Question from Erik Harper

I am in the search for a good pair of all-around athletic shoes and I came across a new pair by Patagonia called Boaris that says it uses nanobon particles in it’s interior lining that come from bamboo charcoal. I don’t like the word “nano” (especially after reading Michael Crichton’s Prey and Enough by Bill McKibben), so I did some research on the subject.

Turns out the fabric is most likely produced in a way like the company called GreenYarn (www.greenyarnstore.com). They use bamboo charcoal in their fabrics for the moisture-wicking and odor-reducing properties. I commenced looking up bamboo charcoal and found out a lot of good uses for it and the fact that it is much more environmentally sustainable to use bamboo to produce charcoal than wood.

I am wondering if you have heard of this kind of thing and know of any impacts on both health and the environment when purchasing this type of fabric. I normally stay away from bamboo textiles, as the chemical process for turning shoots into yarn seems more unsafe than the sustainability of bamboo in general, but haven’t heard much about bamboo as charcoal.

Any thoughts, advice, insights on this?

Debra’s Answer

This is new to me, but there are a lot of new things now–both better and worse.

I agree it would be more sustainable to use bamboo charcoal than wood charcoal.

I’m concerned about the “nano” aspect of it as well.

There are so many variations in how fabrics are produced it would be impossible for me to comment on the sustainability of a fabric without more details.

I would contact Patagonia and ask them for their “life cycle analysis” on these shoes.

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Question from Mary

I am living in a second floor apartment which meets my needs in many ways but I need to consider moving for a number of reasons and a ground floor apartment makes more sense because of my age, chronic fatigue, previous leg injury, etc.

I have felt that being on the second floor is safer in terms of having less pesticide residue, car exhaust fumes, etc. I have reasoned that pollutants are diluted by the time they reach the second story. Do you agree?

One option would be to look for an apartment complex with an elevator, not my preference.

Another option would be to look for a townhouse, but I would have to have one of those indoor lifts installed in order to go up the stairs. Has anyone had experience with one of those? It seems like they have some sort of motor. Would it put out fumes from lubricants or whatever?

Thanks, Debra, for this wonderful website and to everyone who contributes!

Debra’s Answer

I agree that a second floor apartment is better for all the reasons you state.

I once lived in a ground floor condo and vowed to never do that again. However, that said, I do live in a “ground floor” house. The difference to me is that in this house, which I own, I have control over pesticide spraying and it is on a quiet street so there is no car exhaust.

So I wouldn’t rule out a ground floor entirely. Look around in the outside environment and see if you can find one that isn’t offensive.

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Question from Katie

Hi Debra,

First I would like to thank you for all your help and the valuable information you are making available. Thank you thank you! Way to go!

I’ve been wondering if “everyday” household items made from plastic are off-gassing petrochemicals. Some examples would be plastic food storage containers, plastic flowerpots, plastic broomhandles and dustpans, etc. Thanks for any info on this.

Debra’s Answer

There are many types of plastic, so the answer to your question, “Do plastics outgas?” is yes, and no.

The determining factor as to how much plastics outgas is how soft or hard they are. The rule of thumb is that hard plastics, which are brittle and break when you bend them, do not outgas much, but soft plastics, which bend without breaking, usually do.

Note that the word “outgas” refers to the release of vapors into the air. When plastic containers release chemicals into foods and beverages, this is called “leaching.” I think your asking, can plastics leave the product/package and get into your body by any means. Yes!

This is all more fully explained in my book Home Safe Home.

Update October, 2109:  Are All Plastics Toxic?

Question from Pam Wicks

I just found this sugar in my Safeway store today and it says it is crystalized cane juice. It is light beige and a courser texture than white sugar but a little finer that sucanat. It is made in Mexico but I couldn’t find much about it. Have you heard of it and what are your thoughts?

Debra’s Answer

Crystalized cane juice is just refined white sugar. As the sugar is heated, it separates and forms crystals. It’s less refined than white sugar, but refined just the same.

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Question from ssr007

I looked into hard wood flooring for my home. I spent almost one year researching various companies and reviewed material safety data sheets because of allergies.

Hardwood floors are in general a great option, however, there are other “green” alternatives to consider from what I learned that are not coated with chemicals if you are chemically sensitive. I do not have my stacks of information around me, so I will go off of the top of my head.

