Question from Gigi

We will be using an air compressor to install hardwood floors inside the home, using various pneumatic nail guns, staplers, and hammers in the process. The air compressor will be located in the room of installation or just outside the door. Are these items toxic or do they prove difficult for people with MCS? There are oiled and oil-less models, is one anymore or less toxic than the other? The manufacturers include DeWalt and Campbell-Hausfeld which are the ones we are looking at.

Debra’s Answer

I don’t think they are, but I haven’t ever used one in an installation. Readers? Any experience?

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Question from CC

How do you eliminate the smell of mothball?

I have a question about moth balls. I have an old cedar chest from my childhood that I’d like to use, but it still has the smell of mothballs in it left over from the early 1960’s. There are some vintage clothes in it I’d like to clean and sell. I’d like to know how to clean the clothes and cedar chest to eradicate the toxins and nasty smell. Any advice? Thanks, BethanyC

Debra’s Answer

Readers? What is your experience with this?

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Question from Annette Tweedel

Hi Debra, My husband came across a polycarbonate bottle by Nature’s Sunshine. He wants to know if polycarbonate is safe? Thanks a million.

Debra’s Answer

Polycarbonate bottles are known to leach Bisphenol-A (BPA), so check with the manufacturer to see if this one does. There may be some new BPA-free polycarbonates I haven’t heard of.

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Question from miko

i am planning on going to europe in the spring;i am chemically sensitive,so i would like to find out how / and what experiences people with MCS had

on one hand,i am told that europe is a waaaaay much greener than the usa; on the other hand i am told that the smokers are all over,and there is rare to find cafes,bistros,etc,smoke free

is “the downy and tide ” an ” epidemic,as it is here?

do people acknowledge chemical sensitivities,and know the NAME/DEFINITION?

is a trip to the laundromat,a ” TRIP TO HELL ” ,as it is in the usa ?

i dont dip/soak myself in chlorinated pools,and to find a hotel,cross coutry here,in the usa,is a nightmare,with ALL the cleaning toxic stuff,febreeze and similar sprays,etc

Debra’s Answer

I went to Germany last September. I can tell you some pros and cons.

Yes, cigarette smoke is everywhere. A lot of “green” in Europe has to do with energy savings, and they do have a lot of natural and herbal products, especially in Germany and England, but I didn’t notice a particular awareness of MCS.

I had no problem getting organic food in Cologne, a major city.

A benefit is that many of the buildings in Europe are very old, and the lesser-priced lodging is usually in an old building. I found a lovely old building to stay in with a big room with big windows into the back garden, not on the street. It was very quiet and no exhaust fumes from the street.

The most difficult part is the plane trip. I think my flight was 17 hours from Florida to Germany, with two stops to change planes. (There was even organic food at the airport!). They do spray something in the plane, some kind of pesticide or disinfectant, but for me it’s just difficult to be in the closed plane for the transatlantic flight, which is something like 8-9 hours from the East Coast, and only breathe that recirculated airplane air. And then, when you get to the airport, the air is full of jet fuel and plane exhaust.

It was a major victory for me to go to England in 1987 and not react. I went for a month and was fine. That was my proof I had recovered from MCS. That said, I think it would be difficult for someone with MCS to make the trip.

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Question from Peter in CT

Hi, Debra:

I usually try to provide answers that might be helpful to subscribers to Green Living, but this time I have a question and some information that might be helpful to those who have sensitivities.

My wife Joanne, who is chemically sensitive, has recently been diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism, which usually is caused by a non-malignant adenoma (tumor) on one or more of the four parathyroid glands located in the neck. Hyperparathyroidism causes too much calcium to circulate in the bloodstream, which can cause a host of problems including neurological, cardiac, autoimmune, and skeletal problems.

