Question from Sou Belaidi

Hi Debra,

I came across your article regarding Ikea, today I am facing a wall with Ikea.

I am about my first store in London, I am a small business so i wanted to get some shelving unit from Ikea, the KALLAX series but I need to provide to the landlord the fire rating of the shelving units.

I have been calling customer service in Sweden and in the UK and no luck no one seems to know what is the fire rating of these shelves.

Without this information, I will not be able to open my store.

Do you think you can help?

Debra’s Answer

I think I know why IKEA can’t give you an answer.

It’s two things.

First, they probably don’t understand what you are asking for. Do you understand what this term means?

A fire rating refers to the length of time that a material can withstand complete combustion during a a standard fire test.

In the USA, Fire testing of building materials and components of buildings — such as joists, beams and fire walls — is required in mostplaces by local building codes (though I personally have never run into this). Fire tests for consumer products—such as appliances and furniture—are, for the most part, voluntary. Except for certain products such as children’s sleepwear, mattresses and sofas.

In the UK the national building regulations contain fire classifications for building productsYour landlord is probably referring to these.

Why does Ikea not know the fire rating of their shelving?

It may be that there is no fire rating for shelving.

It may be that they are an international company and don’t know the local regulations.

If it were me, I would go back to my landlord, find out exactly what he or she needs, and then go back to Ikea with an exact request rather than a general request. Tell them this is national building regulations in the UK.

One thing I don’t understand is why shelving would need a fire rating? Perhaps your landlord is asking for something that isn’t necessary.

I know this answer seems a bit off topic for this blog, but I wanted to look it up to see if there was a connection between fire ratings and chemical fire retardants. I don’t know the answer to that without a lot more research, but here in the USA flammability laws require sofas and mattresses, for example, to meet fire ratings, and therefore often toxic fire retardants are used. Don’t know about this in the UK.

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Hello Debra,

I really appreciate the legwork, searching, and research you do for all of us. It takes so much time, energy, and expense to check into products, etc… I also appreciate feedback from your readers with chemical sensitivities, or people that just want to live a healthy life as free from toxins as possible. Thus, I want to tell you about something I have found that has made my life a little more enjoyable.

Two of my doctors recommended I try drinking coffee for a couple of health conditions. I haven’t been able to drink coffee for 30 years. Dr C recommended a brand that advertises it’s coffee to be low in mycotoxins. I purchased the decaffeinated coffee, and didn’t feel good with it. Then purchased the regular and didn’t feel good with it. Not giving up, I found Bean Trees Organic Coffee at a local grocery store. I liked it and felt good when I drank it.

Due to multiple food sensitivities, etc., as often as possible, I have a health care practitioner, Dr W muscle test me for all my food, drink, and for actually everything I would use either internally or externally. Thus, I started testing coffees. I purchased several different Varietal Single Origin Organic Coffees and Blends from BeanTrees Organic Coffee. I also purchased other Organic Brands from large and small companies.

THIS IS THE INFORMATION I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT.

So far, I have tested 16 different coffees from 6 different companies, 12 sold as Certified Organic, and NOT ONE has tested good for me. Most of them caused a noticeable reaction, from just not feeling good to blowing blood out of my nose.

More importantly, I have tested 14 single origin varietals and 4 blends from BeanTrees Organic Coffee, all Organic, and ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE, TESTED GOOD FOR ME. And I love them. I feel good when I drink them. Amazingly, they test I can have them every single day. Unbelievable!

I rotate everything. Dr W doses my foods, and most are every other day, or every 3 days, but BeanTrees Organic Coffee tests every day and tests very strong for me. I may also add, that Dr W never liked coffee, not even the smell. We tested the coffees on him, and likewise, most brands did not test, however he can have BeanTrees Organic Coffee. He now loves coffee with coconut oil and coconut milk in it. This is additional proof that the brand seems to make a HUGE difference.