They are ceramic or tile and some people are sometimes even using ceramic with heating coils installed underneath so the look and feel is “warmer”.

Regarding wood floors with coatings, always look at what wood is coated with. If floors are installed in your home, I believe there will be small specs of powder from the wood having to be cut to fit the room unless it can be cut outdoors or precut at a factory and simply snapped in.

Also, with wood, it cannot be washed well with any water or it will warp, which was of concern to me if small children spilled this and that into the cracks which could grow mold and mildew.

With hard floor like ceramic, it is completely sealed and you can buy it in a dark color to look like wood.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Carole

I have a question about interior paints. I just rented a small efficiency apartment with hardwood floors. I specifically asked the landlord not to refinish the floors before I moved in, which they did not. They did paint and he assured me that they use latex paint that dries within a few days. Well, I just began moving in and there is still a faint odor from the paint. Noone else can smell it, of course!

I am in there for a short amount of time and start feeling dizzy, which is my main symptom from MCS. I really need to do whatever I can to make this place work. My friends have offered to do whatever they can to help. Should I get some type of sealer to put over all the paint? I noticed that the kitchen cabinet is a metal and they painted it. I’m concerned about this because it was painted over 2 weeks ago and the windows are wide open. I’ve been in homes and even my office that was painted and was fine after a few days.

Any help and suggestions would be so very appreciated! Living with this sensitivity to chemicals is so scary and difficult sometimes. I really need to make this work if at all possible.

Thank you so so much!

Carole

Debra’s Answer

Updated 2020:

You can read more here about how to minimize odor and off-gassing from paint.

I’ll just reiterate here, if you have MCS, make sure the unit is tolerable BEFORE you rent it.

Question from Jill A

I recommend OraMD instead of toothpaste. It contains only almond, spearmint, and peppermint oils. For too many years my dentist had me coming in for cleaning every three months because my gums had pockets. I finally got fed up and found OraMD through a Google search. I brush my teeth with it twice a day instead of toothpaste and my dentist no longer worries about my gum health at my six month check-ups. I’ve been using it for nearly five years now – proof enough to me that it works. My husband and teenage son go to different dentists and had the same results. Try it!

www.trustedhealthproducts.com

I am not affiliated with this company in any way.

Debra’s Answer

This looks like a good formula to me. I have a little bottle of peppermint oil that I keep in my medicine cabinet because my dental hygienist told me years ago to use peppermint oil to heal my gums. I rarely have gum problems now, but if I do, the first thing I do is floss thoroughly and apply the peppermint oil with a Q-tip. Any bleeding or soreness goes away in 24 hours.

So your experience is consistent with mine.

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Question from Sara

Debra,

Your bio said you were once chemically sensitive and now have recovered.

I was wondering if you know anything about homeopathic desensitization treatments. There is a homeopathic doctor I’ve researched who says she treated people for formaldehyde sensitivity (those who are sensitive to really low levels that don’t affect others at all). She said that such a treatment has made her patients lives much simpler.

The whole idea seems counter-intuitive to me, but wanted to see if you or your readers have any insight on this.

Thank you,

Sara

Debra’s Answer

I have no experience using homeopathic remedies for MCS, however, I am very familiar with a similar process in which specific doses of the chemicals are given to “neutralize” the effects of the chemicals one is being exposed to.

The problem with this from my viewpoint is that, yes, you may be able to take a remedy so you don’t react to a toxic chemical, but a toxic chemical is TOXIC, it is still making your body sick if you are exposed to it, MCS or not.

This is why I am in favor of removing the source of the chemical wherever possible as the first step, rather than doing something to be able to tolerate the exposure. Symptoms are a sign that there is something wrong that needs to be fixed, not made tolerable with a drug or remedy.

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Question from MLL

I just purchased a new love seat and chair. The showroom manager assures me that this furniture is greener than the furniture made 10 years ago, however, they still use flame retardant, poly foam cushions and laminated wood with glue. I have MCS. How can I stop these chemicals from bothering me?

Debra’s Answer

I wouldn’t have purchased this furniture in the first place. “Greener” doesn’t mean not toxic, especially if you have MCS.

You might try using heat to make the material outgas faster. How long ago did you purchase this? Can you return it?

Readers, have you had any success reducing outgassing from these materials?

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Update January, 2020:

Read more about cookware and bakeware in the Ultimate Guide to Non-Toxic Cookware.

read more…