Debra Lynn Dadd

Are You Protected from Radiation Exposure?

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:49:00 GMT

It's been almost two years since the 8.9 earthquake in Japan, which resulted in damage to nuclear reactors there. Since then there have been warnings that nuclear fallout from the accidents in Japan following the earthquake could be coming to the United States, particularly the West Coast.

Most recently I read that while the disaster certianly had the most profound effects for those living in Japan, more than 80% of the radiation released was either blown offshore or directly released into the ocean. From there, radioactive particles get into the food chain, and what doesn’t settle on the ocean floor is on its way to the US.

Why should you be concerned about this? Because low-dose long-term exposure to radiation causes cancer and changes in DNA that can result in mutations in cells.

Forbes magazine was concerned enough about radiation exposure from Japan that it ran an article giving four sites where each of us can monitor radiation levels in the United States ourselves, and not rely on secondhand reports.

But even if the best-case scenario is there is no radiation exposure from Japan, here at home we have plenty of sources of radiation exposure from which we need to protect ourselves.

Do You Know What Radiation Is?

For many years I kept hearing this word "radiation" but didn't really learn the definition until I realized I should do something to protect my body from radiation exposure. So I had to first learn what radiation is, so I could take the proper precautionary steps to protect myself from the exposures.

While the word "radiation" might make you think of nuclear power plants, radioactive wastes, and x-ray machines, in fact, radiation is energy in the form of waves or high speed particles and includes all forms of energy in the entire electomagnetic spectrum.

Non-ionizing radiation, which includes radio waves, heat waves, and light waves are beneficial.

It's the ionizing radiation that breaks chemical bonds in molecules and can damage DNA. A good place to learn about radiation in easy-to-understand terms is EPA: RadTown USA: Basic Information.

Sources of Everyday Radiation Exposure

A good 82 percent of the radiation you are exposed to occurs naturally:

Radon in soil and water 55%
Cosmic radiation from the sun and other heavenly sources 8%
Radiation from minerals in rock and soil 8%
Radionuclides that have been in human bodies since the beginning of our species 11%

These are background sources that our human bodies have lived with and adapted to over millenia.

The remaining 18 percent comes from new manmade sources:

Medical x-rays 11%
Nuclear medicine 4%
Consumer products 3%

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a whole website just to show you where those sources of radiation are: RadTown USA.

According to the EPA, "By far, the largest radiation dose received by the public comes from smoking cigarettes. While cigarette smoke is not an obvious source of radiation exposure, it contains small amounts of radioactive materials which smokers bring into their lungs as they inhale. The radioactive particles lodge in lung tissue and over time contribute a huge radiation dose. Radioactivity may be one of the key factors in lung cancer among smokers." And that would apply to second-hand smoke as well.

Some other sites that can help you determine your exposure to radioactive materials in your life are:

Radioactive Consumer Products
Consumer Products Containing Radioactive Materials

How to Protect Your Health

Always, the best thing to do is avoid as many exposures that may be harmful to your health as you can. Since some of the radiation you may be exposed to is in the form of waves, and other is in the form of radioactive particles, there are different precautions to take for each.

With waves, such as electromagnetic fields, the protection is to be a good distance from the source, or to shield your exposure. It can be as simple as wearing a wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin from sunburn, or wearing the lead apron when you get an x-ray. There is much information on the internet about how to minimize your exposure to electromagnetic fields from many different sources.

For radioactive particles, protection is to either avoid them or remove them from your body. You can avoid the radioactive particles from cigarette smoke most of the time, but other sources might not be so easy to avoid.

If a nuclear reactor has a meltdown, you need to protect your body from radioactive particles, or remove them from your body.

After the nuclear meltdown in Japan in 2011, there was a rush to stock up on potassium iodide, which protects the thyroid from radioactive particles that can cause cancer. But that's all it protects. Potassium iodide can cause allergic reactions, intestinal upset, and salivary gland problems. Here is more information on postassium iodide from Scientific American: Does Potassium Iodide Protect People from Radiation Leaks? Please do NOT take potassium iodide as a preventive measure. It is only effective if taken between forty minutes before and several hours after the moment of radiation exposure.

Another recommendation for radioactive particles is to eat a diet of brown rice, miso soup, and sea vegetables. This diet apparently saved lives after the bombing of Japan in 1945. Since then, researchers have found that sea vegetables (sold in natural food stores) contain a substance that selectively binds radioactive strontium and removes it from the body. But we now know rice contains arsenic, so this may not be a good idea. And sea vegetables themselves may be radioactive, from pollution in the ocean.

But there is a better solution...

The Substance Scientists Use to Clean Up Nuclear Disasters

Zeolites have long been the go-to clean up tool that scientists use for radiation.

In 1979, the zeolite Clinoptilolite was used to remove radioactive waste from the water surrounding the Three Mile Island nuclear plant.

In 1986, again the zeolite Clinoptilolite was used extensively to mop up radiation and reduce exposure in area populations at the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl: Over 500,000 tons of zeolite was airlifted in the reactor to absorb radioactive metals Cattle were fed zeolite to help keep radioactive ions out of milk Zeolite “cookies” were baked for children to help reduce radioactive absorption When soil contaminated with Cesium and Strontium was treated with zeolite, plants growing in that soil resulted in NO uptake of Cesium or Strontium.
[Source: “La Roca Magica: Uses of Natural Zeolites in Agriculture and Industry” presented at the 1998 National Academy of Sciences]

And at Fukushima in 2011, the nuclear power plant operators began dropping sandbags filled with zeolite to help remediate the wastewater as it flowed into the ocean.

Two Simple Things You Can Do to Protect Your Body From Radiation

To be free of the harmful effects of radiation, you need to both eliminate your exposure to radiation as much as possible and remove radioactive particlces from your body.

One thing you can do is remove any radiation that may be in your drinking water. There is only one water filter that I know of that removes radioactive particles from tap water (and it uses zeolite to accomplish this). Visit the PureEffects Advanced Technology website for water filters that remove radiation at the tap or in your whole house.

And to remove any radiation you may be exposed to, you can take the very same substance scientists use to clean up radiation: zeolite. Taken in a liquid form, it can clean up radioactive particles in every nook and cranny of your body. I take Pure Body liquid zeolite every day to help my body eliminate any radioactive of toxic exposures I encounter beyond my safe home.

There's no need to allow radiation to damage your health. Just be aware of your radiation exposures, minimize them as much as possible, and remove any radioactive particles from your body before they can cause damage.