He and I are both extremely impressed with BeanTrees Organic Coffee. I don’t know why it is better than the others that are sold as Organic. All I know, the ONLY coffee I can drink, and feel good with, is BEANTREES ORGANIC COFFEE. I absolutely love it. I look forward to it every morning.

Lately coffee has been in the news for its health benefits. Dr Mercola had an article March 16, 2015, “Daily Coffee Consumption May Help you Avoid Clogged Arteries”. One thing I learned is that “Coffee beans are one of the most heavily pesticides-sprayed crops.” Purchasing Organic and Sustainable “Shade-Grown” coffee is a must. However, I also learned it depends upon the brand.

I want to share this information with you so you can pass it on to your readers if you think it would also be helpful for them. It can take years to find good things that are not toxic, even though they are advertised as organic or being wonderful. Like I said previously, it takes a lot of time, energy, and expense. And it is so helpful when we can learn from others that have been through it!

I might also add that I make my coffee using the cold-brew method which reduces the acid in coffee by up to 70%. I like the taste better also. I grind the beans with a glass, and non BPA, Hario hand grinder and put the grounds in a large glass measuring cup. I pour structured cold water over the grounds. I stir it with a glass stirring rod, cover it with a glass dish, and leave it for 12 hours. I stir it in the morning, and strain it with cheescloth into a Visionware glass saucepan and heat it up. I prefer coffee heated, instead of iced coffee, and nothing is added. I love, love, love it!

Debra, I am extremely limited with foods I can tolerate, thus I was impelled to share this information with you.

By the way, drinking BeanTrees Organic Coffee has helped one of my health conditions 🙂

Best of Health to You,
Stephanie

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Just want to pass along to you a link to the first in a series of posts about choosing a quality, toxic-free sofa.

It’s written by the sisters at OEcotextiles, who know their stuff about organic natural fabrics. But this series goes way beyond fabrics, explaining in detail the different parts of a sofa and how to choose one that will last. (I’ve had my custom-built all-natural sofa for more than 15 years now and it looks like new).

Here’s the link to the sofa shopping blog post: Sofa Shopping.

And here’s a link to a radio interview I did with them on Toxic Free Talk Radio: Fabrics That are Nontoxic, Ethical, Sustainable…and Beautiful.

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February 2015, HealthyStuff.org released the results of testing done on 164 products purchased at four major discount retailers—Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and 99 Cents Only—in six U.S. states.

Eighty-one percent of the products contains at least one hazardous chemical above levels of concern, and 49% contains two or more such chemicals.

Some of the products with the highest level of chemicals included mini lights, rubber ducks, USB cables, adhesive gem strips, artificial nails. Click on product names to find out the brand, country of manufacture, and level of tested chemicals found in the products. Products were tested for arsenic, bromine, cadmium, chlorine, chromium, mercury, lead, antimony and tin.

Read the study results here.

Here is an article from a UK newspaper about this study that gives a more visual perspective of the toxic products:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3031552/From-bath-mats-silly-straws-children-s-jewellery-toxic-items-dollar-stores-make-family-SICK.html

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Question from Emily

Hi Debra,

My Australian sister-in-law sent me a transcript of a wonderful TV program that aired a few weeks ago on Australia’s ABC, similar to our PBS.

The program is called Catalyst and the segment is “Our Chemical Lives”.

As an American I was surprised that a topic like this was allowed on mainstream media. I applaud their efforts of course and thought you would like to see this.

Debra’s Answer

Thanks Emily. This is a very good and simple presentation of the problem of toxic chemicals in our world.

Also see the links to other shows about toxic chemicals.

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Question from Dee Downing

Hi Debra,

Your book Non-toxic and Natural became the cornerstone of the filtration system for “all things entering my domain” in my first home as a mother back in the early 90’s.

It is still my reference point as I evaluate products. The “alternatives” sections became the recipes that I still use. THANK YOU.

