Question from LydiaCA

I live above a inaccessible crawl space. I had dozens of Carpenter ants crawling up my walls. I temporally sealed the perimeter of the space with plastic and put a hand towel soaked in peppermint, cedar and lavender essential oils into the space. Within two weeks the ants were gone and have not come back in the last four years.

I know it was peppermint but am not totally sure of which other oils I used with it. I had read on the net that unless you get the queen you cannot get rid of them but I did.

Also when travelling in Indonesia I moved into a little cabin with a bathroom full of cockroaches. Again I put a few dabs of an essential oil formula i had prepared for a book. I lived there for two weeks and never saw another one.

Hope this helps, LydiaCA

Debra’s Answer

Thanks! 🙂

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Question from Krissy

I’m wondering if BPA is ever a concern from reverse osmosis units? Either possibly from the tank or the use of plastic water tubing? I do not know what linings are being used in the storage tanks. Is there any way to test for BPA in water?

Thanks for any help!

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t heard anything about being concerned about BPA in water filters, however, here is a lab where you can get anything tested for BPA: Impact Analytical.

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Question from Ronn

Lately I’ve been seeing PLU numbers that start with 3 or 5, and I would like to know what those mean. I know that 4 is conventional produce, 9 is organic and 8 is genetically modified, but what do 3 and 5 mean? I’ve done a lot of searching online, but can’t seem to find the answer.

Debra’s Answer

I wasn’t able to find it either. Readers?

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Question from JDC

Hi,

I just discovered that they are rolling out rubber flooring made from recycled tires in some of the classrooms at my kids’ grade school. Standing over them for less than a half an hour gave me chest pains that lasted through the night as well as a slight headache.

The school wants to be both green and cheap in their choices. Most quips I’ve seen about rubber flooring suggest that they smell but don’t off gas toxic chemicals. I saw one mention that rubber flooring made from recycled tires should not be used indoors, but the link was broken. Thanks for posting your link to that article about grubble. Is there any more research you can point me to that might help me to convince people that rubber flooring from recycled tires is not a green choice for an elementary school and could likely end up in diminished health of the students, decreased attendance and/or reduced test scores.

As they are building out the school this summer this is super time sensitive. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Your research on this site has been invaluable to me in the past. Thank you for all of your dedication and hard work.

Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

Tire rubber is a mixture of multiple chemicals, including rubber polymers, carbon blacks, silicas, process and extender oils, vulcanization chemicals, and chemical anti0degradents.

The most comprehensive data on recycling tires into products is at Environment and Human Health: Artificial Turf: Exposures to Ground Up Rubber Tires – Athletic Fields, Playgrounds, Garden Mulch. The full repport is at http://www.ehhi.org/reports/turf/

Here are a couple more reports on the environmental effects of using recycled tires for landscape mulch, which discuss the toxic releases: The Myth of Rubberized Landscapes abd Now You Too Can Kill Your Garden With Rubber Mulch!

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Question from Krissy

Debra,

We have well water with a reverse osmosis unit under our kitchen sink. I recently met a man who was working with the laws for testing lead in Nebraska. He said that currently there are problems with many of the spigots leaching large amounts of lead into the RO water. He is trying to change the testing procedures to just test the first small amount of water that is drawn from the spigot first thing in the morning rather than the normal testing of one literof water. He is worried that the one liter testing is diluting the lead levels. He said that the original spigots that come with the RO unit are not as bad; however, the replacement spigots that are often used to match other colors of kitchen faucets are sometimes showing up to ten times the allowable limit of lead. He is looking at real life use, as if you get a tiny amount of water for your child and the implications this can have on children. We do have a replacement spigot so I am really worried. I have contacted a state authorized lab for lead testing (in water). We will be testing our RO water (both a small and one liter sample size for testing), I’m just wondering if others have heard anyting about this? Does anyone know of a source for spigots that are lead free and safe from other contaminates, preferably manufactured in the USA?

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I wrote a post a couple of years ago about Lead-Free Water Faucets. I don’t know what the regulations are for replacement spigots, but the lead issues may be similar.

I suggest that you test the water coming out of your R/O unit for lead to be sure.

Question from ceedle

I have just heard that drinking from plastic water bottles purchased at the grocery are dangerous. I quit drinking tap water over 7 years ago and this concerns me because water is all I do drink. Please advise the safest way to drink water that you know. I thought I was being healthy and now I am really anxious about this and wonder if anything is safe.

Debra’s Answer

I already answered the question of toxic plastic water bottles in the question Toxic Plastic Water Bottles.

The safest way to drink water that I know of is to purchase your own water filter. I’m working on a guide to choosing the right water filter for you, but until that’s done, take a look at Water Filter Basics and the search results for water filters on Debra’s List.

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Question from Nell

Hi Debra,

I am wondering about the breads in the stores that are labeled 100% whole wheat but are as soft and lightweight as white bread. Can they really be 100% whole grain and are they just as healthy as the heavier breads? I just find it hard to believe. What do you say?

Thanks,

Nell

Debra’s Answer

It is difficult to answer such a general question as I don’t have all the details on ALL the breads on the market.

I have seen recipes for “light” whole wheat bread that are 100% whole wheat. But many that are part whole wheat and part white flour.

The best recommendation I can give you is to read the label and make sure 100% of the flour is whole wheat.

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Question from caron page

Does anyone know how safe ikea furniture is in the home. I have found some information that says it is environmentally friendly, but before I purchase some, I really wanted to know.

Debra’s Answer

Ikea is a company committed to health and the environment. They have taken a lot of steps in the right direction. You can read all about what they are doing at:

IKEA | Our responsibility

and

IKEA | Sustainability

I myself shop at Ikea and I find a lot that I like. I also find a lot I don’t like. So I wouldn’t say that Ikea at this point in time has 100% safe and eco-friendly products, but they do have many.

Read the links and you’ll see that they have done things like use sustainably-grown cotton and reduce waste through more efficient design.

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Question from geoffmilw

Hi Debra,

We live in a wooded area and have a nest of carpenter ants in the wall above a window. Actually, they are in the structural header above the window (I verfied by drilling several small holes it’s all wood above the window). I wanted to use diatomaceous earth, which is non-toxic, except if inhaled, but that will not work in this structural header that is within the wall.

My wife is chemically sensitive and our daughter is due to have her first baby in August. Is Timbor a safe alternative for my wife, our pregnant daughter and the baby on the way?

Thanks very much for your help.

GW

Here is a home remedy for making a bait, just do as follows:

Carpenter ants will be attracted to the honey, because of their love for sweet foods, and then will sip up the boric acid, which will cause them to cease and desist.

Keep this away from children as it is harmful if swallowed.

Debra’s Answer

Yes, yes, yes. It smells like nothing. I wouldn’t eat it, but my husband has been applying Timbor to every bare piece of wood in our house for about five years and I never smell a thing. No ill effects.

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Question from stacy devivo

We are getting ready to install an above ground pool. We are trying to make the pool as safe as possible and want to avoid harsh chemicals like chlorine.

We were contemplating getting a salt based system but found out the byproduct is still chlorine and can be more toxic. We also looked at a copper based system but I am worried about absorbing too much copper. I am so confused on which to buy. They all seem toxic to some degree and I don’t know of any other option.

Could anyone give me some safe options and where I can purchase a system. I did read about Debra’s pool but do not know where I can buy a hydrogen peroxide based system. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Debra’s Answer

You can buy the hydrogen peroxide based system I use at Go Beyond Organic.

I wouldn’t use the copper system. Your body can absorb the copper and then get a copper imbalance.

After looking at all the options, we decided on hydrogen peroxide and have been very happy with it.

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