Touch Wood Rings

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 04:00:00 GMT

"Custom designed, meticulously hand crafted wooden rings"-- a charming alternative to precious metals and gemstones for wedding rings, engagement rings, friendship rings, handfastings, commitment ceremonies or anniversaries. "Wearing a handcrafted wood ring will delight your fingers as well as your soul! Touch Wood rings are timeless, beautiful, durable, warm to the touch & light to wear. Artist and craftsman; David Finch works with the clients design, and his expertise and artistic vision to create a one of a kind wearable work of art. Website has information about choosing woods for their mythic and spiritual properties. Take a look and see how beautiful these rings are.

International Institute for Bau-biology & Ecology

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT

IBE educates people from all professions and walks of life about the hazards to human health from cellphones, WiFi, Smart Meters, indoor air & water pollution and toxic building materials. The Institute offers, through its Healthy Building Environmental Learning Center, both free and low-cost online courses (self-study), a mentored correspondence course, four instructor-led 5-day seminars (annually), and a semi-annual 5-day conference. The institute also offers professional certification training for those who wish to make a profound difference in the health and wellbeing of others, graduating Building Biology Practitioners (BBP) and the more comprehensively trained Building Biology Environmental Consultants (BBEC). IBE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental education organization.

Natural Joy Beauty

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Discover Freedom from Artificiality with truly natural and organic Cosmetics, Nail Care, Skin Care, Hair Care, Deodorant, Soap, Body Care, Feminine Hygiene, Baby Care and more (many are gluten-free too!). This business was started out of a desire to create a store where customers could feel confident about the ingredients in all of the products available. "I had quickly learned during my own search to find natural alternatives for makeup and body care, just how much "green washing" there is with products being marketed as natural and organic that really aren't...even those sold in health food stores. Many still contain parabens, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, synthetic fragrance, phenoxyethanol and other questionable ingredients. At Natural Joy Beauty we do the research for you, list all product ingredients and offer samples sizes for most every item."

Good Night Naturals

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT

"Just about everything natural and organic you could want to transform your bed and bath into an oasis of health, vitality and beauty." Chemical-free organic mattresses, eco-friendly adjustable bed frames, organic wool comforters, pillows, latex mattresses, latex toppers, organic cotton sheets and luxury linens. Beautiful, high quality pieces made of natural-color and dyed organic cotton, PureGrow™ Wool, bamboo, lyocell (wood-pulp fiber and cotton blend) and other specialty natural fibers (check out their supersoft microcotton).

Good Night Naturals

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Completely organic mattress pads, comforters and pillows filled with PureWool and covered in 100% organic cotton. We believe organic bedding should be natural in its entirety and completely chemical-free. Others claim to be 100% Natural or Organic, but without PureWool, you may be getting more than you bargained for....bedding treated with chemicals. PureWool is unlike most wool produced around the globe, which is subjected to a harsh chemical cleaning process called "carbonization." PureWool is not carbonized. Did you know that many people who believe they have an allergy to wool are actually reacting to the process of carbonization? Discover the difference between PureWool fibers and other so-called natural wool." Also latex mattress toppers and beautiful natural fiber blankets.

Essentia

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT

A latex mattress with NO latex odor (I smelled it myself). Their unique, natural latex "memory foam" mattresses are made with a special process. The natural latex is expanded into foam using water, essential oils, and plant extracts, rather than chemicals, resulting in a natural latex that is 100 percent natural in both the raw material and processing. This foam was developed by a man who had been in the latex foam business all his life and was diagnosed with cancer. Their custom molding process also eliminates toxic glues. Their proprietary memory foam recovers 72% faster--making it easier to move around in bed--and is 80% more breathable, which prevents building excessive body heat and sweating. I have a sample of this and it has very little odor--nothing like the odor from other samples of latex I've tried. NOTE: be sure to ask for their unscented foam, unless you want a mattress that smells of fragrant essential oils. Your choice. They also sell support pillows made with their natural memory foam and certified organic cotton sheets.

Sunlight is Necessary for Good Nutrition

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

An excerpt from Debra's Guide to Choosing Natural Sun Protection

Exposing our skin to natural sunlight is a vital part of maintaining good health.

The interaction of sunlight with skin produces Vitamin D, a vital nutrient that is not found in foods that are common in our modern diet. Vitamin D does occur naturally in egg yolks, liver, yeast, shrimp, salmon, tuna, and fish liver oils, and is added to fortified milk and enriched bread. However, sunlight is still needed to help the body synthesize vitamin D from these sources, and vitamin D is essential to the optimal function of every cell, tissue, organ, and system in our bodies.

In 2002, Catherine Gordan, MD, a doctor at Boston Children's Hospital, reported that more than 50% of adolescent children in Boston were deficient in vitamin D. At the University of Maine, Susan Sullivan MD discovered that 48% of young white girls aged 9-11 were vitamin D deficient at the end of winter, and by the end of summer, 17% were still deficient.

"The risk of death from cancer as a result of vitamin D deficiency may be thirty times greater than the risk of dying of skin cancer as a result of being in the sun."

— Edward Giovanucci, MD, Harvard Medical School

So important is our ability to synthesize vitamin D to our health that our bodies have a mechanism—skin color—to ensure that the right amount of sun reaches our skins, regardless of where an individual body dwells on Earth. The first humans lived near the equator. Their bodies developed dark skin rich with melanin that protected them against burning in the plentiful sun, while still letting enough sunlight penetrate the skin to make vitamin D. As migrating tribes started to move away from the equator into areas where the sun became progressively weaker, their skins became lighter and lighter, their skin became less and less pigmented to make best use of the available sun.

Sunlight also activates the body's absorption of calcium and other minerals. So simply taking a calcium or mineral supplement or eating foods containing these nutrients isn't enough. Our bodies need sunlight to assimilate them.

Since ancient times, sunbathing was considered a restorative for health. Even cave paintings show an understanding that exposure to sun was essential to life. The healing powers of the sun were celebrated by ancient peoples around the world, from the Eqyptians, Greeks and Romans to the Aztecs and Incas.

Prior to the discovery of penicillin in 1938, sunshine was routinely used to treat many ills. Conditions known to be helped by sunshine therapy include tuberculosis, colitis, anemia, gout, cystitis, arteriosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, acne, herpes, lupus, sciatica, asthma, and kidney problems.

