Submitted questions will be posted with my response by the following Tuesday or before.
Submitted comments will be moderated and approved within 24 hours.
Dangerous Cosmetics in the News
Here’s an article from the Miami Herald talking about the dangers of toxic ingredients in cosmetic products:
After you read this, go to Debra’s List to see safe, natural and organic bodycare products.
Untreated flame retardant cotton fabric?
Question from susan17
Hi Debra,
I am trying to make some type of bedding to sleep on,I was thinking to buy some cotton fabric at the fabric store to make blankets with (NOT ORGANIC I cant tolerate it)
Is the cotton fabric you buy on a role treated with flame retardant as well ?And if so what is the safest cotton to use? and what about cotton canvas does this have a finish?
I read also that you said the pesticides in natural cotton batting remain-so what can I use for filling for a pillow? i know polyester batting is toxic-
Thanks
Susan
Debra’s Answer
Whether or not cotton fabric is treated with flame retardant depends on the fabric. Cotton fabric sold “on a roll” is generally upholstery fabric and would be more likely to have a fire retardant than fabric sold to make clothing. Upholstery fabrics are usually well-labeled and might say that they have fire retardants if they do.
Cotton canvas is generally used for more rugged applications, like tote bags, etc, so does not have permanent press finishes and probably not fire retardants.
I suggest you use rolled up cotton terrycloth towels for pillow stuffing.
Get a small sample of whatever cotton fabric you are considering and test it before buying a lot of fabric to make blankets. Why not just buy cotton blankets ready-made?
Mothproofed 100% wool blankets from the 50’s – are they still toxic ?
Question from vertemaman
Hello Debra ! I have a few 100% wool blankets from Ayers in Quebec that I inherited a long time ago that date back to the 50’s or 60’s. The tag says: Moth proof. I really loved these blankets as it is so hard nowadays to get such heavy and warm wool blankets (or if you do, you might have to pay 300$). Do you think they are still toxic, even after 50+ years to have in our home ?
thank you,
Debra’s Answer
I found a link that answers your question: http://knitting.about.com/od/yarn/f/mothproof.htm.
To paraphrase, it says the chemical used to mothproof wool is Mitin FF, which is added to the yarn in the dye bath. It adheres to the yarn in a similar way as the dye does. So, like dye, the chemical will not rub off or wash off in normal cleaning or dry cleaning. Mitin FF is a pesticide that works by killing the moth larvae when they ingest and digest the wool protein. So it doesn’t prevent moth larvae from eating your wool 100%, but it does stop them from doing a lot of damage.
Mitin FF has been used as a pesticide in the United States since 1948 and is used exclusively for mothproofing wool. It is considered to be “low to moderately toxic” and to have “low mammalian toxicity.”
I would venture to assume that your blankets are mothproofed with Mitin FF. Given that it was not very toxic to begin with, I would say there is little, if any, danger now.
Topical Flea Treatments Harmful to Pets!!!
Question from TerryAnn
Being the dog lover that I am, I want to post this article about recent EPA reports regarding the harmful nature of topical pet flea treatments. Here is the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35914331/ns/health-pet_health/
When you are putting one of these flea treatments on your pet, you are exposing him to pesticides!!! Your vet may tell you it is safe, but here we are many years into doing it, and the EPA is discovering it may be dangerous to their wellbeing. There are safer alternatives, perhaps a bit more effort, but in my opinion there is no amount of effort that is too much for my beloved pets.
Thank you Debra for providing a place for things like this.
Terry
Debra’s Answer
You’re welcome. Thank YOU for posting. 🙂
Those “Silken” Tea Bags
Yesterday I had lunch with my friend Gloria and she ordered tea. It was Mighty Tea brand, and the tea came in one of those “silken” tea bags.
“What is this tea bag made of?” she asked. I didn’t know. But I found out this morning.
They are made of cornstarch. And they are 100% biodegradable.
Turns out that Mighty Tea originated those silken tea bags some years ago. While many other brands now use the silken bags, some use glue or staples to seal their bags while the Mighty Leaf pouches are stitched with an unbleached cotton string.
You can read more about the pouches at green and biodegradable packaging, and while you are there, check out their many organic teas.
Water-based ink markers
Question from Annette Tweedel
Hi Debra,
I have tried looking for the water-based ink markers and cannot find them. What are they supposed to look like and are there different name brands? What does the package look like? The only markers we have are the toxic ones.
Debra’s Answer
There are different name brands and they depend on what kind of markers you are looking for. Crayola and Prang water-based markers for children are sold at drug and discount stores everywhere.
I have some fine-point Pentel Color Pens. The link I gave here is to a set sold at Staples, but I can often buy them individually at art supply stores.
