I just want to warn you about a deceptive label I found the other day. Unfortunately, I fell for it and spent $33 to buy what sounded like an interesting new sweetener. Fortunately, they allowed me to return it, even after I had opened the package. The front of the label said in big letters “100% birch sugar.” I know there is birch syrup, which is the boiled down sap of birch trees, which is much like maple syrup. And I know there is maple sugar, which is further boiled down maple syrup to remove the water. And so, I thought this was birch sugar that was the boiled down sap of birch trees. WRONG! On the back of the label, in small letters, it said “Also known as Xylitol…” Well, xylitol is not a sugar at all, it is a sugar alcohol. It never says on the label that it is a sugar alcohol. So read labels carefully, but also educate yourself. Most of what is said on this label is misleading.

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Question from Liv

When I had my baby 5 months ago, I didn’t know about BPA in baby bottles. When I found out about it, I stopped using them and got some BPA Free bottles.

I’ve read that the BPA leaches when heating. So now I wonder, if the baby bottles are not being sterilized, does it mean that the bottles won’t leach BPA so they will be safe for my baby?

Thanks!

Liv

Debra’s Answer

BPA leaches MORE when it is heated, but still leached some when not heated.

Please use baby bottles that you can sterilize.

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Question from Angel

Hi, Debra. Lately I have been reading about plastic fillings leaching chemicals and causing people problems. I have 9 fillings, all plastic done about 8-9 years ago. My teeth used to ache. It was bad for a few years, but has tapered off over time. Now they only ache on rare occasions. Is it worth worrying about them after all these years?

Debra’s Answer

I would ask a holistic dentist for his or her advice. It depends a lot on the type of plastic used.

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Question from Reenie

A friend recently had carpet put down to replace another one that was floored. The installer used an adhesive to glue the carpet to the house’s cement foundation. She has had a negative reaction, from either the carpet or the adhesive or both. Several week have gone by and she is still very sensitive to the outgassing odors. So she is going to remove the carpet and have ceramic tile installed.

First, what is the safest way to remove any adhesive left on the cement foundation.

Second, are there ways to green up the ceramic tile installation? Should there be a cementboard subfloor installed over the concrete, before the “mud” is put on and the tiles laid. Is there a green grout that can be specified. People often say they will be using green products, but it isn’t always what happens.

Thanks to all of you for any sharing of your experiences or advice about this!

Debra’s Answer

If you are installing ceramic tile, you don’t need to remove any carpet adhesive that remains, unless it makes the surface of the floor uneven. In the past, I’ve removed adhesive residues from floors by scraping it with a putty knife.

You don’t need to put a cement subfloor over the concrete. You can lay the ceramic tile right on the concrete.

My husband and I have laid a lot of tile. We just use the standard mortar and grout that is sold in home improvements stores. Be sure to get a plain powdered grout and not one that contains latex.

The most toxic thing about a tile installation is the grout sealer. We use the grout sealer sold by AFM Enterprises. It is completely odor-free and nontoxic.

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Question from 2eyes

I’ve been considering purchasing a washable wool mattress topper. From my research so far, I’ve gotten that wool becomes washable because it is bonded with “a resin” or Teflon. With further digging around, I found that the wool batting that quilters use is bonded with a resin that is typically acrylic. So, I’m not feeling comfortable about the idea of sleeping on washable wool so far. Any thoughts to allay my concerns? Has anyone heard of a relatively benign resin used to make wool washable? Pine resin or something?

Debra’s Answer

I think you should look at each specific wool topper and see what the wool is or isn’t treated with.

I have a couple of wool toppers on my bed. I’ve never washed them. I air them in the sun occasionally. I have wool mattresses and a wool comforter. Again, I’ve never washed them and they are still fresh and comfortable with airing and sunshine.

Mine are from Shepherd’s Dream.

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Question from Lisa

I am chemically sensitive and live in an old building. Have lived there fine and healthy for a year until they installed new carpeting in the common halls of the building in December (not in my unit, just common halls. All the units have hardwood floors). I know for a fact that formaldehyde in my downfall.

Within two days of the installation I was sick and had to move to a friend’s house. My partner (who is not MCS) did a zeolite treatment, an AFM Safecoat sealer, and two rounds of AFM Lock-out. He did this at night when no one was around.

I returned to the apartment 5 weeks later and could tolerate a few days back in the unit with all my fans going and windows open (in the dead of winter!) I have good days and bad days and it’s not as bad as it was when they first installed. However, I had to leave again this week because I became really sick again.

I’ve moved so many times that I can’t bear to move again. I don’t understand why it’s so bad and the carpet isn’t even in our unit and we’ve sealed all the doors up. No one else in the building has complained.

The very odd thing is that my office had new carpeting installed a year ago and I had no reaction. I also go to meetings in a building with brand new carpet and have no reaction.

Can anyone help me? Would one of those dry steamers help? Any other ideas for getting this thing off-gassed and done with it? I’m desperate. Am getting a carbon mask soon. Am taking magnesium and panothetic acid. Doing saunas to detox. Everything!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Laura

hello,

i have high levels of lead in my tissues, and am going through a slow and natural chelation process. in debra’s book ‘home safe home’ i found out about lead in old tubs.

recently, i bought a lead surface test kit online from pro-lab, and tested my tub. it turned pink, thus, positive for lead.

i love baths, but have been avoiding them since this discovery. i dont really know how much lead is absorbed through skin in water, do you? in your book it seemed to really effect the children in question.

i am a renter, so i think coating the tub with a seal would work. i havent done much research yet, but i wonder if anyone out there has. maybe afm safe-coat has a product.

any advice is appreciated!

Debra’s Answer

If you are detoxing your body for lead, I wouldn’t bathe in a tub that tested positive for lead. Bathtub glazes can contain up to 88% lead.

I don’t know of any sealant. A bathtub liner may work, but is very toxic to install.

Readers? Any suggestions?

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Question from PLF

We are a tiny manufacture (>50K) of a liquid organic product. Some of our product was stored in high-density polyethylene food grade containers, while another batch was stored in low-density polyethylene, food grade containers.

All the product in in HDP containers was ruined. The product in the LDP is fine. Everything was handled the same way. In as much as we lost 90% of our harvest and value added product, we plan to switch to glass containers. However, I am curious about why this happened and if others have knowledge about food grade plastic containers and leaching. Thank you for any links or ideas.

Debra’s Answer

It was my understanding that food grade plastics don’t leach, but recently there was an article about polypropylene food containers leaching, so we may not know everything we need to know about this.

Readers, do you have any info on this?

Can you tell me more about how your product was ruined by this plastic?

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Question from lawrenbc

Hi Debra:

What would you suggest when trying to pass on or dispose of older pots and pans with teflon coating that is flaking off? I have donated these to Goodwill in the past, but I am now concerned with the safety of doing this. I certainly wouldn’t want someone else to be ingesting this teflon coating! Is there a way to recycle this cookware? Or a safe way to dispose of it without contaminating a landfill?

Thanks,

Lawren Coope

Debra’s Answer

Oh good question! I suppose the metal in the pan could be recycled. I’d try asking your local recycling center, or call the manufacturer and see what they say.

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Question from Belinda Brock

I received a thermos type drinking cup purchased at Starbucks with a ceramic insert. Is this healthy? How does it compare to the stainless steel ones?

Debra’s Answer

There is always the chance that any ceramic cup has lead in the glaze. You should test any ceramic item you want to use with LeadCheck swabs. They are sold in the paint department at Home Depot for $5.

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