Modern studies have shown that exposure to sunlight can

lower blood pressure
uplift mood
enhance the immune system
lower blood sugar in diabetics
help us tolerate stress
increase the efficiency of the heart
reduce cholesterol
assist in weight loss
stimulate the thyroid gland
improve psoriasis
kill infectious bacteria
improve asthma
increase sex hormones
increase the hormones that affects the body's responses to sunlight and darkness

...and have other good effects.

About sunscreen...There concern that regular use of even natural sunscreen can interfere with your skin's ability to produce vitamin D, a nutrient essential to all body functions. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinologic Metabolism reports that scientifically controlled studies of skin untreated with sunscreen versus skin treated with sunscreen (SPF-8) demonstrated a large difference in vitamin D production. The sunscreened skin showed NO change in vitamin D, while the untreated skin had increases of vitamin D of 1600 percent in their blood. Studies done by Micheal F. Holick PhD, MD of Boston University Medical Center show that sunscreens rated SPF-8 reduce vitamin D production by 97.5 percent and sunscreens rated SPF-15 reduce vitamin D production by 99.9 percent. So if you choose to wear sunscreen, for that period of time you are essentially shutting down your body's vitamin D production, pretty much completely.

It has been found that the greatest increase in skin cancers is in countries where chemical sunscreens have been heavily promoted. According to The American Journal of Public Health, the rise in cancer has been exceptionally high in Queensland, Australia, which now has more incidences of melanoma per capita than any other place on Earth.

And, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sunscreen alone is not even adequate for effective sun protection. They say, "it is important to complement sunscreen use with other sun protection options: cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and seek shade."

PURIUM Health Products

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Organic, whole food nutrition products that support the naturopathic principle that "the human body is capable of creating and supporting perfect health if given the proper tools". Purium (Pure + Premium) products are whole food, live food, green food, highly alkalinized, organic, vegan, super-foods. All with no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners…no binders, fillers or preservatives…no synthetic ingredients…no GMOs. Choose from potent products for weight loss, anti-aging, detox & digestion, immune support, sports & fitness, skin care, pet care, etc. Special offer: FREE 10-meal sample of the new L.O.V.E. Super Meal ((just pay $9.95 S&H): One serving contains more protein than 2 chicken breasts, more fiber than 5 slices of whole grain bread, more antioxidants than 10 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables, more essential fatty acids than 12 ounces of salmon, and more. (I tried it and it tastes great. No way could I eat all that food to get all that nutrition!). Independent distributor: Nancy Frisch.

Zulily

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

"Daily deals for moms, babies and kids" on top boutique-brand clothing, jewelry, accessories, toys and more,. "We strike deals with top brands you already adore, and we introduce you to new brands you might not find anywhere else. You get a hand-picked selection of high-quality goods." The selection changes every few days, so there's almost always something new. While not all items are natural, I had no problem finding natural fiber clothing in my size by typing "cotton," "linen," etc into their search box. I just typed "organic" in the search box and got 375 items. It's fun to play and the prices are HUGELY discounted. And...you can earn $15 if you refer a friend and they make a purchase (it's simple to sign up).

Dash & Albert Rug Company

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

100% cotton woven and hooked rugs in many stylish designs and colors. Sizes 2' x 3' to 9' x 12'. Plus heavy-duty tote bags made from their rug materials.

Love Latex Mattress But Is it Toxic?

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Celestine

CA, USA

I just got a latex mattress, used, that was said to be organic. That probably just means it is not synthetic. It is sublimely comfortable. I slept an extra hour with no wakeup in the night. However, I've been told that the latex is extracted with toxic chemicals! And that these stay in the latex and do affect people. This morning I had a mild headache and a runny nose--which are not things that usually happen with me. I am not prone to allergies. If it is a case of toxins in the mattress, any idea if there is a type of barrier cloth that would keep it from affecting me? I really would like to keep this mattress if I can. For one thing, it is enormous and extremely heavy--took three men to get it up to my room. But it is also metal-free, which I wanted. Thanks, Celestine

Debra's Answer:

I totally understand your dilemma. Latex is very comfortable, but not everyone can tolerate it. I can't sleep on a latex mattress or pillow because of the natural odor or latex, but that doesn't mean it's toxic.

With regard to the organic and toxic chemicals part, I'm working on sorting out about organic latex. And yes, some latex does use toxic chemicals in processing. But we can't make generalities with this because different latexes are processed in different ways.

My suggestion to you would be to go back to the manufacturer and find out about any toxic chemicals used in their organic latex. Nothing to be concerned about if no toxic chemicals were used.

Your reaction may be simply to latex itself. You could try a barrier cloth mattress cover, or several layers of blankets.

Medical Tests Without Prescription

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Offers lab tests without requiring a doctor's prescription. You order the tests online, then take your receipt to a local lab, where your blood is drawn. Get results online in 48 hours or have them mailed to you. Tests include ALCAT, Alcoholism, Allergies, Anemia, Amino Acids, Arthritis, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Comprehensive Wellness Profile, Colon, Drug Screen, Food Allergies, Hair Elements, Homocysteine, Organic acids, Prostate, VAP Cholesterol Test, and more.

First Alert Smoke Alarm

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Battery-operated smoke alarm with photoelectric sensor does not emit radiation. First Alert SA710CN Smoke Alarm

Steel Beds

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

tracigw

Are steel beds less toxic overall than beds made of other materials (wood or foam-covered fabric)? It seems like the toxicity would come primarily from lacquer. I have no chemical sensitivities, but would like to create as chemical-free home environment as possible, as we have young children. Thank you!

Debra's Answer:

Steel beds are less toxic than wood and especially fabric-covered foam.

Wood is fine if you use a nontoxic finish on it.

Steel generally has a baked on finish that is not toxic after it is baked on.

The first bed I had when I was creating my first nontoxic bedroom was the steel frame of a roll-away cot, with a pile of folded washed cotton thermal blankets for the mattress. A bed doesn't have to be that extreme today because we now have natural mattresses, but a metal frame of any kind is a good choice.

Insomnia and Detox

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

One of the first posts we wrote for this blog was Detox Chemicals From Your Body...While You Sleep!. That's how important sleep is to detox.

In fact, it's during those hours of sleep that your body does its work of detoxing. But what if you have trouble sleeping? Well, then, your body has trouble detoxing.

Sleep is often taken for granted until one does not sleep well. Sleep is a restorative time for the body and without it the body cannot function as well. Good sleep is essential to health, clear thinking and happiness! Our detox systems rely on this restoration time each day!

