me back a few nights later and said she had a document in front of her that was an “internal customer service document” so she couldn’t send it to me, but it said that according to the manufacturer of their “Gold Touch” line, “all of the non-stick finishes on their products sold in the USA are PTFE.” The document said nothing about the finish being ceramic.

She further said that the Gold Touch finish “starts as PFOA but the high heat during the manufacturing process removes all the PFOA, leaving only PTFE.”

Add Comment

Question from cymering

Dear Debra:

I am trying to decide what replacement windows to use in my house. My first choice would have been wood inside aluminum outside, but now I know about Fibrex, from Andersen

http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite/AW/Page/awGeneral-3/1200437179662

It sounds good on their website. Do you know anything about this material?

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Well…I have no personal experience with Fibrex as a material, but it looks great on paper: Anderson Windows: Fibrex Material.

The only thing I don’t know about this are the possible emissions from the thermoplastic. Could you do a little more research on this?

Ask them what type of thermoplastic. It could be something of low toxicity like fiberglass.

Add Comment

Question from Junia

Hi Debra, I have a solid pine baby cot, but I read that pine wood emits Acetaldehyde. Do you know anything about this?

Debra’s Answer

Yes, pine can emit acetaldehyde, but the amount of acetabldehyde varies greatly from freshly cut pine, to pine that has been dried, and pine that has aged. Levels of emissions drop greatly which lumber is dried–so much is released during the drying process that it is considered an environmental air pollutant.

So the older the pine, the less it would emit.

Pine has been used to make furniture, flooring, and wall paneling for centuries. Whatever amount of naturally-occuring chemicals pine wood might emit are much less than manufacturered plywood and particleboard.

I personally use a lot of pine for building bookshelves and have a lot of pine furniture. Over time, the “wood” smell dissipates.

That said, many people are sensitive to the smell of pine, and it may be these naturally-occuring chemicals they are reacting to.

Babies are the most susceptible to the harmful effects of chemicals. If you have any question about emissions, consider a crib made of a wood that is less fragrant, like oak.

Add Comment

Question from petercsantoro@yahoo.com

Unfortunately, one answer I received was that the tags were made of “woven polyester.” What does this mean? Does this mean the whole article of clothing is “tainted?” What about when I wash the clothing? What do you recommend? Should I tear out the tags on the clothing I have?

Thank you for all the great information!

Debra’s Answer

Woven polyester is woven polyester. I’ve seen many natural fiber clothing items have cotton tags. Personally, I would probably just cut the polyester tags out, as I don’t like the way they feel against my skin.

This is not a major toxic exposure, but can be distressing if you are sensitive to polyester. I’m not worried about what happens in the wash.

Add Comment

Question from lweave

I am caulking my apartment to eliminate secondhand smoke. I need to know what types of caulk I can use around hotwater heating pipes, that won’t off gas toxic fumes when they get hot.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any experience with this?

Add Comment

Question from Anne Donahue

Hi Debra, I like the new website. I found a nice rental home to move to but the landlords told me they fumigated it for termites about 3 years ago. I am chemically sensitive and was wondering if it would be safet to live there? Would their be any residue left if it was 3 yrs ago? Thanks so much, Anne

Debra’s Answer

Whether or not there would be any residue left depends on

1) the fumigant used and how long it takes to break down
2) the conditions (moisture, air flow, temperature, etc)

If you can find out what the name of the fumigant is, I can give you more information.

Add Comment