Question from Cheryl3

At some point we have to board our cats–either at a boarding facility or our vet’s (we’re leaning toward our vet). We’re trying to decide whether or not to have them vaccinated against Feline Leukemia (Felv). It isn’t required for indoor cats which ours are, however, boarding, unfortunately, places them at a higher risk because they can get it from bowls that aren’t disinfected properly or even hissing due the saliva involved. They wouldn’t have any other direct contact, but there could be hissing. Rare problems can arise from these vaccines, so I’m trying to decide if the benefits out weigh the risks. I’ve done a lot of research, but besides other vaccines which are absolutely required for boarding (and which our cats have), I did not find a lot of info about whether the increased risk of boarding justifies this particular vaccine. Any insight is greatly appreciated, as always.

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Anyone with experience with this?

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Question from petercsantoro@yahoo.com

I always hand wash my dishes in hot water; I don’t really use the dishwasher. Do you recommend using gloves? We have the Radiant Life whole house water filtration system, as well as the water purification system ( for drinking). However, I am concerned it’s not enough after reading the section on water in “Home Safe Home.” I am wondering if I should protect my hands from chemicals that migt still be present. Also, do you still use Castile soap for dishes? I bought Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap to wash dishes and baby bottles/ parts, but notice it’s not 100% pure. What do you recommend? Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

I personally wash my dishes by hand in the same water I shower in, because it all goes through my whole house filter. Sounds like you have the same situation. I don’t use additional gloves. I also don’t soak my hands in water. I just put the soap in one of the pots or bowl, dip the sponge in, the wash the item with the sponge, and rinse.

What part of Dr Bronner’s organic liquid soap do you think is not pure? I just looked at the ingredient list. Looks pure to me.

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Question from heavensabvus1

I would like to make sure that I understand the toxicity of the polyurethane that you would either brush on, or wipe on furniture, i.e., something like Minwax.

I believe I read here that the toxicity is in the solvents and once the polyurethane has cured that it is non-toxic.

So is it simply a matter of toxocity while it still smells and is curing and both would be inert once cured (which I think is 48 hours)?

Would that apply to both oil and water-based?

The only rub-on poly (for a hand rubbed look) I can find is oil-based. I do have good ventilation, can run air filters and even put it in a separate room while it cures, but I’m concerned about the difference after it cures (ongoing toxicity). Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Yes, the toxicity of polyurethane is in the solvent, not the polyurethane itself, and once it dries both are nontoxic.

However, the oil-based solvents are VERY toxic and they do NOT dry in 48 hours. I do not recommend them.

Use the water-based with good ventilation. Water-based should dry in 48 hours.

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We’ve been discussing leaching of metals that occurs from different types of cookware.

I received from the makers of Xtrema Cookware a lab report showing heavy metal leaching from various types of cookware.

The following are the highest numbers on the tests:

seasoned cast iron skillet – 2817 mg/L iron
speckled metal bakeware – 35 mg/L aluminum
enamel cast iron skillet – 25 mg/L aluminum

Take a look. Amounts of heavy metals leached are compared to acceptable levels of the various metals in drinking water standards.

This test did not include stainless steel.

Lab results of leaching from cookware

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Question from JAD

I saw in the coupon section that Purex has new “Green” laundry products with Natural essential oils.

This would be a great thing to suggest to those that insist on having a smell if it isn’t the same old “Fragrance”.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks

www.purexsavesgreen.com/products

Debra’s Answer

I had to hunt a bit to find the actual ingredients lists for these products.

Laundry detergent: http://www.purex.com/detergents/ultra-purex-natural-elements

Fabric softener:

Laundry sheets:

They call these “natural” products, but then correctly say they are not 100% natural. Most of the ingredients are manmade substances manufactured from plant sources. The remaining ingredients are nontoxic substances sourced from petrochemicals.

All ingredients are approved by the EPA Design for Environment program. It’s worth checking out their website to understand what their label means, as you will be seeing it on more and more products. On the homepage there is a Product Quick Finder with links to lists of products that have earned their seal.

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Question from Hello Life

My doctor is promoting a whole house water filter system from ‘Filtercon Technologies’ (www.filtercon.com) and I’m wondering if anyone knows if their technology works?

They do not use reverse osmosis or add any chemicals, salt or potassium to the water.