I'm sure each of you reading this have had days where you didn't sleep well, or were worried about something, or stayed up all night to study or finish a presentation for work, or just have fun. And then the next day, how did you feel? Not very good I'm sure.

And on the other hand, you can probably remember a morning when you slept so well you just wanted to jump out of bed and get started on your day!

Part of supporting your body in it's detox function is knowing how to promote good sleep, each and every night.

Here are some simple but effective ways to ensure a good nights sleep.

1. Change your sheets. All "no-iron," "permanent-press" and similarly labeled cotton sheets, and all polyester-cotton sheets have a finish that emits formaldehyde. This finish doesn't wash out for years. And...formaldehyde causes insomnia! So if you're not sleeping well, the first thing to do is change your sheets to cotton flannel or cotton knit, or untreated cotton. Organic cotton is even better.

2. Exercise daily. Even if it is a short walk after dinner. It's especially nice to take a walk in the cool evenings now after dinner, during the summer. Look around at the environment and let your mind rest from the thoughts of the day.

3. Stretch! In addition to exercise, simple stretches can make a huge difference in how you sleep. Be more like the cat that stretches all the time and sleeps 22 hours per day!!

4. Drink plenty of water. At least eight glasses a day and more during the summer. Dehydration can make it diffficult to sleep. If you wake up in the middle of the night, a simple glass of water can put you back to sleep. Your body actually losees quite a bit of water every night as you are sleeping. Each time you exhale, your body loses a little bit of water and it also loses water through perspiration. Over the course of a night, water loss through respiration and transpiration add up to more than a quart!

5. Take magnesium. This nutrient has improved sleep for so many people that I am tempted to say it is a miracle cure! It is essential to assist in the bodies use of calcium. The statistics point to a 80% deficiency in magnesium in the USA!! You may be amazed at the results that you get.

Magnesium can help reduce many symptoms including muscle pain and cramping, headaches (particularly migraine), high blood pressure, INSOMNIA! and many more!

Start out slowly taking magnesium as it is a natural laxative (it will help move toxic chemicals through your intestines if you are constipated). Build up according to the directions on the bottle.

I highly recommend NATURAL CALM as it tastes great and helps many people quickly. Oftentimes people sleep better the first night that they take it!!

If you've been having trouble sleeping, stop counting sheep and do something truly effective to handle your insomnia. Your body's ability to detox depends on getting a good night's sleep.

Ten Toxic Chemicals Associated with Autism

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Debra Lynn Dadd

Florida

There's a commercial running on television--I just saw it the other night--that says one in 110 children are affected by autism spectrum disorder. This morning I received a newsletter that says last month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) now affects 1 of every 88 American children -- a 78% increase from just ten years ago.

To guide a research strategy to discover potentially preventable environmental causes, the Children's Environmental Health Center (CEHC) has developed a list of ten chemicals found in consumer products that are suspected to contribute to autism and learning disabilities.

The list was published in Environmental Health Perspectives in an editorial written by Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, director of the CEHC, Dr. Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and Dr. Luca Lambertini, also of the CEHC.

The top ten chemicals are:

Lead
Methylmercury
PCBs
Organophosphate pesticides
Organochlorine pesticides
Endocrine disruptors
Automotive exhaust
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Brominated flame retardants
Perfluorinated compounds

Source: A Research Strategy to Discover the Enviornmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

My personal opinion is: why wait for science? If these chemicals are suspected of causing autism, why not assume they do and remove them from our homes and and the bodies of autistic children?

Barrier cloth encasement for toxic chemicals

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

I want to have cushion encasements made for my sofa out of organic cotton barrier cloth. Do you know if this will be effective to keep the toxic chemicals from escaping, ie., flame retardants? Is there a specific pore size or would all cotton barrier fabric be effective? Also, I want to encase my memory foam mattress in the Magnolia organic cotton barrier mattress cover, www.magnoliaorganics.com. Would this also be effective to keep toxins from escaping? I was originally going to use polyethelene sheeting but was not sure how this would work since cushions & matresses need air to circulate in and out of the cushions when someone sits down & gets up. I would much prefer the fabric if it would work.

Thank you,

Debra's Answer:

This is a very good question!

Barrier cloth has been around for years and has been used by many people with MCS to "block chemical fumes."

I personally, however, have been reluctant to recommend it for this purpose because it didn't seem to me to really be a barrier.

Barrier cloth is a tightly woven fabric that has very small spaces between the threads. The spaces between the threads vary from 4-6 microns depending on the thickness of the threads and how tightly they are pulled together. The thread count is generally 240 threads per inch or more, but it's not the thread count that is important, it's the micron size of the space between them.

A "micron" is an abbreviated term for "micrometer", or a millionth of a meter (1/1,000,000 meters). This is about .00004 inches. Typically dust is in the range of 3-100 microns, so that would easily be blocked by barrier cloth, but pesticides at 0.001 microns would go right through.

To thoroughly answer your question, I called www.janices.com, who has been selling barrier cloth to people with MCS for more than 20 years. And I asked "What do you say about your barrier cloth to make an accurate statement about it's ability to block toxic chemicals?"

And the customer service person said, "We would never guarantee our barrier cloth to block toxic chemicals. The fabric has miniscule gaps so gasses can get through, but it works for a lot of people, which is why we sell it."

Now, would that block fire retardants? It depends on the fire retardant and how big the micron size is. I found a flame retardant with a particle size of 0.8 - 1.0 microns and another 0.03 microns. These would slip right through barrier cloth. But other flame retardants might be blocked. You would need to know the exact flame retardant and it's particle size in microns to determine this.

I wouldn't trust barrier cloth to completely block chemical vapors, but it would probably reduce your exposure. Several layers would improve performance.

Scented Spa Products

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Holistic Spa

Californina

A product line is going to be used at the spa I will be working for and I have grave concerns regarding it, even though the line is touted to be safe, green and so forth.

Many of the products have 100% essential oils, but several in key products are a combination of essential oils and "skin safe fragrance oils"

As a trained aromatherapist, I was taught that anything you combine with essential oils needs to be very pure as the essential oils penetrate into the body when applied and carry the carrier oils (or other ingredients) into the body as well.

My understanding is that there are no "skin safe fragrance oils" since as fragrances they are not regulated as to purity nor of a natural source.

I will be working with these products on a daily basis, have MCS and don't want to become ill, nor contribute to the illness of others.

Do you feel my concerns are valid?

Debra's Answer:

Yes, I feel your concerns are valid.

"Skin safe fragrance oils" are apparently fragrance oils that can be applied to the skin undiluted (many cannot).

