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Non-toxic swimming pools

Question from Celestine

I am looking for as much info as I can get on non-toxic swimming pool care. Chlorine is out, of course. But I need to know more about the various devices out there, the hydrogen peroxide systems, etc.

I’d like to know about cost, maintenance, etc.

I am in the Los Angeles area, so if anyone has specific recommendations in that area, or the San Gabriel Valley, that would be helpful too.

Thanks! Celestine

Debra’s Answer

I can’t give you a detailed overview of all the pool devices and their dangers. I’ll just say that over the years I have looked at them all and decided on hydrogen peroxide. But I want to especially say to not use a copper system, as the body does absorb the copper, which can lead to a copper imbalance in your body. The so-called “salt” systems are still chlorine, it’s just produced from salt.

When I used to have a pool I used hydrogen peroxide. All we did was periodically add more hydrogen peroxide as needed. But it’s not the type you get at the drug store. I think it was 50%. We bought it at a chemical supply house and kept it locked up in a shed because it’s very toxic at that concentration. You do need to be careful not to splash or spill the hydrogen peroxide on your skin or clothing and wear goggles when you add it to the pool. But there is no chlorine smell and the water becomes effervescent.

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Searching for green jewellery cleaner

Question from sathia

Madam Debrylynn,

I am from India. I like the most “Green living”. Its really amazing to see a person living green for almost 23 years.

I just have a question.

Is there any green jewelry cleaner that cleans and removes tarnish on Gold and Silver jewels/wares.

If yes kindly inform the product name and company name.

Let stay ever at green revolution.

Debra’s Answer

The answer to this question is easy and something you have right there in India: toothpaste.

Yes, any toothpaste will do. Just get an old toothbrush (don’t use it again to brush your teeth after using it to clean jewelry), put some toothpaste on it and brush away.

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EcoSpun Fabric

Question from jemcconaughy

Dear Debra,

I am curious to know your opinion on EcoSpun Fabrics, polyester fleece made from recycled water bottles. Are they harmful in anyway? Could a baby or child be harmed in anyway from wearing clothing made from these fabrics? Bedding and toys, included. Do the Pro’s outweigh the Con’s? Any and all information would be appreciated.

Thank You

Debra’s Answer

I wouldn’t put my baby around EcoSpun fabric. Plastic is plastic whether it is recycled or not.

I’m all for recycling plastic, but it should be made into products that are not close to the skin.

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I’m Confused About Cookware

Question from -E-

Hi Debra!

I’ve been reading through your blogs posted on Cookware and have to say I’m confused.

I know Cast Iron is the best but its just way to heavy!

On your Cookware & Bakeware section you have stated for the items that are made of ceramica such as the Green Gourmet. “Embedding the finish in the ceramic-titanium craters prevents it from being scraped off into the food, but fumes may still be released, especially as a result of long periods of excessive heat.” I know that you have mentioned that you use their pans but does that comment mean that toxic fumes are still released and that it as unsafe? Does that include sandflow also?

I’m also unclear about stainless steel. Is 18/0 still the best option when it comes to leaching.

I’m looking to purchase pots that are safe. Although I realize that it may be impossible to avoid all leaching I would like to be able to make the best decision for my family and me.

Debra’s Answer

There is a lot of information about cookware. I’m actually working on a new page about cookware that will make it simple.

In your paragraph about ceramica, you’ve taken something I said about TITANIUM cookware and incorrectly attached it to CERAMIC cookware. Ceramica cookware is entirely different from titanium cookware. Cermaica is ceramic. I have been using Green Gourmet cookware for about two years now and do not perceive any toxic fumes, nor does the finish appear to be anything but ceramic.

If you want stainless steel, get surgical stainless steel cookware. That leaches the least. See Q&A: Stainless Steel Leaching into Food and Beverages.

For my primary cookware, I use Xtrema, which is ceramic through and through and fairly lightweight in comparison to cast iron.

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Garden Weedmats/Statuary

Question from Cheryl3

Hi all,

Weeds seeming impossible, I ‘m considering trying a polypropylene weed mat and wondering if it’s considered safe. The only problem I can see might be whatever it is colored with (black). Compost no longer seems to block the weeds and I don’t want to use any wood product for fear of termites (Florida). Any thoughts on safety of or experience with would be appreciated.

Also, I love garden fairies and was wondering if resin fairy statuary (or any avilable material) are safe for the garden environment? I haven’t been able to locate any that say they are ecosafe. Should I be concerned? Thanks for any help.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t like using plastic in my garden. Instead of polypropylene weed mats, I suggest using cardboard boxes, which are free.

We did this in our garden, over lawn. You just open up the cardboard boxes and lay them down over the weeds, and cover with layers of compost and leaves. We’re in Florida too and have done this quite successfully.

You might also consider growing a ground cover that would smother the weeds, or planting your plants closer together.

I don’t know what kind of resin is used to make garden fairies. If you could find out, I could tell you how toxic it is.

