Question from Becca Bee

Hi Debra, I recently received my Hyperbaric Chamber and it has a very strong odor. When my husband was inside for 30 minutes I felt dizzy and sick just from the air blowing out. I purchased this for my son who is recovering from autism, and for my own health problems caused by 3 years of prednisone. The material is urethane and normally I would not bring that into my home but there is so much success reported from this treatment. The salesmen told my husband we were buying a unit that was used for 4 months, this was not true, it is brand new. My big question is any ideas to help eliminate any or all of the odor so my son and I can use it? Right now I have a big bowl of baking soda sitting in there. Thanks for any ideas you can give me!

Debra’s Answer

Usually what helps material to outgas is heat. If you could put a small heater inside it would speed the outgassing of the urethane. However, I have no experience doing this is a hyperberic chamber, so I would use caution so as to not damage the unit.

Purchasing a used chamber as you attempted to do is a good strategy. If it were me, I would return the new unit, since you purchased a used unit, and expected to receive a used unit.

Time does decrease outgassing of any material.

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Question from rebrue

Hello All!

Does anyone have a suggestion for how to truly add highlights (in my case, blonde) to one’s hair in a safe, non-toxic manner? I thought I had found the one, genuinely “organic” hair colorist in my area, but I could tell the other day that she had added some ammonia to the concoction. I am way too sensitive and compromised with my health to tolerate this. And yet I want and need to cover the little grays that are starting to sprout plus the blond highlights do seem to look good.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

Rebecca in sunny CA……

Debra’s Answer

I get my hair highlighted in a salon and there is no odor.

My hairdresser used All-Nutrient Organic Hair Color.

I’ve been very happy with the results.

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Question from nontoxicmom

Hi Debra,

I’ve got hardwood floors throughout my house and wanted to know if using Bona hardwood floor cleaner is safe in your opinion?

I’ve had other hardwood floors in other houses where I used vinegar and water and it dries out the wood and causes it to split. Generally hardwood floor nanufacturers don’t recommend using water on wood floors regardless, but I really like clean floors.

How can I get my floors clean safely and effectively?

Thank you!!

Lisa’s Answer (updated September, 2020)

EWG gives it a C+.  I would not recommend it.

Question from ptomcik

Hello Debra,

Do you think that if I encased sofa cushions with the same material used to encase mattresses to make them dust mite proof it would prevent the flame retardants from escaping? One website has a cotton material with a pore size of 4.91 microns and a polyester covering with a pore size of 2.8 microns. I’m not sure I understand if it is the actual flame retardent chemical that is liberated from foam and then combines with dust or if it combines with dust in the foam and then is liberated.

Thank you,

PT, Pittsburgh

Debra’s Answer

This is a pretty technical question.

First, there are many different flame retardants used. You would need to find out which flame retardant is on your sofa.

And then you would need to know the particle size of that specific flame retardant (here’s a chart of particle/micron sizes of various common materials: Particle Sizing Chart.

Different flame retardants have different particle sizes. Two I was able to find quickly are Antimony Pentoxide (0.03 microns) and Antimony Trioxide (0.25-3.0 Micron). In searching for these, I found that flame retardants are formulated and sold in various particle sizes–the same flame retardant can be purchased in different particle sizes, so even if you knew the flame retardant, you probably couldn’t find out the particle size.

So let’s say that your sofa has Antimony Trioxide (0.25-3.0 Micron). Your cotton material with a pore size of 4.91 microns and a polyester covering with a pore size of 2.8 microns. That means that there is a “hole” that is 4.91 microns in size, or 2.8 microns. So anything smaller than that pore size would go through, like a 10-inch basketball could go through a 24-inch hoop.

A molecule of 0.25-3.0 Micron could go through the cotton pore of 4.91 no problem, so that wouldn’t be a barrier.

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Question from RedondoSun

I bought a ‘natural’ crib sized futon and had it shipped for our baby daughter to sleep on. I wasn’t able to obtain a doctor’s note in order to purchase an all organic one, so I just went ahead and ordered the one with a layer of boric acid in it. Once we got it, I wasn’t so sure it was safe. I bought a mattress wrap for it, but it has been sitting in our closet. I opted to just use the spring mattress from our oldest daughter and kept the wrap on that. Sorry to draw this out, but my ultimate question is, Is there a way to ‘wear out’ the boric acid within the futon? Does it dissipate over time or would you recommend I just get rid of it? I have found so much great information on here and refer your site and newsletters to all my friends and family. Thank you for making this wonderful information available to us!

Debra’s Answer

I’m not aware that boric acid wears out over time. If you’re feeling uncertain about using it, just get rid of it.