"Fragrance oils" are aromatic chemicals in highly concentrated form. I'm getting this of a website that sells fragrance oils. They say we can order MSDS sheets from Customer Service, like any other toxic chemical.

I see there are a couple of organizations whose purpose is to "ensure the safety of fragrance materials": the International Fragrance Association and Research Institute for Fragrance Materials ( the most comprehensive, worldwide source of toxicology data, literature and general information on fragrance and flavor raw materials.)

So from your description, I would think that they are using real plant-based essential oils mixed with various petrochemical fragrance oils. And since essential oils penetrate into the body when applied, I would think they would carry the petrochemical fragrance oils along with them.

I would use different products.

Carpet Pad

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Erika

USA

I am planning to install all natural wool carpet in our bedrooms but I’m unsure of the carpet pad choices to go with.

I’m considering a frothed polyurethane cushion such as Healthier Choice. I like the springiness, low VOCs and no Penta Bromide additive, B.H.T., or 4-P.C. but does contain an antimicrobial which I’m unsure about.

Then there’s sponge rubber by Sponge Cushion Inc.

Alternatively and most cost effective, there’s synthetic felted pads consisting of either post-consumer or industrial (carpet manufacturing) recycled content. I’m wary of possible VOC or dust concerns and although fire retardants are not added, I wonder about possible residual fire retardants in the blend (http://www.shawhospitalitygroup.com/downloads/EcoFiber-TouchOverview.pdf or http://www.lpurethane.com/synthetic.asp).

I have not been able to source any other natural cotton or felt pads. I know there’s always wool padding but it’s the most pricey (I’m already spending a fortune on the carpet) and I do have some fears about moths possibly settling down into the pad. Your thoughts on this are much appreciated!

Debra's Answer:

This is part of why I don't recommend carpets at all, and haven't had a carpet for more than thirty years.

This is more than I can evaluate in a blog question, but if you would like to call me for a consultation , we can look at each of these products together and I can help you evaluate which one best meets your needs.

Readers, any suggestions for carpet pads?

Nitrocellulose wood finish

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Orsoly

USA

Hi Debra, Is Nitrocellulose finish safe on wooden playpens? Thank you!

Debra's Answer:

Nitrocellulose lacquer is aquick-drying solvent-based lacquer that contains nitrocellulose, a resin obtained from the nitration of cotton and other cellulostic materials. These lacquers are used on wooden products, primarily furniture, and on musical instruments and other objects. The nitrocellulose and other resins and plasticizers are dissolved in the solvent, and each coat of lacquer dissolves some of the previous coat. Nitrocellulose lacquers produce a hard yet flexible, durable finish that can be polished to a high sheen. The downside of these lacquers is the hazardous nature of the solvent, which is flammable and toxic, and the hazards of nitrocellulose in the manufacturing process. Lacquer grade of soluble nitrocellulose is closely related to the more highly nitrated form which is used to make explosives. Nitrocellulose lacquer becomes relatively non-toxic after approximately a month since at this point, the lacquer has evaporated most of the solvents used in its production.

I can tell you that I have owned and played various instruments with nitrocellulose finish and it was not a problem once dried.

Some solvents I found on MSDS include methylbenzene, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethylene glycol monometyl ether, mutyl acetat, butyl benzyl phthalate, toluene, xylene, methyl alcohol, ethyl acetate...just many toxic chemicals, but they all are very volatile and evaporate, leaving a hard nontoxic finish.

Creating "Toxic Exposure Credits"

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Today I was doing a phone consultation with a woman who wanted to fly on an airplane. She has multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) and was concerned about whether or not she would be able to tolerate the plane flight.

I told her about "toxic exposure credits" and she got all excited. "You need to write about this for everyone!" she said. So here I am.

This is a concept that goes way back for me, back to the days thirty years ago when I was struggling to understand my own problems with MCS.

It's really quite simple. Think of your body as an empty glass, and each toxic exposure as a drop of water. As you are exposed to toxic chemicals, you begin to fill your glass. You keep filling the glass and fillling the glass until it reaches the top, and when it is full, illness occurs.

But here's the interesting part: when you do things to detox your body--like drinking pure water, breathing clean air, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, getting a good night's sleep, exercise, and taking detox products-- it's like pulling the plug in a bathtub...as you remove toxic chemicals from your body you create space for more toxic exposures. And you can expose your body to more toxic chemicals without getting sick.

So I'm always thinking about balancing incoming toxic exposures with outgoing detox. I have a picture of a drinking glasss in my mind and ask myself, "How full is this glass getting?" Can I allow myself a couple of nights in a toxic hotel room?

I also think about it like a credit card. I buy things and fill up the card with purchases, then pay the card down to make space for more purchases. In the same way, I "buy" toxic exposures and then "pay" for them with detox.

So the goal isn't no toxic exposures, the goal is to keep the balance of toxics in and toxics out at a level below that which causes harm to our bodies. The problem today isn't a toxic plane ride or one spray of perfume, it's toxics toxics toxics in and very little toxics out. We're overwhelming our bodies with more toxics than our body systems can handle.

Doing things to detox on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do to prevent the harmful effects of toxic chemicals on your body. Keep removing toxic chemicals faster than they can accumulate and you'll have a lifetime of good health.

Tomorrow I'm off to Raleigh NC to visit Touchstone Essentials headquarters and spend the weekend learning more about Pure Body zeolite drops and their other products. It's a plane ride, two nights in a hotel, three days of restaurant meals, and another plane ride home. But I'm not worried about these toxic exposures. Because everyday I am doing things to create "toxic exposure credit" with my detox activities.

Cardboard Storage Boxes

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Patti

California

Hi, I bought many cardboard storage boxes, the decorated kind you get at Home Goods, TJ Maxx, etc. to store photos and things like that. I'll use them in my bedroom and they don't smell when closed, but they smell terrible opened up. They told me it was the glue that they put the boxes together with.I'd thought it was pesticides. I love the boxes, I need the boxes very much. Is this possible to air this out and get rid of the smell or toxicity, or do I have to return them? I do have MCS. Thanks!!! Patti!

Debra's Answer:

Yes, you can air this out. I use these boxes too, but before I do, I take them outside, open them up, and give them a good airing in the sun. For a day or two. Until I can't smell them any more.

I think what we are smelling is the glue.