If I may make a request to your readers, Debra, I would really appreciate it. I’d like to know if any of your chemically sensitive subscribers has hyperparathyroidism and if they have or have had it would they either respond to this post. I’m looking for information on their diagnoses and treatments, as well as whether they’re sensitivities lessened after treatment and whether the disease runs in their families. I’m interested in this because numerous people in Joanne’s family are chemically sensitive and at least one of them has been diagnosed with “calcification of the brain,” which indicates a calcium regulation problem. Hyperparathyoridism is very often familial and we’re wondering if their is a correlation between this disease and some cases of chemical sensitivity

Also, I’d like to pass along an excellent web site by the top parathyroid surgeon in the country, Dr. James Norman, the inventor of the mini-parathyroid surgery used today to remove tumors: www.parathyroid.com. The site provides exhaustive info on this underdiagnosed condition.

One final thought. Dr. Norman stresses one point over and over again on his site. High calcium on a blood test is overwhelmingly caused by primary hyperparathyroidism from a tumor on one of the parathyroid glands in the neck. Many GPs know very little about calcium and the parathyroid glands and they will take a “wait and see” attitude towards elevated calcium levels. Because calcium levels in the body are so tightly regulated by the parathyroid glands and there are so few reasons why calcium levels can become elevated, he recommends that patients get the combination parathyroid hormone and ionized calcium level test done, even if the calcium level is 10.3, where 10.2 is the top of normal reference. So, if you or a loved one have even slightly high calcium, please get tested.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from TRACEY

Hi Debra,

I can’t seem to find a house to purchase that isn’t sprayed with pesticides and can’t move out of the area. I do have MCS. Do you or any of your readers have any experience detoxing a house with pesticides? Thank you so much!

Debra’s Answer

I have only once attempted to detox a house with pesticides. The client knew the exact name of the pesticide and it had only been applied under the house. We contacted the manufacturer and found out what other chemical could be used to make a chemical reaction that would break down the pesticide. It turned out to be ordinary chlorine bleach. It was applied and turned out to be a very effective solution.

Readers, any experience detoxing a house sprayed with pesticides?

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Question from kpc

Are you familiar with these products?

I am interested in this single-use bamboo collection of plates, serveware and utensils, as an alternative to disposable plastic or paper plates. It seems like the right thing environmentally, just want to make sure there’s no other issues. they say no bleaches or dyes – would there be anything else to worry about, like adhesives?

www.bambuhome.com/products/veneerware/

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know of any drawbacks to these products.

Question from Annette Tweedel

Hi Debra, We have two electric heaters that the cords went bad on them. So my husband bought two new cords at Lowes. I just looked on the package and it said the name Utilitech. And I also seen it had a warning on it about chemicals and lead. It is affecting me real bad. My lips feel numb, I feel it on my tongue, my whole body feels shaky or jittery. I cannot think straight. I feel it on my heart. What are we supposed to do? If it is the cord, is there another one you could recommend? Thanks a million.

Debra’s Answer

Annette, I know from your many posts that you are extremely sensitive. It very well could be the cords.

Try wrapping them in foil tape. That should block any outgassing.

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Question from MK

I called customer service at Custom Building Products today and by luck ended up talking to someone with experience installing tile for people with MCS.

He told me not to use any standard grout but instead a mix of 2 parts sand and 1 part cement. I considered it, but since this is an apartment installation, I don’t think that would be allowed due to installer warranty issues and higher risk of cracks developing.

The conversation worried me though as he said that the sand and cement method is all he could recommend based on his experiences with MCS.

I’m wondering if you’ve recently used the Custom Building Products Polyblend grout (around 2008-09). I’ve read of some people having problems with polymers, but the polyblend worked well for you for your 2005 bathroom remodel described in your e-book. I’m worried there might have been some formula changes so if this product has worked for you recently as well, I’d feel more assured.

I’m also considering Laticrete SpectraLock, which is the only Greenguard certified brand, and C-Cure since other MCS resource sites recommended it. I recall someone saying the C-Cure needed to be offgassed for a week though :/ .. at least a week isn’t too long and I intend to do at least a 5-day bake out anyway.

Whether modified with polymers and biocides or not, all the pre-mades have been enhanced with ‘special chemicals.’ I’ll just have to rely on experience here 😉

Debra’s Answer

We’ve used Polyblend within the last year and had no problems with it. I don’t know what the “special chemicals” might be. We’ll use it again as we continue to remodel our kitchen.

The cement/sand blend would be the least toxic for sure. But I don’t experience the Polyblend as being toxic.

Readers?

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