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Nontoxic Shoes

Question from SVE

Dear Debra,

Synthetic shoes (New Balance) may be a problem for me. I can’t seem to find very many “non-toxic” shoes online (such as hemp, etc.). Leather would be OK but the foot beds and soles are made from so many substances. Leather and real 100 % rubber sound OK, but what about polyurethane, foam and other synthetics? Do you have a list of non-toxic substances that “main stream” shoes are made of? If not, do you have a list of worst toxic materials used in the manufacture of shoes? I dislike not buying “green” shoes, but I’m more interested in “not-toxic” shoes made of substances that a person with MCS might be able to tolerate. Love your new website – such great information and easy to use! Thanks for all your help.

Debra’s Answer

A lot of shoes today are made from PVC, which emit phthalates, an endocrine disruptor. Even if the shoes are not made from PVC, many are made from other petrochemical materials.

Leather shoes may utilize a variety of toxic chemicals as well, so you really have to check and see how the leather is processed.

Here’s a link to an earlier post about nontoxic shoes: Are there any nontoxic shoes?

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FDA tests lipsticks, finds lead in all

There has been an article going around about lead in lipstick. It’s true, there is, according to the FDA.

Here is the official FDA webpage on lead in lipsticks: Lipstick and Lead: Questions and Answers.

It lists all the lipsticks tested, and the amount of lead in them, along with more information about lead and lipstick. Though the FDA says it “does not believe that the lead content found in its lipstick analysises is a safety concern, it is widely recognized there is no safe level for lead.

Better to choose a natural lipstick or lipgloss, or, better yet, use none at all (my husband doesn’t like to kiss me when I wear lipstick, so that’s a great incentive not to wear it!).

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EWG Rates Sunscreens for 2010

Environmental Working Group assessed 1,400 sunscreen products, including beach and sports lotions, sprays and creams, moisturizers, make-up and lip balms, and ended up warning consumers “not to depend on any sunscreen for primary protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Hats, clothing and shade are still the most reliable sun protection available.” more…

Here’s the full report, including the 39 sunscreen products they recommend: EWG’S 2010 Sunscreen Guide.

Since I live in sunny Florida, I did a study on sun protection a few years ago and came to the same conclusion: hats, clothing, and shade are your best protection. I personally don’t use sunscreen at all, nor do I wear sunglasses, which block light from the sun that is beneficial to your health.

Here’s my report on how to create your own safe sun strategy: Debra’s Guide to Natural Sun Protection.

For more information on sunlight and your health see the books at Debra’s Bookstore: Health: Sunlight.

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CNN: Toxic Childhood

Last week, CNN aired a whole hour special called “Toxic Childhood,” which exposed toxic chemicals children are being exposed to and their health effects. Nothing new that I and others haven’t been writing about for years, my point here is only to give another example that the subject of toxic chemicals in consumer products is finally reaching the mainstream.

If you want to watch the show, it’s in bits and pieces at CNN: Toxic America. Click on the different subjects, and you will be able to see the video clip from the show for that subject.

Most of the show is about the dangers, the last segment has a few tips about how to protect your children. Insufficient, but that’s what this website is for…

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Chemicals — Good and Bad

Question from Annette Tweedel

Hi Debra,

I have a question. I thought all chemicals were bad for us and my husband says no, that there are some chemicals that are good for us. Which is it? And if there are some chemicals that are good for us, which are they? Thank you in advance for clearing the air for me.

Debra’s Answer

This is a very good question. There are so many words we use of which we don’t know the meanings, it’s good to clear this one up, since we use it here on this blog all the time.

The easiest definition of chemical for me comes from the definition of chemistry: “the study of matter and the changes that take place with that matter.” The study of matter. That’s anything and everything in the physical universe. Literally, everything is a chemical.

Rather than going into all the details of matter, I’m going to direct you to a wonderfully simple website called Chem4Kids, which explains chemistry in a way even I can understand.

In Nature, there is matter that is the very basic stuff of life that cannot be broken down any further and still be what it is. These are known as elements. They are listed on what is known as the Periodic Table. Some elements we all know include hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, sodium, aluminum, titanium, copper…36 in all. These are the basic building blocks of all matter and exist throughout Nature.

Nature takes these basic elements and combines them together to make all the matter in the universe. Water, for example, is two molecules of hydrogen with one molecule of oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen make a chemical reaction and stick together to make water. This is so fundamental to life that in our language, we even say people who like each other and form a unit together have “chemistry.”

Many centuries ago, people known as alchemists tried to change elemental metals into gold. Basic truths about the physical laws of life discovered by alchemists lead to the field of modern inorganic chemistry (the branch of chemistry having to do with all chemical compounds that are not made with carbon, carbon-based compounds are addressed in organic chemistry).

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ARE TOXIC PRODUCTS HIDDEN IN YOUR HOME?

Toxic Products Don’t Always Have Warning Labels. Find Out About 3 Hidden Toxic Products That You Can Remove From Your Home Right Now.