Nonstick Baking Pans with Silicone Finish

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Lana

Dear Debra, I came across this line of baking pans made in the US called USA Pan. It says it has natural silicone non-stick coating, PTFE and PFOA free. Would this be a good choice since silicone is considered safe so far. Bed Bath and Beyond caries this line.

Thank you so much.

Lana

Debra's Answer:

I called USA Pan and all they would tell me was what you said. I asked if it was 100% silicone and the woman said she believed they were (she wasn't in customer service). I asked if it was like a silicone baking mat and she said yes.

These sound interesting. I'm going to go to Bed Bath & Beyond and take a look at them.

Has anyone tried these? Apparently they have been around for a while because the woman who answered the phone has been using them for years and loves them. She is constantly giving them as gifts. I know I would love a muffin pan with a silicone finish.

Wood Clothes Dryer Rack

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

cymering

Ohio

Dear Debra, I have been trying to find a portable clothes dryer rack for a while, but every time I end up finding something that stops me from bying. For wooden drying racks, sometimes they have vinyl covered parts, or the descriptions say "coated" or "finished" wood, but it is very difficult to find more information about those finishes. For metal racks, they have plastic parts (again, no description about the plastic, very difficult to get information from manufacturers), or vinyl lines, and I do not know what finishes in metal would be better. Unfortunately, I do not have space to put a simple cotton rope... Can you recommend a product? Thank you!

Debra's Answer:

Readers, does anyone know of clothes drying rack that is 100% wood?

Here are some all wood drying racks I was able to find.

http://www.shenandoahsustainablesolutions.com/products.html
All wood, uncoated

http://hoganwood.com
wall and ceiling mounted racks

http://treasuresofmotherearth.com/GWEM/dryerrack.html
Oregon Reclaimed Wood Clothes Drying Rack

Is Your Body Dehydrated?

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

I couldn't resist this glorious photo of a young girl opening her mouth wide to drink in the summer rain! It's perfect for today's post about dehydration.

It's summer now here in Florida, where the daily temperature is about 88 during the day and the low 82 at night...plus it's humid...so it's pretty much hot hot hot and sweaty day and night.

And when you go indoors, the air conditioner is dehumidifying the air, pulling even more water out of your body.

Clearly, if you aren't drinking enough water to replenish, your body is getting dehydrated.

Bodies have a high percentage of water as an essential element of life. Where our bodies can survive two to three weeks withou food, they survive only two to three days without water.

Detoxification is occuring 24/7 in our bodies and we need to assist that process by supplying our body with adequate water to do the job. There is an old adage in natural health care: "The solution to pollution is dilution!"

When the body is dehyrdrated it tends to hold on to toxic chemicals rather than releasing them and toxics become imbedded more easily. Out in nature we can see that a flowing river is better that a stagnant pond if you want a boat to move from one point to another, Drinking adequate amount of fresh water helps the river of your bloodstream to keep moving.

Your intestinal system needs a tremndous amount of water to digest food and keep the process of elimination moving. Water helps our elimination systems work and can reduce constipation to keep the bowels moving properly. While you are constipated, wastes filled with toxic chemicals are sitting in your intestines. Toxic chemicals in those wastes are reabsorbed into your body through intestinal walls. instead of being eliminated from your body as they should. Lack of water only makes constipation worse.

Beyond this, almost any symptom you can name can be associated with dehydration! Headaches, muscle ache or pain, muscle cramps, blood pressure problems, fatigue, anxiety, and the list goes on and on! There is a great book called Your Body's Many Cries for Water: You are Not Sick, You are Thirsty!

Excuse me for a moment, I'm going to go drink a glass of water!

Ahhhhhhh! That's better!

During the summer months in particular, it's important to drink plenty of water.

Here are some tips to help your body absorb and utilize the water you drink.

1. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water. Thirst is an indicator your body is already dehydrated. Drink water throughout the day. Carry bottles of water with you ["Glass bottles, please!" says Debra. "No plastics!"]. Keep a bottle of water sitting on your desk.

2. Maintain adequate electrolytes. Adequate salt and potassiium are critical to proper hydration and many can benefit especially in hot weather. A low salt diet may be necessary for some health conditions but the proper balance of minerals is necessary for proper health. I have seen many people who have turned their health around with proper mineral intake. A good source of electrolytes is ElectroMix which contains potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals and stevia, in a packet that fizz when you pour them into water. If you are drinking a lot of water, you need to supplement sodium and potassium.

3. Eat lots of fresh, raw, green vegetables. Salad is the perfect food for summer! Leafy greens contain lots of water and have all the necessary nutrients needed to assimilate that water. Mother Nature is so brilliant!

See Debra's List: Water: Filters for water filters we recommend.

Learn more about why it's necessary to drink water to help your body detox in Debra's book Toxic Free, on pages 156-7. This book has a chapter with more than 50 pages that are all about detox. It's a great resource!

Milk Cartons

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Cristi

Are the containers that Silk Almond Milk and Meyenberg Goat Milk come in safe? My son and I both have a dairy allergy, and these containers are soft and seemed to be lined with something. I have not found any alternative packaging locally for these products.

Debra's Answer:

These containers are standard milk cartons. They are made from paperboard lined with plastic, food safe polyethylene, one of the safest plastics there is (read more about how milk cartons are made).

Back in 1988, dioxin was found leaching from bleached paper milk cartons into the milk contained within. But by the end of 1989, a newspaper article reported that "four of the six US paper mills manufacturing chlorine-bleached cardboard for milk cartons have virtually eliminated cancer-causing dioxin in their products." Since there has been no further concern expressed since, and alternate bleaching methods are now widely used, I am assuming it is no longer an issue.

Mortar and Pestle

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Karen

USA

I use a mortar a pestle daily to crush large mineral pills that I can't swallow. I have a stainless steel one. I also have a ceramic one that is made in China. All ceramic mortar and pestles appear to me to have a chalky area where the grinding occurs and it looks like some minute amount of the ceramic must end up in the final grind. Which is safer? I know there are also marble ones on the market. Thank you!

Debra's Answer:

There are so many mortars and pestles on the market made of different materials.

Stainless steel contains heavy metals that could grind in. Likewise ceramic.

I would choose one made of marble, wood, or some other natural material that is not manufactured. That would have the least contaminants.

Yumdrops water flavoring drops -- is this Natural?

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Anne

Ohio

Dear Debra and readers!