My favorite water-based writing pen is Pilot Precise V5 Rolling Ball, which you can get at any office supply store like Staples or Office Depot.
When looking for art materials, look for the CP Nontoxic or AP Nontoxic seal. This indicates that the product has been reviewed by the Arts and Crafts Materials Institute and found to be nontoxic. Search their list of approved products at http://www.acminet.org/CPListSearch.html.
Yes, Nanotechnology Has Health Effects
See this article: Amid Nanotech’s Dazzling Promise Health Risks Grow.
New studies on nano-sized titanimum dioxide show degrees of DNA damage and genetic instability that can be “linked to all the big killers of man, namely cancer, heart disease, neurological disease and aging,”
Close to 10,000 over-the-counter products use it in one form or another. It’s “in everything from medicine capsules and nutritional supplements, to food icing and additives, to skin creams, oils and toothpaste.”
“Other nanomaterials have also been shown in published, peer-reviewed studies…to potentially cause harm as well. Researchers have found, for instance, that carbon nanotubes — widely used in many industrial applications — can penetrate the lungs more deeply than asbestos and appear to cause asbestos-like, often-fatal damage more rapidly. Other nanoparticles, especially those composed of metal-chemical combinations, can cause cancer and birth defects; lead to harmful buildups in the circulatory system; and damage the heart, liver and other organs of lab animals.”
The article goes on to give a great overview of nanotechnology, including a chart showing relative sizes of particles in nanometers.
Worth reading.
This article is actually the first in a series on nanotechnology. Here are links to the rest of the articles:
Also in This Series:
- Regulated or Not, Nano-Foods Coming to a Store Near You
- Obsession With Growth Stymies Regulators
- Why Nanotech Hasn’t (Yet) Triggered the ‘Yuck Factor’
- Nano-Products Are Everywhere
Background:
Bakeware
Question from Lisa S
Is “tinned steel” safe to use? I am in the process of replacing various bakeware in my kitchen. I came across some “tinned steel” pie pans and tart pans at Sur La Table and am wondering if these are safe to use?
Debra’s Answer
I already answered this question at http://www.greenlivingqa.com/content/tin-bakeware-safe , but since writing this, I’ve had more experience with tin. I had some tin-lined copper cookware that did not hold up to wear very well. One of the pots needed to be retinned in a very short time, so I suspect that tin may be leaching into the food. Again, how harmful that might be, I don’t know. If you’re only using it for an occasional tart, that’s not the same as it being used three times a day.
Hardwood Blinds
Question from Ronda
I special ordered white American Hardwood blinds. I got them in November and although there is no longer a strong smell, my nose burns when I sit near them and I’ve been getting headaches. My husband and two toddlers don’t seem bothered by these blinds, but because these are in my kid’s bedrooms I’m concerned about the effects of the paint.
The company I bought them from told me that I could cure in the smell by washing the blinds with Murphy’s oil or Lemon Pledge. My concern is that this will smell worse.
I’m wondering if they could still be off-gassing? Do you think they may need more time to completely offgas?
Thanks so much Debra!!
Ronda
Debra’s Answer
It can take quite a while for wood finishes to completely cure, especially in colder weather. Finishes can cause symptoms, even if you can’t smell the finish. Even though finishes can be “dry to the touch,” they are still curing and still releasing chemicals. I suggest heat, as heat makes the chemicals outgass faster. I would take down the blinds and hang them in a small room, like the bathroom, if you have a second bathroom. Then place a couple of space heaters in the bathroom, and “bake out” the finish. Personally, I wouldn’t wash them with Murphy’s or Lemon Pledge. These could add additional odors and wouldn’t actually contribute to drying out the finish, which is what is required to end the outgassing.
Where Can I Buy Zeolite?
Question from audrey
I have used all natural Zeolite Powder by the Dasun Company (also their zeolite bags) for many years. They are now out of business. Does anyone know where I can find these? Thank you.
Debra’s Answer
Zeolite is still alive and well and available to use as an adsorbant to remove chemicals, metals, and even radioactive materials from the air. I wrote all about it on page 130 of my book Home Safe Home. If you want to learn more about zeolite, check out this website: The Zeolite Group of Minerals. To purchase zeolite powder for odor control, visit these websites: Bramton Company Zeolite Odor Removing Granules and Bear River Zeolite. While searching for these links, I noticed that zeolite is now being sold for body detoxification. I have no experience using this, but it makes sense to me that if it adsorbs pollutants from the air, it would also adsorb them from the body. I saw lots of “liquid zeolite” being sold for this purpose as well as powder. Liquid zeolite does not make sense to me, as it is the adsorbant ability of the mineral itself that does the adsorbing, a liquid just mechanically wouldn’t do that as far as I can see.
