Submitted questions will be posted with my response by the following Tuesday or before.
Submitted comments will be moderated and approved within 24 hours.
Fiberglass Mesh (Window Screens)
Question from KCribley
In an effort to prevent my little ones from sticking their fingers in our box fans, I thought it would be a great idea to unscrew the plastic panels on each side of the fan, wrap them in window screening–which according to the package is fiberglass mesh–and then put the plastic panels back on.
After doing this, I realized that there might be some danger in blowing air through a fiberglass mesh screen especially since we regularly use a fan to blow directly on us at night while sleeping.
Obviously it’s similar to having open windows and the wind blowing through the same type of screen, but should we be concerned about using this screen with our fans?
Thanks for your help!
Debra’s Answer
I’m not concerned. 🙂
HELP! Are these countertops going to kill us?
Question from ellietn
Hi Debra and readers,
I just moved to a new state into a new apartment and found out it had a musty moldy smell from the carpets. Supposedly they were cleaned but I had them cleaned again after moving in to no avail. I finally was told I could transfer to a better apartment (with new carpets) and moved everything.
After just moving in the last box, 20 seconds afterward, the managers came to the door to announce that ‘the guys were here to spray the countertops’. They had told me about these guys spraying over existing formica, that that was the preferred ‘new’ method by corporate to cover the damaged counters instead of replacing them.
They said at first the fumes would be gone in 2 hours, then they said 7, then 24, well…we have basically been homeless (although we paid rent) for 6 days (going to be at least 2 more I think) now.
The fumes were SO BAD we could not stay there and all of our things smell like noxious paint fumes (and some have small droplets of paint overspray you can feel). We finally requested our old apartment back provided they replace the carpet (which they are saying they don’t need to do).
I am almost in tears because I don’t know if this otherwise great apartment has been ruined forever by these people poisoning us with this epoxy-like spray paint over the countertops. Granted, they *look* nice, but was it really worth putting their tenants in danger?
Debra’s Answer
I don’t know what brand was used, but the MSDS for one brand of countertop paint says, ” Avoid breathing vapors or mists. Harmful if inhaled.” It contains some pretty heavy-duty toxic solvents.
Personally, I wouldn’t use this product at all and wouldn’t stay in an apartment where it had been applied until it has been completely cured. I don’t know how long that would take.
I can tell you these are very toxic solvents that can affect your nervous system, especially.
All Organic Eggs are Not Created Equal
A great new report from the Cornecopia Institute tells everything you would ever want to know about how organic eggs are produced, and which are the best. I wish I had a report like this on every product.
Scrambled Eggs: Separating Factory Farm Egg Production from Authentic Organic Agriculture
WHO: Cell phones and other wireless devices can increase cancer risk
The World Health Organization/ International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has now classified non-ionizing readiogrequency radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B click here to see the list – click on “list of classifications sorted by group and scroll down to “2B”). This is the same classification for lead, DDT, and EMF’s from power lines.
This applies to cell phones, smart meters, cell towers, cordless phones, baby monitors, and all other wireless devices.
Read more from CNN on cell phones…
Read more from the EMF Safety Network…
Exposure to BPA Has Been Underestimated
A new University of Missouri study shows that the exposure to the controversial chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) through diet has been underestimated by previous lab tests. In the study, researchers compared BPA concentrations in mice that were given a steady diet supplemented with BPA throughout the day, compared to the more common lab method of single exposure, and found an increased absorption and accumulation of BPA in the blood of mice.
Published in Environmental Health Perspectives, this is the first study to examine concentrations of BPA in any animal models after exposure through a regular, daily diet, which is a better method to mirror the chronic and continuous exposure to BPA that occurs in animals and humans.
Following the exposure through the diet, a significantly greater increase in the active form of BPA, which is the greatest threat as it is the form that can bind to sex steroid receptors and exert adverse effects, was absorbed and accumulated in the animals.
“People are primarily and unknowingly exposed to BPA through the diet because of the various plastic and paper containers used to store our food are formulated with BPA,” said Cheryl Rosenfeld, lead author of the study. “We know that the active form of BPA binds to our steroid receptors, meaning it can affect estrogen, thyroid and testosterone function. It might also cause genetic mutations. Thus, this chemical can hinder our ability to reproduce and possibly cause behavioral abnormalities that we are just beginning to understand.”
The study notes that more than 8 billion pounds of BPA are produced every year, and more than 90 percent of people in the United States have measurable amounts of BPA in their bodies.
“We believe that these mouse model studies where the BPA exposure is through the diet is a more accurate representation of what happens to BPA as the human body attempts to processes this toxic substance,” said Rosenfeld. “When BPA is taken through the food, the active form may remain in the body for a longer period of time than when it is provided through a single treatment, which does not reflect the continuous exposure that occurs in animal and human populations. We need to study this further to determine where the ingested BPA becomes concentrated and subsequently released back into the bloodstream to be distributed throughout the body.”
Even low level exposure to BPA can disrupt genetic signaling and hormone activity that can lead to diabetes, obesity, cancer, and impaired reproductive, developmental, neurological, immune, and cardiovascular function.
