Question from Miemiemuis

I have been trying to grow a small organic garden in out city backyard. I used MiracleGro organic soil and rabbit manure for compost. The rabbits are fed a mixture of stuff including soy (?GMO) I’m watering with a regular hose and the outside water is unfiltered of course. My question is, what can I do to keep my produce as uncontaminated as possible? How much of the ‘bad’ water, chemicals from the hose etc. will end up on my produce. I’m hoping it will still be healthier than what I can buy in the store!

Debra’s Answer

Well, it certainly will be better than non-organic produce you buy at the store. It won’t have pesticides and it will be fresher.

That said, produce will absorb the chemicals from the water used for irrigation and will absorb air pollution as well.

But every step you take in the right direction is worth doing.

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Question from EMG

My dentist recently suggested I consider Invisalign braces. In considering the option it occured to me to investigate the safety/toxicity of the materials used. On the Invisalign website this is what it says about the materials used:

“Invisalign aligners and Vivera Retainers do not contain Bisphenol-A or phthalate plasticizers. These aligners and retainers are made with USP Class VI medical grade, high molecular weight, polyurethane resins. Tests have been conducted to determine the biocompatibility of these materials, and show that they are biocompatible and pass all applicable regulatory requirements and thresholds for human wear in the mouth. Of course, as with any medical device, you should consult with your health professional about your aligner or retainer treatment and any applicable risks of use.”

So they sound safe to me, but I thought I’d check to see if anything about this statement causes any red flags to go up out there… Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

You can read about polyurethane at Q&A: The Toxicity of Polyurethane.

From Debra Lynn Dadd

I just happened to receive two questions this week about the toxicity of polyurethane, so I thought I would write a separate post on this chemical.

In the past, we mostly heard about polyurethane foam, which is used to make mattresses, seat cushions, and other such products. That likely contains toxic chemicals.

Now, there are new products that have a thin polyurethane film fused to fabric to make it waterproof. As best as I can tell, this is made from a different type of polyurethane, probably the type that is used to produce FDA dry and wet food grade urethanes.

Here’s the chemistry lesson.

Polyurethane (or “urethane” for short) is the name given to a class of petrochemical resins that contain isocyanates.

There are three different polyurethanes:
1. Toluene Diisocyante (TDI)
2. Diphenylmethane Diisocyanate (MDI)
3. Paraphenylene Diisocyanate (PPDI)

And they are made into chemicals that fall into eight major groups:

1. MDI-Esters: produce FDA dry and wet food grade urethanes.
2. TDI-Esters
3. MDI-Ethers: Some are adaptable to FDA and USDA application for wet and dry food contact.
4. TDI-Ethers
5. PPDI-Esters
6. MDI
7. TDI: used to make polyurethane foam for mattresses, cushions etc
8. PPDI

So when you read that something is made from “polyurethane” you need to also find out what type of polyurethane it is.

It’s likely that the MDI food grade polyurethane is a lot less toxic than the TDI polyurethane foam. To research the health effects of every polyurethane is beyond the scope of this blog at the moment. But I’ve done enough research to see that the toxicity of one “polyurethane” is different than another. It’s unfortunate that the same word is used to refer to a whole class of chemicals of varying toxicity.

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Question from RoseM

Does anyone know if Zoya brand nail polish is in fact natural and/or nontoxic? I’ve read on a few sites that it is, but I wanted to see if anyone knew for sure. Or, is there such a thing as natural or safe nail polish? I’m two months pregnant with unpolished nails, and while that’s not a HUGE problem 😉 if there is a safe/natural nail polish available, it would be nice to paint my piggies once in a while…

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Some years ago when Zoya first came out I contacted them, and did not consider their formula at the time to be nontoxic. I just went to their website and all I could find was “formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and camphor free.” It says it’s “safest” but that doesn’t mean safe. I don’t know their current formula and no ingredients or MSDS is given.

I gave up nail polish years ago, and as it is not an item necessary to life, I don’t have a lot of interest in researching it.

However, if any of you want to supply me with brand names, website URLs, MSDS sheets, and in particular, ingredients lists, I would be happy to give my opinion. I know a lot of women would like to know which nail polish is the least toxic and most natural.

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Question from Teoroy

Hello Debra, I am an art conservator and during my career I have been exposed to many toxic chemicals such as toluene. I have become quite sensitive to all smells like turpentine, white spirit etc. along with perfumes. I am thinking of changing career as an art teacher but I will not be able to practise with my sensitivity.Can I get healed and be better when slightly exposed to vapours from different paints? thank you, Teo UK

Debra’s Answer

Your best chance for recovery is to reduce your exposures to toxic chemicals as much as possible. That said, you will never be able to avoid them 100% because of the toxics in the larger environment.

This is one of the reasons I take detox drops. I recommend them to everyone to help offset the effects of those toxic chemicals we cannot avoid.

In all the years I have been doing this work, and in my own healing, I have found that people try to “hold on” to toxic exposures. In my case it was a particular brand of red lipstick. It was the perfect shade for me and took me a long time to find. But when I stopped wearing it, my body began to heal to a degree that it did not prior. I’ve known people who did everything but remove their carpet and then started healing better when they removed it.

I would encourage you to find or develop a nontoxic art form that you can enjoy and be healthy with, and teach to others so they can be healthy and artful as well. I use colored pencils, soy crayons, my computer, and other nontoxic materials to be creative.

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Question from Marcia Sherwin

Hi Debra:

I just purchased a cashmere sweater on sale at almost 75% off and didn’t realize until I got it home and took it out of the bag that it has a very strong perfume smell. Without having to return it, can you recommend a way to get rid of the perfume smell? I don’t want to put it in my washing machine as I’m afraid the perfume smell will stay in there, unless you know of a good laundry soap that will take it out. Probably I should hand-wash it.

Debra’s Answer

I just purchased a cashmere sweater at 75% off too! Mine didn’t have perfume, however.

Sometimes new clothing is scented because of a finish called “sizing,” which easily washes out.

I recommend that you hand-wash your cashmere sweater (never put it in the washer, anyway) and see if that takes care of it. If not, see Q&A: Removing perfume from used clothing.

PFOAs, the same chemical that is toxic in nonstick pans, have been found by University of Toronto scientists in the liners of junk food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags. The PFOAs from these food packages are migrating into food and being ingested by people, contributing to the toxic burden of their bodies.

PFOA is found in the bodies of humans all around the world.

Scientists who did the study suspect that a major source of human PFCA exposure may be the consumption and metabolism of polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters or PAPs. PAPs are applied as greaseproofing agents to paper food contact packaging.

“In this study we clearly demonstrate that the current use of PAPs in food contact applications does result in human exposure to PFCAs, including PFOA. We cannot tell whether PAPs are the sole source of human PFOA exposure or even the most important, but we can say unequivocally that PAPs are a source and the evidence from this study suggests this could be significant.”

The use of PAPs in food contact applications is not currently regulated.

Another reason to prepare your meals and snacks from fresh, whole, organic foods.

University of Toronto: Dangerous chemicals in food wrappers likely migrating to humans