Submitted questions will be posted with my response by the following Tuesday or before.
Submitted comments will be moderated and approved within 24 hours.
Cellulite, Acne and Fluoride
A reader sent me a link to a very interesting website about reducing cellulite deposits on your body. Among other causes of cellulite, the author of the site mentioned fluoride.
Apparently she made this connection after she learned she had a condition known as fluoroderma, which is acne caused by fluoride exposure.
Read more about this at Cellulite and the Fluoride Connection (there’s also a link to another page about how to do a fluoride detox to remove fluoride from your body).
PVC Exposure
Question from backermaga
Hi Debra – I am a nursing mom who was exposed to pvc vinyl and was wondering what the impacts are to my breast milk. My exposure was to a new vinyl product that I had unwrapped but placed in a storage container. When I opened up the container a few days later, I was overcome by the smell. I quickly removed the product outside and have aired out the room. However, I did have some respitory issues a few hours afterwards. I am wondering if the VOCs I inhaled will find their way to my breast milk, and if so, for how long.
Debra’s Answer
First, just in general, if you ever inhale something toxic, immediately exhale because much of it will come right back out in the exhale, before your body can absorb it.
I found a great reference for PVC called Polyvinyl Chloride “PVC” – The Hidden Home Hazard – A Guide for Health Care Professionals. On page 8 it says “distribution of inhaled Polyvinyl Chloride after inhalation exposure is rapid and widespread, but the storage in the body is limited by rapid metabolism and excretion.” So it is unlikely it stayed in your body for very long.
Wait a few days before breastfeeding to give your body a chance to metabolize and excrete the PVC. Drink lots of water, exercise, and sweat to help things along.
Also, the activated liquid zeolite detox drops I’ve been recommending will help situations like this.
Tiny Nanoparticles Could Be a Big Problem
Here’s an interesting article about the health and environmental effects of nanoparticles, particularly why you shouldn’t use titanium dioxide…
Help with Wool Mattress
Question from KCrainK
Need help please!
Last night my 4 yr old son wet his bed without waking up, so I am just finding it this morning. We thought we were past that stage, so no puddle pad was on–of course. The mattress is organic cotton fill with a wool wrap layer and a cotton canvas cover. The cover isn’t even damp anymore, but you can tell there is wetness spread horzontally underneath. Since I cannot machine or hand “wash” an entire mattress in a tub, how do I take care of the urine that has soaked in? For now, I have the sun pouring in on it through the window, but am wondering if I need to cut a patch of the cover and maybe more layers out? What about a diluted spray of vinegar and water to soak? Please advise ASAP what to do!
Thanks so much for your time and help!
Debra’s Answer
I have no experience with this. Readers?
Hardwood Flooring REEKS
Question from thedavisfamily
Hi Debra, Thanks for creating this Q & A. It has been a lifesaver for YEARS!!
I have a question of my own this time. We recently bought a new home, tore out the carpet, and replaced it with engineered hardwoods (a week ago) that had to be glued down because part of our split-level is on a concrete slab.
This company has installed hardwoods for us on three other occasions without issue. But this time, the floors smell AWFUL. There is a very, very strong chemical odor (at first I thought it was the varnish they used on the steps to match the floors (I had NO idea they’d be doing that, as I just assumed they’d use the same wood as on the floors…came home to find otherwise), but the smell is in every room the floors were laid and glued (three bedrooms and a basement family room).
I have a 3-year-old son, so we stayed at my parents’ for a week to let the floors air out with fans and open windows. It is very humid here (Maryland) and in the 90s every day right now. But it just smells so terrible.
The floor people used DriTech adhesive (he told me it was water based and a greener choice than most.I am stupid for not insisting on something completely safe).
Would the glue still smell a week in, or do you think it is the finish on the floors?
Debra’s Answer
So this is a good lesson, once again, that you need to specify every material and watch what they are doing because most people don’t understand about toxics at all.
