Question from Lauri422

I would like to buy a personal computer for use in my small apartment. I’m looking for the least toxic, as there is not any cross-ventilation at home, and I have severe MCS. I’ve been using a computer at the public library, but the perfume odors that surround me at the library make me realize it would be a lot healthier for me to not come here often. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which brands may be safest, and what to look for. I just want this for basic email & google searches. Thank you

Debra’s Answer

The least toxic laptop computer I know of is MacBook, made of aluminum and glass.

But if all you need is email and internet, you might want to consider an iPad, which is much less material and costs less to buy.

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Question from sasha123

We have to build a new deck. I know that cedar can be problematic for many with MCS, but what about redwood?

Debra’s Answer

Readers, what is your experience with woods for building decks?

Here in Florida wood rots really easily so wood products are sold that mix wood particles with other materials, such as recycled plastic or cement. If you go with recycled plastic, look for recycled polyethylene decking and avoid recycled PVC.

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Question from chrisw

I purchased a backpack made from nylon which has a polyurethane coating on the inside. It has a sticky feel to it and quite a strong odor. I have confirmed with the bag manufacturer that the coating is indeed PU and is used for waterproofing purposes. Would the PU coating used in this instance be toxic? Thanks, Chris

Debra’s Answer

I personally don’t use any synthetic materials that have strong odors.

I suggest putting the backpack out in the sun for a week and see how it smells then.

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Question from jkpone

I’ve been extremely sensitive to chemicals for the last 6 1/2 years and the time has come to purchase a new mattress (ugh!). I’m definitely going to buy organic but I’ve heard many organic mattresses smell very strongly and make sensitive folks very sick. Do you have any suggestions as to which company and/or brand I should focus on in order to reduce the risk of paying a ton of money for a mattress I can’t sleep on? Or on which type of organic mattress I should buy (organic cotton, wool, latex, etc)?

Thanks in advance.

Jen

Debra’s Answer

First, if you have MCS, your sensitivities are uniquely your own, and what can work for one person may not work for another.

For you, I would avoid latex, as it often has an odor. Organic cotton batting often has an odor that some react to, but it is not toxic. Wool seems to have the least odor.

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Question from M.R.

What is your opinion on the organic fertilizers, organic potting soil and garden soil on the market today.

Are these really any less toxic than the conventional products? I do not understand how fertilizer chemicals can be organic. Is this a misuse of the word “organic”?

Debra’s Answer

You are asking a question that is too general to answer.

So let’s take some examples.

Here’s one that came up near the top of the list searching on “organic potting soil”: Fox Farm Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil. It contains premium earthworm castings, bat guano, Pacific Northwest sea-going fish, crab meal, composted forest humus, sandy loam, and sphagnum peat moss. All good stuff. All natural. All organic in the sense that it the ingredients are from nature and not manmade. There is nothing to indicate that any of it is organically grown without chemicals.

Here’s another one: Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix. It contains “a blend of all-natural, organic ingredients: sphagnum peat moss and composted bark fines.” Again all good stuff, all natural, no indication these are grown without chemicals.

Likewise for ingredients on “organic fertilizers” I checked.

These fertilizers are using whole natural ingredients for soil nutrients as opposed to isolated synthetic nutrients. Hence, the term “organic”.

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Question from SVE

Hi Debra,

Recently I figured out I was reacting to the ink in Pilot and Uniball pens with my usual antifreeze (ethylene glycol) symptoms. I eliminated all our pens from inside the house and I’m now using pencils. My biggest problem at present is not being able write a check.

I don’t think I’m reacting to the dry ink on our papers in the house and I don’t seem to have a problem with mail coming into the house either. We have a printer that takes ink containing no antifreeze.

With all the different inks in pens and printers using antifreeze as a solvent, I would think I would be reacting to them if traces of antifreeze remained.

Does antifreeze in pen and printer ink evaporate leaving the ink on the paper antifreeze free after it dries?