I have been in my current home for 12 years with the same refrigerator that was here when we moved in… I’m considering a new refrigerator, yet am stalling, due to the off gassing of new units. (I’ve been “considering” a purchase for 6 years!)

I have searched the web and found very little discourse and no refrigerators that are manufactured with materials that do not off gas.

Are you familiar with with any manufacturers addressing this issue? Frankly, I am blown away that with all the discourse (finally) about our polluted food system that no one is talking about how we put our “locally grown organic” produce in a toxic box whose vapors infuse this clean food with toxic gases.

I am considering purchasing a new refrigerator before my existing ‘fridge poops out. I thought I could set it in the sun for a few months–before I need it.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance and thank you for your enduring work.

Debra’s Answer

I wish I could give you the brand and model of a safe refrigerator, but unfortunately there are no “toxic free” refrigerators.

I bought a new refrigerator ten years ago. It’s a Kenmore “Trio” and I love it. I bought it new but it was a floor model so it had more time to outgas.

The best I can tell you with all appliances is to buy used or floor models that have had time to outgas.

And yes, putting a refrigerator outdoors in the sun with the doors open will help it outgas faster.

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This week a story has been in the news about a Delaware family who was poisoned by pesticides sprayed in their Caribbean hotel room.

Delaware family poisoned in Caribbean condo

The family began having seizures after methyl bromide was used to fumigate a nearby room in the condo complex. They were taken to island hospitals and then airlifted back to America for further treatment.

Methyl bomide is an odorless pesticide that can be fatal or cause serious central nervous system and respiratory system damage. Use of this pesticide is restricted in the United States and it’s territories, which includes the Virgin Islands.

It was applied by Terminix, a USA company that should know that the pesticide is not for indoor use.

While this is an isolated incident, it brings attention to the fact that pesticides are routinely used in hotel rooms, especially in areas like the Caribbean where there are a lot of insects.

Pesticide use is something to ask about when choosing a hotel.

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Last week I received a new post from the O Ecotextiles blog regarding Environmental Working Group’s recent post about couches without flame retardants.

As the sisters who founded O Ecotextiles pointed out, while it’s good that California revised their law about flame retardants, shame on EWG for simply going along with the flame retardant free message being promoted, and failing to talk about the other toxic chemicals in the handful of sofas they mentioned.

This is exactly the problem with any claim of being free of a single chemical, whether it be lead-free, fragrance-free or flame-retardant-free. Products could certainly be free of one chemical but contain many others, as pointed out in the blog post from O Ecotextiles.

Of course, you can find the real toxic free sofas on Debra’s List on my Interior Decorating | Furniture page. 

Read the post at O Ecotextiles blog for more info on toxic chemicals in sofas: The Environmental Working Group’s recent post about “five couches without flame-retardants.”

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Question from Ellen

Hi Debra,

Can anyone recommend an good non-toxic exterior paint that is hopefully also durable? I’ve been putting off various painting jobs for fear of exposure to fumes. I’d be especially interested in hearing any experiences.

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Hannah Ellen

Hi Debra,

I am considering installing new siding on my home, partly for aesthetic reasons and partly for health reasons.

Currently my home has wood shingles that are covered with aluminum siding on 3 sides and vinyl siding on the fourth.

I don’t love the way it looks and would love to replace with fiber cement boards or wood.

Partly I would like to get rid of the aluminum siding for EMF reasons.

However, I assume that the wood shingles underneath have lead paint on them, though the lead inspector was not able to verify this because they were completely covered. So I am trying to weigh risks – some EMF issues with keeping the house as is vs. the potential disturbance of lead-painted shingles if they are removed.

We would certainly leave the house during the work and keep all windows closed tightly. However, with 2 children under the age of 6, I don’t take lead hazards lightly. Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated as always 🙂

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

What I would do is have someone remove one or two pieces of the aluminum siding so the lead inspector can really see what is underneath. Lead-removal professionals are supposed to remove lead in a safe way that doesn’t spread it around the surrounding environment.

So get more information before you make a decision.

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