My best guess is what you are smelling is the adhesive used to glue the flooring to the floor. Engineered flooring is made up of layers of wood stacked and glued under heat and pressure. The heat helps the glue outgas. I’ve smelled samples of engineered flooring and they just smelled like wood. If the flooring is prefinished, the finish is baked on, so mostly outgassed.
The DriTech adhesive is solvent-free and VOC-free but still made of plastics. It’s “low-odor” so you may be smelling that.
I would suggest ventilating the house as much as possible and running fans in the area. A good air purifier can also help.
Tuna
Question from cymering
Hi Debra!
First, I wanted to thank you for you hard work. Your website has been invaluable for me since I started making changes.
Now, to my question: My daughter (11 years old) loves LOVES tuna salad. It’s been really hard trying to avoid the can. Would the tuna that comes in the pouch be safer? And I found today a new brand, Wild Planet food, the can says that it is certified BPA-free, but… maybe I am having trust issues, but what are they using instead? I could not find that information in thier website. I will write to find out, but maybe you have some information on this.
Thanks!
Cecilia.
Debra’s Answer
I understand your trust issues. All I can say is that there are truth-in-advertising laws so if a can says “certified BPA-free” it’s a lot more likely to be BPA-free than one that does not say that on the label.
But you’re right. What are they using instead?
Wild Planet looks like they are doing a great job sourcing sustainable seafood, but I couldn’t find a certification organization that certifies anything to be BPA-free. Warrents more research.
Here’s my suggestion. You don’t have to buy tuna in a can, you can buy fresh tuna, cook it simply, and flake it to make tuna salad. No can at all.
Dragonboard?
Question from Sarjan Banks
Hi, I have fairly severe MCS and am looking for a drywall alternative (given all the recent problems I have heard about drywall). Does anyone know about dragonboard? I can’t quite figure out what it is made of? Has anyone used it?
Debra’s Answer
Interesting material. It has a lot of benefits without toxic ingredients. I haven’t used it, but it looks good on paper: www.dragonboard.com/aboutus.php
Foam Mattress
Question from gipper
Hello Debra,
I just bought a new mattress a week ago. It’s a foam one made by Sherwood. It says “organic cotton” on it, but the smell is still quite strong and I bought it a week ago. I don’t mind getting used to the smell, which has dissipated somewhat already, but want to make sure that there’s no issue of toxicity. Can you ease my fears about this? Also, any suggestions for helping with the smell? Thanks in advance for any help you may offer.
JG in CA
Debra’s Answer
I’m a little confused by your question.
I’m not familiar with a mattress made by Sherwood.
You say it’s foam and then you say the label says “organic cotton,” Foam and organic are not the same thing. I can’t comment on the toxicity because I don’t know what it’s actually made of.
Chemtrails not contrails
Question from lindaann36
I was wondering what your thoughts were on Chemtrails. I know what the contrails are that trail behind the jets and then quickly dissappear. I have been noticing lately a lot of planes spraying the white long chemtrails in the sky. They seem to linger for hours and spread out as time goes by. Should we be worried about these or is it nothing. Thanks, Linda
Debra’s Answer
I can’t give you a definitive answer on this one, as it is a controversial subject, and I haven’t done enough research to make a decision about what to believe.
But I’m sure some of my readers will comment with opinions!
Need Info on Apollo Gas Hydro Heat
Question from Lorre
Does anyone have experience with heat that comes from hot water running through coils to heat their house? The system is fueled by natural gas but I don’t know if the gas will actually be distributed through the house where I’ll breath it. I know I can’t tolerate gas heat, but I’m not sure about this “Hydro-Heat” that is in a house we are considering.It is water running through the coils heating the house. That sounds pretty safe to me….BUT just the mention of Gas makes me shiver! Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Debra’s Answer
I think it depends on where the gas is located that is heating the water. A solar heater would be great for this.