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Question from Miemiemuis

I am looking for safe pest control and am considering a product from EcoSMART. Would you be so kind as to look at the MSDS and let me know what you think of the safety of the ingredients in this product:

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

This product is made with rosemary essential oil as the active ingredient, plus mineral oil and something called “inert essential oils blend”. I’m not exactly sure what “inert essential oils blend” is and couldn’t find a definition anywhere (you should ask them what it is), but it looks like some blend of oils as a carrier oil for essential oils, not a blend of essential oils, because both mineral oil and inert essential oils blend say they compose 10-70 percent of the product. Now the rosemary oil is 10 percent. They don’t say what the other 10 percent is. So I’m missing data. You need to ask them these questions.

Concentrated essential oils, though natural, can have their own health effects. The MSDS says this product can cause skin irritation, eye/nasal irritation, dizziness, headache, or nausea.

This is not an entirely safe product, but it may be a less-toxic solution depending on what you are using it for.

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Question from AshleyB

I am needing to re-caulk my bathroom and was looking for a “safe” caulk and came across Eco-Bond Adhesives. Their Trim, Tub, Sinks, Tile Caulk claims to be VOC free, solvent free, non-petroleum-based, low odor, and non-toxic. I was wondering what you thought of the MSDS and if any of your readers had any experience with the product.

Debra’s Answer

The MSDS looks good to me. I have no personal experience with this product

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Question from heavensabvus1

I know that the search for non-toxic upholstered furniture has gone around several times. I’m one of the posters who bought a used couch with the intention of covering in in 6ml foodgrade polyethelene underneath a slipcover. After ordering my slipcover, I realized that the company I ordered from also made custom furniture, and the prices sounded reasonable, although I do not yet have a firm quote. The problem I saw with all of the companies making non-toxic couches was twofold: a) prices were very high and b) no one seemed to make traditional sleeper sofas (i.e., non-futon).

I had a good discussion with the company this morning and they are going to get back to me with regards to what materials they can and can’t provide. All their furniture meets the CA 117 standards, but it doesn’t have to as it is made to order. They don’t apply any chemicals at their factory, but of course, the chemicals would be in the materials they make.

For cushions: They use coil springed cushions wrapped in polyurethane. They feel they can get the polyurethane without fire retardants added. They may or may not be able to get natural latex. In any case, coils=less polyurethane. Polyurethane without flame retardants=fewer chemicals. So not perfect, but better. And if they can do latex, even better.

For padding on the frame: the standard is dacron. They feel they may be able to buy this without flame retardants added. Not perfect, but no flame retardants is a great step.

Slipcovers: they can offer organic fabric.

Muslin: One thought was instead of regular muslin, using a muslin with a polyurethane backing to keep in anything in the dacron. That may have it’s own issues, though, so probably not a good idea.

Debra’s Answer

Where you draw the line is where you feel comfortable, what you can afford, and what your physical needs are.

Personally, what you are suggesting wouldn’t be enough for me. My sofa has no foam (spring cushions covered with organic cotton batting, all the stuffing is organic cotton batting, and the cover is 100% linen. I bought an old sofa I liked for $50 at a storage auction and had it re-upholstered.

Polyurethane foam outgasses toxic chemicals even without the fire retardants.

But you are correct that eliminating the fire retardants and scotchguard does eliminate the most toxic chemicals and is better than most standard sofas.

My rule of thumb is to eliminate all the toxic chemicals you can.

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Question from HEG

I just learned that starting next week all of Miami will be sprayed during the night with Dibrom from aerial planes to control mosquitos. I understand that Dibrom is an organophosphate pesticide and listed as a carcinogen and potential neurotoxin. I have already called and begged them not to spray it in my neighborhood. Any advice about what to do?

Debra’s Answer

First of all, even if you could get them to not spray in your neighborhood, it wouldn’t do much good. Aerial spraying blows with the wind, and you would get it anyway.

Many years ago, we went through this in California with malathion spraying. We just left while they were spraying. Or you could stay indoors with an air filter.

Do what you can to support your detox system, like drinking lots of water, eat organic fruits and vegetables, and take detox drops.

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“BPA-Free” is a popular buzzword these days, but a new study shows it’s more hype than help.

Scientists conducted lab tests on more than 20 top-brand baby bottles and more than 450 plastic food and beverage-packages and found virtually all leached chemicals that acted like the hormone estrogen, even though many were free of BPA. These chemicals—called endocrine disruptors—falsely tell the body’s cells that the hormone estrogen is around, potentially causing all sorts of troubling developmental and reproductive consequences.

Baby bottles, plastic bags, plastic wrap, clamshell food containers, stand-up pouches…just about all plastic food and beverage containers were found to contain chemicals that have estrogenic effects.

Researchers bought hundreds of plastic food and beverage containers at Target, Wal-Mart, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and other major retailers. More than 90 percent of the products leached estrogenic chemicals before they were even put through stresses

The paper noted that some of the chemicals that are used to replace BPA have been shown to have even more estrogenic activity than BPA does.

Discovery: Even BPA-Free Plastic Not Always Safe

Environmental Health Perspectives: Most Plastic Products Release Estrogenic Chemicals: A Potential Health Problem That Can Be Solved