Instead they are using hydromagnetic technology that “conditions the water non-chemically by restructuring and realigning the polarity of the mineral molecules without removing the beneficial minerals from the water”

There is also a layer of quartz and one of copper-zinc granules to further purify the water.

They claim that you can drink the water.

I’m wondering if anyone has looked into this system and if it really gets clean enough to drink? Does it remove chloramines and flouride?

Debra’s Answer

Here’s the page that explains what’s in the filter: www.filtercon.com/howitworks.htm.

First there is granular activated carbon. This is fine. It will remove chlorine but not chloramines unless it is a specific type of activated carbon modified specifically for that purpose.

Then the hydromagnetic module. This softens the water by rearranging the molecules instead of adding salt. This technology works. I have a similar unit in my own water system that works great to soften my very hard water. I’ve been using it for about eight years with no maintenance. Wonderful technology!

Then quartz. I’ve never seen this in a water filter before and don’t know what it does (note that filtercon doesn’t say what it does either).

Then KDF 55 (that’s the copper-zinc granules). These are used either alone or with carbon to remove chlorine only. They do not remove chloramine. Using KDF 55 makes the carbon last longer.

This filter would do a fine job of removing chlorine, if you have chlorine in your water. It will also do a great job at softening your water, if you have hard water.

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Question from Tanya

Last year I wrote in for information on my printer. There was a smell in my house and I couldn’t get rid of it, I thought it was coming from my printer. I finally had the air tested in my house and it showed relatively high levels of formaldehyde.

After much investigation it was determined that a piece of furniture in my home had been emitting formaldehyde fumes for about 7 months. It was a 3 piece desk / wall unit. I had owned it for more than 6 years and never had a problem. I thought it was all wood. While rearranging furniture in my home a piece of the top of the desk was ripped off. It was discovered that there was pressboard that had been exposed when the desk was damaged and it was emitting formaldehyde (the furniture was manufactured in China so I don’t know what kind of regulations there are).

The fumes basically permeated almost everything in the house. I have MCS and it was effecting me more than other family members. We aired out the house, ran our Austin Air Cleaner on high 24/7, set out more charcoal fitlers, etc. We live in Florida and when the A/C is running continuously the odor is almost gone, but if we open the windows the odor returns shortly afterwards. I think it is because the humidity rises in the house and starts the outgassing process. I have washed every piece of fabric in house – clothes, linens, rugs, towels, etc. That did seem to help. Any other ideas how to completely remove the formaldehyde from my house?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I have been battling this for over a year now. We slept outside in a tent for several months when the problem was at its worse.

Debra’s Answer

Formaldehyde is volatile and so it will dissipate.

I had experience with formaldehyde when I was in grade school that made a big impression on me. Someone had left a full bottle of formaldehyde open sitting on a counter. When I returned later it had completely evaporated. So free formaldehyde will evaporated from anything. When it is combined in a resin, as in particleboard or permanent-press finish, then it becomes “time-release” and therein lies the problem. That’s why it continues to outgas and outgas and outgas.

You don’t say that you removed the desk from your house. I’m assuming you did, but I’m just bringing up the obvious in case you didn’t. You also say humidity speeds up the outgassing process. Well, that is good. If opening the windows speeds up outgassing, do more of that. Maybe use fans to help remove the indoor air.

Heat speeds outgassing, so you could close up the house and turn up the heat to release the formaldehyde from anything that has absorbed it, then open the windows and ventilate it out.

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Question from HEG

About 2 weeks ago I got my car back from the body shop following repairs from a tree falling on it. The repairs involved some repainting and gluing the back windshield onto the car. I have been placing it in the hot Florida sun every day and opening all windows every time I drive, and wiping the seats off. The smell dissipated significantly after a few days, but it is still there. Any thoughts on how long it will take for the fumes to off-gas?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know how long, but you are doing all the right things.

I don’t have any personal experience with this to draw upon. Readers?

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In our continuing search for nontoxic homes, I couldn’t resist posting when I saw this: homes made of steel panels coated with porcelain enamel (like refrigerators), manufactured like cars and transported across the USA. Magnets or glued-on hooks used to hang pictures on metal walls.

Read more and see a photo at About.com: Lustron Homes

More photos: Google: Lustron Homes