Question from Miemiemuis

Dear Debra

I love having the windows open, but since we live in Florida we don’t want to let the house get too hot and humid. My husband is also allergic to pollen and since I have small children I don’t want open windows at night for safety reasons. Our house is fairly new and tight and I’m concerned about indoor air quality. So, to improve indoor air quality, I was wondering if it is worth it to have our A/C changed to let filtered outside air in. We do have a good air filter that we change often, but I am concerned that the outgassing of new construction is polluting our indoor air and not going anywhere.

Thanks for your help

Debra’s Answer

You mention two factors: air conditioning and new construction.

You don’t say how toxic the new construction is.

New construction requires ventilation, so it would be a good idea to have more outdoor air coming in.

However, you can speed the curing of new construction by using heat. You might want to try a bakeout (instructions are on page 395 of my book Home Safe Home, under the head “Curing a Sick House.”

That said, it never hurts to have more ventilation.

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Question from Michelle Clark

My daughter will start school next week and we need a sleep mat. I would like to find an organic one. She already sleeps in all organic bedding/bed/mattress, and it only seems appropriate to have an organic mat for school. any suggestions?

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Question from KJ

Thank you, Debra and the readers, for all the valuable information so far. I have relied on this site for all of my questions through my major renovations to improve our home.

Now, I have a major concern about the new AC duct work that was installed. I was not educated enought to ask right questions before hand.

They installed new formaldehyde free flexible ducts, but they also used distritbuion boxes made with duct boards (fiberglass boards). These are the boxes to connect multiple flex ducts going into different directions.

The fiberglass surface faces the inside where the air flows through.

I found out that the fiberglass surface is sealed (glued) with something that contains formaldehyde. Even worse, the joints and seams where they had to cut and connect with other flex ducts are not protected with this glue, and the fiberglass dust can come loose overtime and get blown right into our living space.

I am so concerned about this issue.

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Question from BL

I have a 10 year old house built on a concrete slab that has developed mold around the base of the toilet under the white vinyl. While it might be overkill, I’m having it safely removed and the floor cleaned before putting down new flooring. What are the safest, non-toxic (no VOCs), environmentally friendly flooring options for a bathroom? Can you also recommend the safest adhesives, etc. that are needed for those options? Thanks. BL

Debra’s Answer

I would use good old ceramic tile. Any glazed ceramic tile will do (that is, one with a shiny or matte surface, not a porous tile like Mexican pavers).

Lay cement backerboard first, then mortar, then the tile, then grout. Use the grout sealer from AFM Enterprises, as it is completely nontoxic.

Ceramic tile is nontoxic, waterproof, and durable.

Question from Ruth Ruddock

Hi Debra, the following bit of a note is from a long-time friend who had pretty severe MCS over the years…she is almost totally free of it now after having moved from many years here in Wisconsin to Montana. I had written to her asking about the heat source in the nice condo that they owned here, thanking that surely she must not have had gas forced air heat. Her reply surprised me and offered some encouragement, since I may end up sharing a condo or duplex with my sister-in-law who wants to move back here from Arizona. Was wondering if you would comment on this heat thing for me, too. I once read somewhere that is is so much harder for someone with MCS to recover when they have gas forced air heat. Sounds like there are some exceptions?

Here is my friend’s note: “We did indeed have a gas forced air

furnace in the condo. I was apprehensive at first, but Neil assured me that the new 98%efficiency model that we had installed would have no adverse effects on me. And he was right!

All the ignition air came from outside and was returned there…and I never had a bit of problems.”

Thanks for your comments on this, Debra.

Ruth/Wisconsin

Debra’s Answer

The problem with gas heat is gas leaks and combustion by-products. If the gas is not leaking and is properly combusted, it’s not a problem. Sounds like your friend has a new efficient model that is OK. This does not mean ALL gas heat is OK. Things have changed recently with gas heaters being more efficient.

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Question from Dianne

Hi,

Little Tykes playhouses, slides, play structures are made out of polyethylene and polypropylene. You said that polyethylene was one of the safest plastics but I was wondering if you know about polypropylene.

Thank You Very Much!!!

Debra’s Answer

Polyethylene and polypropylene are two of the safer plastics. In this use, they would outgas very little, if at all.

I’m not concerned about toxic exposure from breathing these plastics.

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Question from Marcia

Hi Debra:

The other day I tried out a mattress at a company called Ergo Cusdtomized Comfort in Irvine,which is in Orange County, Calif. They carry the Natura bed and a bed called the Silhouette Sleep Solutions bed. It comes on a slat suspension which consists of two parallel rows of responsive steam-cambered beechwood slats mounted into strong thermo-plastic shocks. According to the brochure, they give just the right amount of give and support for the body. The bed is solid natural latex foam which they say is pure Talalay Latex and comes in a 6″ or 8″ core range of firmness choices. It has an organic stretch cotton cover and states that it’s inherently hypoallergenic, bactericidal and anti-fungal and also has lightweight wool lining and doesn’t need to be turned or flipped. I was wondering if you have heard of this bed and what your opinion is. It came with a mattress topper and felt fairly comfortable. The did say it wasn’t completely organic,but I’m not sure what that means. I also did try the Natura bed which is completely organic, but it didn’t feel quite as comfortable. I would love to know if any of your readers have either of these beds and what their experiences are.

Thanks so much as always!

Marcia

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Question from Carla

Hi Debra,

I have read that you can seal the off-gas in particleboard, by using a nontoxic sealer, is this true? My husband wants to build some furniture and the formaldehyde free particleboard is 3x as much, so I was trying to see if there were other options.

Thanks,

Carla

Debra’s Answer

True and not true. There is a sealer that can be used to seal particleboard, made by AFM Enterprises. I have used it in the past and it works.

However, I would not call it a “cure-all” for particleboard. When I used it, I used it to seal one small piece of particleboard on a table that was otherwise solid wood. I don’t know how long this seal lasts, so I can’t guarantee that it will last as long as you use your cabinets.

My best recommendation would be to use a material other than particleboard.

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Question from Martha

Have you ever heard of HealthyBond-MS Flooring Adhesive by EcoTimber? We are going to be putting down bamboo flooring on concrete and are looking at adhesives. I know you personally have used Titebond II and we are considering this but also looking at what else is out there.

I’ve looked at the MSDS for this product and it seems to shows 0.0lb/gl for v.o.c Is this just rounded down? I’ve seen on other products where it is g/L. On the Titebond II it is 5.5 g/L.

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

MSDS looks fine to me. Write back and let us know how you like this product.

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Question from catadelle

Hi,

I am MCS and have to replace my car window. I am worried about the VOCs in the adhesive and how long it would take to offgas.

How long am I going to need a rental car (another issue in itself) Are there any safer adhesives meant for car windows ?

I will ask them to be extra carefull not to slather it on the interior.

Anyone with experience on this?

The one positive is the weather is nice right now and the car gets hot so I can offgas.

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