Question from Cheryl

I am looking into purchasing a Step2 plastic playhouse made from low density polyethylene (#4)and I’m wondering if it’s safe for my kids…does it off gas VOC’s? Is it bad for the air quality in my home if used indoors? Would my kids be exposed to harmful chemicals just merely playing in and contacting the playhouse even outdoors?

Debra’s Answer

Polyethylene is one of the safest plastics. I have no concern about your children playing with it.

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Question from Jill

I have severe MCS, but due to rotator cuff problem, I need to purchase a new dishwasher. Would appreciate if people can provide Brand and Model #s of dishwashers that have less toxic components/well tolerated. Has anyone tried GE Profile dishwasher (has Bitumen sound insulation), GE GSD series diswashers (has Polypropylene tub and Mastic/Asphalt sound insulation), Kenmore, or Samsung? Thanks! Jill from New Jersey.

This is a topic that I really hope you’ill be able to research in-depth very soon. I know that you must be very busy with the plethora of issues affecting us every day, but I have to buy a dishwasher this week and I’m wishing that I knew your advice right now!

I’ve decided on a Maytag JetClean (MDB8959SBS) because it is the only dishwasher that I could find with a 90-day return policy. All the others that I looked at are simply listed as “non-returnable,” so you’re stuck with what you choose unless there are actual workmanship or parts problems. With the Maytag, if I smell outgassing for more than a week or so, I’m taking it back.

Debra’s Answer

Readers? Your recommendations?

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Question from Merle

The top load non agitator washers are computerized. I can’t get an answer from Whirlpool or salespeople whether I can simply soak my toxic clothing (from a day’s outing), spin out the smelly water, then put through a rinse cycle before starting a complete wash.

It’s been suggested the steam would remove odors, but I suppose that is satisfactory for non sensitive people.

Also, has anyone with MCS purchased these products? I don’t think they have rubber or other toxic parts, as do the front loaders. The tubs are stainless. Is a porcelain lid necessary?

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated before I purchase this costly washer and dryer. Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from MB

14 months ago I had my son’s room ‘renovated’ and dry wall put up to cover up the exposed brick walls. I was expecting the dry wall to outgas and smell for a while but it still smells even today. How long does it take for dry wall to outgas OR could this dry wall be part of the toxic Chinese dry wall? I keep the windows open in good weather, run a air purifier when it isn’t and use a space heater when it gets cold. Thanks ahead for any ideas and or suggestions on how to get rid of the smell.

Debra’s Answer

Your drywall should NOT smell. There should be no toxic chemicals in it or anything else that releases an odor.

If you are having a problem with it, you may need to remove it. I have installed a lot of drywall over the years and standard drywall has no odor.

Even the mud used to seal the seams should have outgassed by now.

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Question from Alison

Hi Debra,

I’ve recently become much more chemically sensitive resulting (I think) from exposure to outgassing double-paned vinyl windows. I’m looking for a new apartment and found one that I like. It is directly above an open carport though, and I’m wondering if that will be safe for me. I definitely react to car exhaust.

Thank you for your thoughts, and anyone else’s experience.

Alison

Debra’s Answer

If you are sensitive to car exhaust, I definitely would NOT live over a carport.

It depends, though, on how much traffic there is and how much car exhaust is generated. I used to live in a first-floor condo on a corner where there was a stop sign. Cars were stopping and starting all day long and a lot of car exhaust came in open windows. I didn’t stay there very long.

You need to evaluate how much car exhaust exposure you would really get.

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Question from Susan

My daughter was playing with a friend the other day and she ended up lipstick on the back of her little dress. Any suggestions on how to get it out? I tried something that removes oil or something, but didn’t work. Any other suggestions?

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any suggestions?

I looked at the standard recommendations for removing lipstick stains and didn’t find any that I considered nontoxic. One commercial product contained citrus solvent, so you might try that. Many recommended rubbing alcohol, so you might try vodka.

I’ve never had to remove a lipstick stain, so have no personal experience with this.

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Question from Apasionato

My friend has discovered arsenic in her well water. They live in the NW Pacific area kind of in the ‘wilderness’ and not close to any factories, farms, etc that might have arsenic run-off. Their well is deep and was drilled through rock so we think the arsenic comes from the rocks naturally.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that arsenic is safe because it IS a terrible poison. My friend has attached a reverse osmosis filter to take the arsenic out of her drinking water (it is installed under the kitchen sink) which is working well, but, it only lets her use up to approx 11 gallons of water per day.

All of the rest of the house’s water has arsenic in it. So, this means that washing clothes, showering, washing hands in the bathroom, watering vegetable plants outside could be a serious issue. She and I have done an immense amount of research and have even spoken to the EPA as well as NSF and various water filtering companies. Not one, so far, has been able to tell us that it is safe to use the arsenic water for watering veggetable plants, showering, etc, although, many of them say that it IS safe, yet no one so far will stake their lives on it nor will say that they know for sure.

Soooo…does anyone here know if it is safe to water vegetable plants with arsenic water? Is it safe to shower with arsenic water?

And, is there a whole house filter that does filter out arsenic safely that has PROOF that their product works? We have looked at and spoken with Crystal Quest and Equinox but they are unable to give us scientific proof that their products do work. Also, many of these water filter companies say they are NSF certified, when in fact they are not. NSF says that they only certify water filter companies that are on their website list and the two I have mentioned are not on that list.

My friend is willing to pay a lot of $$ to get her arsenic problem taken care of.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, anyone have any experience with this, or suggestions?

Here are my thoughts…

You say you’ve done “a lot of research” yet you mention only two companies, so I don’t know what other systems you’ve looked in to.

I think you may need to go more in the direction of a specialized filter system rather than with a company that is selling filters for general use.

I searched on “remove arsenic in water” and came up with Carbtrol Arsenic Removal Systems. I have no experience with this system, but it looks like it should be able to do the job.

Here’s an article on how the city of Phoenix removes arsenic from their water supply: GFH Media Removes Arsenic in Arizona Supply. Though this is a city application, it does show it can be done, and this same filter media can be used in a whole house system.

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Question from JB

My parents house is very unsanitary and unhealthy and is hazardous. She is a pack rat and has food just lying around which has caused mice and the standing water in tub has caused flying black insects.

She has NEVER allowed anyone to clean her house for fear we will throw away papers from 10 years ago.

She has been in the hospital 3 times in the last 4 months because she couldnt breathe. This time she had a stent put in because of her heart. Little does the doctor know what goes on.

So I asked him in front of her what brought this on. He replied her diabetes and smoking. Well, she went on to blame her tenant upstairs who smokes. she did not say a word about the toxic fumes in her house. No one visits her for more than 5 or 10 minutes because of the stench and there isnt a place to sit… and who knows what lies underneath.

Anyway, she sort of relented to people helping her clean since the doctor will be ordering a nurse to visit her house after her hospital stay and when she heard what caused this on….

The windows have not been open in years. You cannot get to them. I plan on going there to open windows. I wore a mask last time, spraying lysol anywhere and everywhere. But what can I use to deoderize (eliminate the toxic odors) the house while I am throwing out junk, so I DO NOT GET SICK.

Debra’s Answer

There is nothing I know of that you can spray to remove toxic chemicals from the air.

I would probably wear some kind of mask and get the windows open as quickly as possible, then start cleaning.

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