Do you have suggestions for non-toxic, antifreeze free ink pens that I could use for writing checks? What do you use, Debra? Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t researched all the chemicals used in all pens.

I personally avoid all “permanent” marking pens and all ballpoint pens where the ink globs around the tip, as those clearly have strong odors.

My standard pen is Pilot Precise V5, which I have been using for years and haven’t ever had a problem with.

I would think once the ink dries there would be no residue of ethylene glycol left.

A number of years ago I decided I wanted to stop using disposable plastic pens and began to use fountain pens. There are also glass pens that pull the ink up into a spiral tip, which you dip into ink. Dipping inks come in several types which may have different ingredients.

You can also make your own ink, which would require a bit of research. Years ago when I visited historic Williamsburg, I bought a quill pen and a packet of black ink powder to mix with water. You can still buy this at Williamsburg Quill Pens & Ink.

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Question from Scent Free Girl

My husband installed a tile shower in my bathroom in mid September of 2011, and I can still smell the tile adhesive he used. He’s a contractor and he used premixed tile adhesive. He didn’t realize it would continue to put off a chemical odor after four months (he himself could hardly smell the chemicals and I wasn’t there when he was getting ready to use the glue). I smell the adhesive smell through the grout lines and I don’t know what to do. I contacted AFM who said they didn’t have a product to seal in the smell (Safe Seal isn’t appropriate for tile grout and their grout sealer does not prevent out-gassing).

I am wondering what are my options to get rid of this chemical smell. Should I try to bake out the smell with heaters or do I need to ask my husband to bust out the tile and start again? Will this noxious smell dissipate over time?

Debra’s Answer

Bust out the tile and start over.

I’ll just say this again. Do NOT NOT NOT use tile adhesive. It’s very toxic. Thanks for posting your first-hand experience.

Tile should ONLY be laid with thinset mortar,

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Question from sasha123

Hi Debra, Do you have any recommendation for furniture coasters on a wood floor? Home Depot has felt coasters, brand Feltgard, made from recycled materials, but I haven’t been able to find the content. Any feedback on those or something else for that purpose? thanks, Anne, Portland, OR

Debra’s Answer

I personally have used similar little felt circles (don’t remember what brand) and have never had a problem with them. It’s unlikely they contain toxic chemicals. I was unable to find an MSDS for this product, which is required by law if it contains hazardous substances.

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Question from cymering

Hi Debra!

I have a questions about Superwash wool. The information I have says that it is a natural fiber, but that it has been treated to make it machine washable. Are those treatment toxic? I have some yarn in my posession. So the second question is, Is it toxic for us to wear? If it is toxic, I will get rid of it. If it is a toxic process for the environment but not toxic to wear, I would think that using it will be better than putting it in the trash… Thank you so much in advance for your advice.

Debra’s Answer

Superwash wool is made in two ways: 1) by using an acid bath to remove the “scales” from the fiber, or 2) by coating the fiber with a polymer that basically keeps the scales from being able to join together and cause shrinkage.

Unfortunately, you can’t tell which is which by looking or feeling. You would need to ask the manufacturer.

If it is the “polymer” treatment, it might be one of thousands of different substances with varying toxicity. The acid bath treatment would be fine, as it doesn’t remain on the wool.

Best to use untreated organic wool yarn to be certain it contains no toxic substances.

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Question from Mrs. Chris

CamelBak water bottles are tritan plastic and claim to be BPA free. They have a bite-valve and straw that runs into the bottle so it is used without tipping. Are these truly a safe bottle?

Debra’s Answer

A study I wrote about at Q&A: Study Shows Which Water Bottles Leach BPA verified that bottles made from tritan do NOT leach BPA, however tritan is a plastic so I have to approach it with caution. I don’t know what it may or may not be leaching. It’s an uncertainty. I have no evidence of it leaching toxic substances.

Glass it still my #1 best recommendation for the safest container for food or beverages.

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