Question from Miriam

Lisa’s Answer

Have you searched for silicone covers?  I googled hearing aid covers and came up with several options.  I’m not sure if they would fit your device but perhaps they could be cut.  I don’t recommend silicone for baking but it is inert at room temperature.

Question from Greg

Lisa’s Answer

I think it would be a great business idea for someone to make truly safer gym equipment.  Unfortunately, I don’t know of any that are truly No-VOC.  I’m not sure that’s possible.  The way I look at it is that the benefit of exercise outweighs the risks and you should minimize exposure where you can.  Also, home gyms are a very good place to have a good air purifier that captures VOCs.

The resistance bands shown seem better.  It’s good that they are not made with PVC but it doesn’t tell you what it is made of.

I haven’t looked into stationary bikes.  Readers, any suggestions?

Question from Stefany

Lisa’s Answer

Unless you are sensitive to EMFs I think metal dressers are a good choice.  Just make sure the metal is not coated with an epoxy or even vinyl coating.  One of the items listed is powder coated which is a good choice.  There were a couple that listed epoxy coating.  I’d avoid those.

Question from Stacey

Lisa’s Answer

Most cowhide rugs are made with a chrome tanning process, similar to leather.  It is toxic.  Some of the more toxic chemicals are Chrome VI, AZO-dyes, and formaldehyde.  Like leather, cowhide can be made with a vegetable tanning process which doesn’t use chrome VI or some of the other harsher chemicals, but it does use chemicals.  If you are interested in a vegetable tanned product, you would need to understand the chemicals used for the particular item.

Question from Mir

Lisa’s Answer

I looked for a MSDS online for Weldbond and didn’t see one.  I’ve never used a jewelry glue before so I’m not familiar with a safer one.  If you expect to use this only on occasion, I am not too concerned about it being a significant exposure.  Make sure you use it in a well ventilated area, ideally outside, and allow it fully cure.

Question from Duane

Lisa’s Answer

I haven’t done a full investigation on ovens in general.  If you have read my guide on Toasters and Toaster Ovens you’ll understand how challenging it is to get information about appliances.  It is something that I plan to dive into at some point but it will be a very big project so I can’t give you specific timing.

It’s hard to find safe, non-toxic kitchen appliances because manufacturers don’t always list the materials they use.  Here’s a guide to help you find a toaster or toaster oven that uses safer materials.

Toaster and Toaster Oven Buying Guide

Question from Lisa

Lisa’s Answer

I assume that the dishes are new.  If so, Villeroy & Boch claims that their dishes use lead-free glaze.  Even when manufacturers use lead free glazes, it’s possible that they could have traces of lead which can be a raw material contaminant.  Typically white dishes are a safer bet.  I believe the Manor pattern is white.  You can read more here about lead in ceramic dishes.

The EU has been evaluating tightening their lead limits for ceramics but it hasn’t been updated since the 1980’s.  I reached out to Villeroy & Boch to see if they meet or exceed California Proposition 65 limits but have not heard back.  I recommend buying white ceramic dishwater that meets or exceeds Prop 65.

Tamara Rubin from leadsafemama.com tests products including dishes with XRF equipment to see if they contain lead.  You could try that.  The limitation of this is that it tells you if there is lead content but does not tell you if it leaches out of the product.  You can use it as an extra precaution.  The testing, however, is not done in a laboratory and only tests one sample.  It can be a useful tool in some instances.

Question from Nicole

Lisa’s Answer

I would need more information than is provided on their website but there are some red flags.  The crib is described on some reseller websites as made of 100% beech wood.  On the Stokke site it is described as solid beech wood but then further down in the details it says it is a combination of solid beechwood, Beech laminate and beech plywood.  I find this very misleading. Laminate is made with adhesives so I would need to know what type of adhesives are used.  Plywood may contain formaldehyde.  I don’t see any certifications to confirm that they use formaldehyde-free plywood.

Also, the natural color has a finish that I would need to know more about.  The white and grey are stained and I would need to know more about the stain used.  You can call the company and ask if the have Safety Data Sheets for the finishes and materials used.  If you get those I can look at them to tell you more.

Question from Mir

Lisa’s Answer

Based on the information available in the links, greenrubbertoys.com seems like the best bet.  While I have a couple questions about their products, I am impressed with the information they do provide.  They are made with natural latex.  You might want to confirm that it is 100% natural latex with no additives but even if it isn’t, it’s a better choice than the others. They provide testing results for each product line.  Toys with brown paint may contain very low levels of lead, far below allowable limits.  Have your kids wash their hands after playing and of course, make sure they don’t put them in their mouths.

I would avoid anything with PVC.  The Target item has PVC.  The Hearthsong item has a Prop 65 warning label for Toulene, which means it is probably made of PVC.  I couldn’t find any information on materials on the Bullyland, battatco or Desertcart websites.

PEVA and EVA are two non-PVC vinyls.  They are typically safer than PVC because they don’t contain chlorine, and don’t typically contain phthalates.  They are however, petroleum-based plastic and can contain a number of chemical additives.  For example formamide is a hotly debated ingredient in EVA foam.  I know it’s really hard to find toys that have no plastic.  I think the natural latex dinosaur is a good choice!