Question from detoxifier

Hi

Does anyone know whether the glaze on these German Harsch Gairtopf crocks leach chemicals into the vegetables while they ferment? Amazon’s description states: “The patented Harsch crock-pot is a beautiful stoneware piece and is fired at 1200 degrees Celsius and finished with a lead free glaze”, and “Made of ceramic lead free clay”.

I know that one has to be careful when using acidic food and juices, which would tend to more likely leach chemicals from the glaze into the food. I have chemical sensitivities and want to make sure I’m not leaching chemicals into my lacto-fermented vegetables with these pots.

Also, does anyone know whether the Kuhn Rikon Pressure Cookers leach heavy metals or chemicals? (Kuhn Rikon Duromatic 22cm SH 4L Pressure Cooker).

Thank you very much for any help or information about this–cheers.

Debra’s Answer

That’s a good question that I don’t know a definitive answer to.

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Question from niella

Hello Debra, I am wondering if you are aware of any organic shampoo products that are suitable for someone with dry hair, dry scalp/dandruff AND greasy roots?? Thank you. 🙂

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Belinda Brock

I have MCS and I don’t know how to get rid of very big black ants that have appeared in my house. I have tried diatamaceous earth around the perimiter of my house but that hasn’t worked. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Annette Tweedel

Hi Debra,

One day I was looking for a scale, one that would check for Body Mass Index (BMI), and found one and decided to look further on the box for other information.

Well, I noticed that the battery that goes inside the scale contains perchlorate material. So then I took down other information including a website www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Brenda S

Hi Debra,

I was wondering also if anyone knows if there is such a thing as formaldehyde free plywood for sub-floors. I know there is a PureBond brand from Home Depot but they said that type of panel wasn’t suitable for sub-floors. I was also wondering if the plywood today is lower in formaldehyde than 30 years ago.

Brenda

Debra’s Answer

There is some info on different types of plywood at Q&A: Particleboard vs Plywood, but no info on which particular brands are suitable for subfloors. Readers, which formaldehyde-free plywoods have you used for subfloors?

The plywood today is lower in formaldehyde than 30 years ago.

Here are some links about formaldehyde-free plywood that might help you make a decision:

Formwood Industries

Formaldehyde-Free Plywood for Subfloors

FAQ About Formaldehyde-Free Plywood

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Question from kpc

I know both of these use formaldehyde based resins, but is furniture made from plywood less toxic (less offgassing) than that made with particle board?

Debra’s Answer

Particleboard is made from wood chips and sawdust, held together with a urea-formaldehyde resin. It offgasses formaldehyde from the resin. Over time, the amount of formaldehyde emitting from the particleboard becomes less and less as it outgasses.

There are at least a half dozen types of plywood used for different purposes, bonded with urea-formaldehyde resin (the one you want to avoid) or the less toxic phenol-formaldehyde resin the OK one because they have to be waterproof.

Furniture and cabinets are made with what is called “furniture grade” or “cabinets grade” plywood, which simply means there are no knot holes or imperfections in the outer layer of the wood on both sides. It does NOT refer to the type of resin used. I found that when it comes to furniture grade plywood, it can be made with either urea-formaldehyde resin or phenol-formaldehyde resin. The only way to know is to contact the manufacturer.

I purchased a sheet of “furniture grade” plywood at Lowe’s and it had no odor at all.

I would suggest that you check to see what resin was used to make the plywood if possible.

In general, plywood is considered to have less outgassing than particleboard.

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Question from Brenda S

Hi Debra,

I was wondering if anyone has had a experiences with Kahrs or Mannington engineered hardwood floors. From what I have read on the websites of these companys Mannington uses formaldehyde free adhesives and Kahrs said theirs is very low in emissions. Kahrs also uses a uv fininsh with no aluminum oxide finish. Thanks.

Brenda

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Any experience with these?

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Question from debweb27

Dear Debra,

I live in a Michelama building in NYC built in the 1960’s. The apartment below is renovating. They are doing tiling in the bathroom, and will be putting down flooring with VOC containing glue, installing kitchen cabinetry, painting and priming with water-based Benjamin Moore paint.

During the first week we experienced terrible fumes when they were priming their walls. This past week we had bad fumes from the bathroom when they were doing tiling. We have sealed up our wall vents, door jambs, and unused electric outlets. We still get fumes for several days after work is done below. We have also purchased a Blueair hepa filter.

The building staff has been cooperative with information regarding scheduling so I can evacuate my apartment at appropriate times. They are also supposed to be keeping the windows open in the apartment below. I close my windows during the day when they are working and open my windows at night.

I believe that the biggest concerns are from the non-VOC glue and the paint. I’m not sure about demolition of linoleum tiles on the floor or old cabinetry; plastering; priming walls; and bathroom tiling compounds. I’m also concerned about lead or asbestos or other dust particulate that could be released from demolition.

I have been told that there are performance and cost issues with the water-based floor glues. I’d like to know the extent of this before I make a personal request or anonymous complaint. I’m not sure if the new tenant has been asked yet to switch to non-VOC containing paint and glue but the contractor will be using a very large fan on the days they plan to use these products. As well as keeping windows open.

Debra’s Answer

This is one of the problems of living in an apartment building.

From what you describe, I myself probably wouldn’t stay in the apartment while this construction is going on. Sounds like the building staff is being cooperative. Maybe you could talk with them more about the use of nontoxic materials.

One thing you didn’t mention is the use of heat to outgas everything faster. That won’t handle the fumes from installation, but will greatly reduce the ongoing outgassing.

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It’s getting to be that time of year where flies become a problem, so I thought I’d pass along this tip a reader sent me.

We went out with friends on Sunday for breakfast and sat in the patio section beside the house. We happened to notice zip lock baggies pinned to a post and a wall. The bags were half filled with water, each contained 4 pennies, and they were zipped shut. Naturally we were curious! Ms. Sweety told us that these baggies kept the flies away! So naturally we were even more curious! We actually watched some flies come in the open window, stand around on the window sill, and then fly out again. And there were no flies in the eating area! I checked this out on Google. Below are comments on this fly control.

Zip-lock water bags

Ann Says:
I tried the ziplock bag and pennies this weekend.. I have a horse trailer. The flies were bad while I was camping. I put the baggie with pennies above the door of the LQ. NOT ONE FLY came in the trailer. The horse trailer part had many. Not sure why it works but it does!

Danielle Martin Says:

Fill a ziplock bag with water and 5 or 6 pennies and hang it in the problem area. In my case it was a particular window in my home. It had a slight passage way for insects. Every since I have done that, it has kept flies and wasps away. Some say that wasps and flies mistake the bag for some other insect nest and are threatened.

Maggie Says:
I swear by the plastic bag of water. I have them on porch and basement. We saw these in Northeast Mo. at an Amish grocery store & have used them since. They say it works because a fly sees a reflection & won’t come around.

DJ Says:
Regarding the science behind zip log bags of water? My research found that the millions of molecules of water presents its own prism effect and given that flies have a lot of eyes, to them it’s like a zillion disco balls reflecting light, colors and movement in a dizzying manner. When you figure that flies are prey for many other bugs, animals, birds, etc., they simply won’t take the risk of being around that much perceived action. I moved to a rural area and thought these “hillbillies” were just yanking my city boy chain but I tried it and it worked immediately! We went from hundreds of flies to seeing the occasional one, but he didn’t hang around long.

I’m going to try this myself when the flies start coming out.