What about plastics labeled “BPA-free”? Read this article:
Beyond BPA: Could ‘BPA-Free’ Products Be Just as Unsafe?
Daniadown Natural Latex Pillow
Question from Shelly Pollard
Hello Debra.
I’m wondering if you or your readers have had any experience with Daniadown Natural Latex pillows with a bamboo cover. Does it have an odor? Is the latex likely to be pure or mixed with chemical compounds? Is there anything toxic in this pillow?
The description for this product does not state whether or not the bamboo is organic or not. Is there such a thing as organic bamboo?
I couldn’t find Daniadown on Debra’s List. Are they known to be a responsible company?
I did a muscle reaction test with a regular pillow I was going to use and reacted quite badly to the pillow. I’m hoping to find a pillow that I don’t react to.
Any insights will be appreciated.
Debra’s Answer
Today there are many companies that are selling natural products, such as natural latex pillows, who have no knowledge of these products. They are only interested in making money, and since consumers want natural products, they sell them. And so, you can’t get much information from them because they don’t understand the product themselves.
I suggest you look for a pillow on the Beds and Bedding page of Debra’s List. These companies are dedicated to pure materials as their number one priority and can tell you more about their products.
Sweetening Chocolate
Question from Jeff Keller
I love milk chocolate chips. That is all I ever eat when I crave something sweet. My favorite chocolate is made by Guittard. The biggest problem is the sugar. Chocolate is my only vice otherwise I eat very healthy. I really don’t want it, but I don’t have a choice (I know, I know, but I love chocolate!). Anyway, do you know of anyone making milk chocolate with stevia or xylitol? I’m sure I’d love it!
Debra’s Answer
I don’t know of any chocolates sweetened with xylitol or stevia, but I do have an answer for you: “diabetic” or “sugar-free” chocolate. These are typically sweetened with maltitol (I’ve also seen it spelled malitol), which is a close cousin to xylitol. Both are “sugar alcohols,” which come from natural sources. All sugar alcohols absorb more slowly than refined white sugar, so they supposedly do not spike blood sugar. But they do contain carbohydrates.
[I just want to tell diabetics who are reading this that my experience with xylitol was that it DID raise my blood sugar noticably.]
For some reason that I don’t remember offhand, malitol is used more often commercially, but xylitol is sold more widely for home use. So I think your solution is “diabetic” or “sugar-free” milk chocolate (be sure to check the label to make sure it’s sweetened with malitol or something that ends with -ol). You can find this very easily. Godiva Chocolate, though not organic, is all-natural and they have a sugar-free line sweetened with malitol (it tastes good–I’ve tried it). But there are also many other brands and more and more available all the time.
But don’t eat too much! All sugar alcohols can cause diarrhea when eaten in excess of what your body can tolerate.
I tried sweetening unsweetened chocolate with all the sweeteners I recommend on this site (including xylitol and stevia) and I ran into some problems.
I’ve had good success melting grain-sweetened chocolate chips for dipping fruit as long as I do it over a double boiler. It just melts.
how long does vinyl flooring outgas?
Question from lulas.mommy
We have leased a house with vinyl flooring that is at least three years old. How long do vinyl floors outgas? It was the only house we could find without new flooring, carpet and paint. I am now sensitive to the smells of chemicals but was not bothered when inside the home for 15-20 mins. on two occasions. Do they give off significant amounts of lead?
Debra’s Answer
Well, there is actually a study about this: Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from PVC Floor Coverings, which found that vinyl chloride was not emitting from any of the floorings tested, but various VOCs were released in various different concentrations. After 9 days total VOCs showed a rapid decrease and after that stayed at a very low level for a few months. The study concluded, “PVC floorings after 10 days of installation in the room should not be source of indoor air contamination.”
Now I think that some readers here would say they can still smell vinyl flooring beyond 10 days after installation, but to answer your question, given these test results and the fact that the floor has no odor, and it’s been three years, I would say it’s probably fine, and better than your other alternatives.
Wooden spoon cleaner
Question from cjjtmecanz
I have to new wooden spoon that I need to know how to keep clean. One is Bambo and the other Birch wood. Can you tell me how to keep the spoons clean? Food grade mineral oil is what the shop offered as a option. Is mineral oil in any form safe? What else can I use?
Debra’s Answer
I just wash my wooden spoons with soap and water with the rest of the dishes and do nothing else to them.
However, if you do want to protect your spoons or any other woodenware, here’s a past post where we discussed this thoroughly: Q&A: Wood Conditioner for Cutting Boards and Bowls.
Cooking tools
Question from petercsantoro@yahoo.com
What cooking tools are best to use? Do you prefer wood, silicone, or nylon? I’ve never used nylon, only wood (bamboo) and silicone. What do you think of silicone cookware, such as a silicone steamer? Thanks!
Debra’s Answer
Personally, most of my cooking tools are wood. I like to buy handcrafted wooden cooking tools when I find them, and have quite a collection. Don’t use nylon tools. Still use a few stainless steel tools, but mostly wood.
I use a bamboo steamer, don’t like the silicone ones. I stay away from the brightly colored silicone, but do use plain silicone baking mats (silpats).