Recently a friend sent me information of "yumdrops" water flavoring drops that are supposed to be natural. They look wonderful, but if you dig hard enough to check the ingredients, they containpropylene glycol. How safe is this for those of us with MCS and candida? The site advertising it implies the drops are "natural" but this ingredient is both a degreaser and anti-freeze, food-safe or no! I can't find anything that addresses it as a food ingredient (except in fortified milk). Is it likely to be a problem?

Debra's Answer:

You're right, propylene glycol is both a degreaser and anti-freeze, so what's it doing in a "natural" product?

Well, here's an interesting piece from Tom's of Maine about propylene glycol as a "natural" ingredient: Tom's of Maine: Propylene glycol

It says "Propylene glycol is a derivative of natural gas. It is commonly used in a variety of consumer products and food products, including deodorants, pharmaceuticals, moisturizing lotions, and fat-free ice cream and sour cream products."

OK. Since when is an ingredient derived from natural gas a natural ingredient. Natural gas is a fossil fuel. It is a mixture of gases that formed from the fossil remains of ancient plants and animals buried deep in the earth (the same stuff crude oil and petroleum and gasoline is made from). To say that a manmade ingredient made from natural gas is natural is like saying a manmade ingredient made from crude oil is natural.

Since the beginning of natural products, a natural product is one made from plants, animals, and minerals, not fossil fuels. There is no legal definition for this, but it's been the standard practice. Apparently no more.

They go on to say "Propylene glycol is considered a safe and appropriate ingredient not just for cosmetic products, but also for ingested products like food and pharmaceuticals. It is on the US Food and Drug Administration's list of ingredients which are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) and is recognized by the World Health Organization as safe for use." And then they address the antifreeze argument.

I think it would be difficult to make a case that propylene glycol is toxic, however, it certainly is not natural from my viewpoint. It's not something I would want to eat or drink on a regular basis. It's a manmade food additive.

Pepper Mills

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Anne

USA

Hi Debra! LOVE your website -- please keep up the amazing work you do!

I was wondering what kind of pepper grinder you'd recommend? I'll like to buy one but am concerned about having metal shards ground into my food! Would love your advice!

Debra's Answer:

I love freshly coarse-ground pepper. I have a top-of-the-line Perfex Pepper Mill that is made from stainless steel with a zinc alloy grinding mechanism, which can easily be adjusted from fine to coarse grind. I've had it so long I don't even remember when I bought it. Years ago. I've never been concerned about shards of metal getting into my ground pepper.

When choosing a pepper mill, I am more concerned about the housing not being plastic. I would buy a wood or metal pepper mill.

Cooshee baby changing pad

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Irina

USA

Hello Debra, I am worried about my baby's changing pad. It's a Cooshee pad made from closed-cell PVC foam, manufacturer claims it is free of phthalates and lead. I've had mine for about a year. Thank you in advance! Irina

Debra's Answer:

It may be free from phthalates and lead but it still is PVC.

You can get an organic cotton changing pad from Naturepedic.

How Phtalates in PVC Enter Your Body

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Debra Lynn Dadd

Florida

A new study at Karlstad University in Sweden shows that phthalates from PVC flooring materials shows that children can ingest these softening agents with food but also by breathing and through the skin.

Phthalates are a group of chemical compounds that occur in a great number of common consumer goods. They are suspected of disrupting hormones and may be related to several chronic diseases in children, like asthma and allergies.

Earlier studies showed that PVC flooring can be tied to the occurrence of phthalates in indoor dust, and that exposure for BBzP in indoor dust could be associated with allergic conditions in children. This study shows that the uptake of phthalates in infants ( which are banned from use in children's toys because of health risks) can be related to flooring materials using softened PVC in the home. "With this study as a basis, we can establish that there are other sources that should be taken into consideration in regard to the uptake of banned chemicals and that we do not only ingest them in our food," says Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, professor of public health at Karlstad University and leader of the study. The findings also show that phthalates can be taken up in different ways, both through food and probably through breathing and through the skin.

So what we really need to do is eliminate phthalates altogether.

Phthalates in PVC Floors Taken Up by the Body in Infants

Just When You Thought it Was Safe to Buy "BPA-Free"

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Debra Lynn Dadd

Florida

Well, it seems that manufacturers throughout the world who were using toxic Bisphenol A (BPA) may have just switched to Bisphenol S (BPS) a toxic chemical that may be equally, if not more, toxic.

Read this article to learn more about the family of bisphenols.

BPA-Free Goods Still Contain Toxic Bisphenol

Latex-free Footwear

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Peter in CT.

I know the question of footwear for sensitive people has been address in a separate post, but, if I may, I'd like to start a fresh post to ask if anyone with a latex allergy can suggest an MCS-safe brand of sandals that is latex & rubber free. My wife, Joanne, is allergic to latex. She has edema and circulation problems so open toed sandals are the best choice for her.

For those with a latex allergy, have you found it possible to wear shoes or sandals that contain latex in the shoe sole, covered by leather or other material on which the sole of the foot rests, so it there's no actual skin with the latex.? We've checked the brands that Debra and others have recommended: Camper, Cydwoqs, Mephisto, Snipe, & Birkenstocks. Most of their sandals contain latex or India rubber.

The ones that don't are not practical for daily wear. Any information on whether it's possible to wear shoes with latex that doesn't come into contact with the foot or on a latex-free brand of sandal would be appreciated. Thanks!

Debra's Answer:

Readers?

Bioshield "solvent-free" wall paint

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Judith

Virginia

Dear Debra and readers!

Does anyone have any experience with Bioshield's "solvent-free" wall paint? We used it on only one wall in my daughter's bedroom a week ago and it still has a very strong paint smell.

The company said that there should have been very little smell and it should be diminishing rapidly, but it is just as bad as when we painted it.

We had looked at their ingredient list and it sounded very safe, but now I am really worried!

Last year we had used Olympic Premium "no-VOC" paint on another wall and it was so horrendous that my daughter had to sleep in the living room for seven months. It can't be a repeat of that experience!

This is Bioshield's ingred. list: Technical info: Our Zero-VOC, Solvent-Free Wall Paint is an economical, breathable, washable paint with a high-hiding capacity. Ingredients: Water, Chalk, Asbestos-Free Talcum, Titanium Dioxide, Polyphosphate (a water softener), Cellulose, Alcohol Ester, Sodium Hydroxide, and Preservative.

Thank you for any insight you can give!

Debra's Answer:

Well this is surely a mystery!

It's interesting that you had a problem with Olympic no-VOC (which I use to paint trim and have never had a problem with) and now with Bioshield.

There is nothing in that list of ingredients that would have an odor except the alcohol and that would evaporate within a day at most.

Which makes me wonder what is going on with the walls you are painting on. This just doesn't make sense.

Perhaps there is something in the wall or the paint that is being reactivated by the liquid in the paint. That would be my guess from afar without seeing it.

It would be interesting to paint some other surface, like a plain wood board, outdoors and see if you have the same problem with this paint.

Bamboosa

Thu, 31 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Baby items made in the USA from soft, absorbant, certified organic 100% bamboo fiber or high content bamboo fiber blended with organic cotton. Fabric processing uses no chlorine and only fiber-reactive dyes that use less water and less energy and generate less waste, nor do they use dyefixing agents, which often contain heavy metals and formaldehyde. All packaging materials, are made from 100% recycled paper with a minimum of 30% post consumer waste (PCW) and higher value PCW where available. Collection includes socks, booties, hats, hooded towels, crib sheets, washcloths, baby blanket, and bibs.

How to Remove Cat Dander

Thu, 31 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

ari

Anyone have suggestion for removing cat dander from a house. There are no carpet, but there house does have ducts.

Debra's Answer:

I've had cats, but never a problem removing dander from the house in general.

I suggest a high-efficiency filter on your central HVAC system.

Readers, any ideas?

Ozone for Destroying Chemicals

Wed, 30 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Barb P.

USA

I haven't read that anyone has used any ozone machines to remove chemicals and odors. There are a few listed on the Internet, but I haven't bought any of them, except the Ionic Breeze (originally sold at Sharper Image) and Aclair. The two work well together for allergies and low level toxicity. But, for major problems, I am considering one that will hook up to both the main heating/air conditioning vent and can also be put in one room. I do not sleep or stay in a room with ozone, but it disipates quickly when the machine is shut off and windows opened. It's the only way to get rid of most toxic chemicals because ozone destroys the toxicity. Prooof: a health food store here had a huge fire and they ozinated the whole store for 6 months until the smell finally went away. My big ozinator broke and don't know anyone who can fix it. They actually could be made at home by a clever mechanic. I don't know how, but would share info that I know. Ozone works faster than heat. I've successfully aired out new rental cars, toxic blinds, toxic paint, pesticide smells, dust/dirt, and area rugs that did NOT have glue on the backing. Let's find a way for us to build an ozinator ourselves and save ourselves a lot of problems. Thanks.

Debra's Answer:

"Safe" wipeable fabric (or covering plastic) for kitchen chairs?

Tue, 29 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

NewEnglandSara.

Massachusetts

Hi there, we just bought a new set of kitchen chairs (via Craig's List), and my husband wants to re-cover them with fabric that we can wipe down since we have three young kids. When we did this four years ago, we bought reasonably priced fabric and then a clear plastic to put on top of the fabric. The solution worked great, but I now realize that the plastic must have contained PVC and surely off-gassed. I am wondering if you know of: 1) fabrics that are wipeable but low in toxins OR 2) a plastic-style overlay that will be less toxic. I welcome your thoughts! Thanks so much, Sara

Debra's Answer:

This is a good question to ask, and I'm sure I can't give a definitive answer at the moment, but I will think out loud here.

The two options would be a waterproofed fabric or a sheet of nontoxic plastic.

Waterproof fabrics are natural or synthetic fabrics that are laminated to or coated with a waterproofing material such as rubber,polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone, fluoropolymers, or wax. The difficulty with fabrics is that it can be almost impossible to find out what the fabric is waterproofed with. You could search on "waterproof upholstery fabric" like I did and come up with gorgeous designer fabrics for $69 a yard used in hospitals, but which have no information on the waterproofing process. It will take time to research and review various waterproofing processes, but I think it's worth opening this post for this purpose as this type of fabric is needed for outdoor use as well as indoor uses such as yours.

I'll just tell you that "oilcloth," which comes in many bright patterns and colors is vinyl, so don't use that.

For your needs, I would probably go with just replacing the fabric cover. The first idea that came to mind was to go down to IKEA and buy a PVA shower curtain for about $4 and cut it up. Transparent and nontoxic. Or you could buy a polyethylene tarp. Both of these plastics are nontoxic.

Closet shelving conundrum

Tue, 29 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

NewEnglandSara.

Massachusetts

Hi there, we are in a conundrum about our closet shelving, and I thought I would reach out for ideas....

We recently built a new house, and I became more aware of toxins as time went along. For some reason, it never occurred to me to think about what our contractor would buy for closet shelves. I think I assumed he would use wood and that we could paint the wood with Safecoat or Mythic.

It turned out that our contractor bought Melagard shelves from Roseburg. These shelves do include particle board, although they meet the California Phase 2 regulations. Half of the shelves utilize a PVC tape on the edges, and the other half utilize a melamine tape.

My husband and I are overwhelmed because we have about thirteen closets in the house: each with two shelves. We wish we could go back and choose another material, but it might be prohibitavely expensive at this point.

Any suggestions on remedying or replacing? Thank you!

Debra's Answer:

My #1 choice would be to go back and replace with solid wood. If that is prohibitively expensive, you could consider some other type of nontoxic board such as wheatboard or PureBond formaldehyde-free plywoo. I don't know what the cost is of these boards.

Another thing you might consider is wire shelving, which is pretty inexpensive and allows for air flow. And you wouldn't need to paint them. That would probably be my choice if I needed shelves in a closet.

Nontoxic Colonoscopy?

Sun, 27 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

CarolynB

California

My Mother will be having a colonoscopy soon. Does anyone have any advice about anesthetics? They use Versed for amnesia twilight zone? What about the pain killer? To clean out, she will be using 1 cap of Miralax mixed with Pedialite. I think it was 8 oz of Pedialite. My husband said they use saline to flush her out as needed, and either air or gas to help her colon open up. Any feedback? Suggestions? Thanks.

Debra's Answer:

Readers? Any experience with this?

You might try Health Care Without Harm.

Resin Covered Wicker

Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Nell

Hi Debra, I like the furniture I keep seeing: Resin covered wicker. There is one chair I'd like to use indoors. Is the resin considered safe? Is it likely to have a smell for a while? Would appreciate any help on this. Thanks!

Debra's Answer:

See if you can find out what the resin is. Some resins on wicker is polyethylene, which would be safe, but I'm not sure all resins on wicker are polyethylene. See if you can find out and write back and I will tell you the safety of the resin.

Are These Mosquito Controls Safe?

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

raftergirl

Oregon

Hi Debra, I am quite grateful for your Q&A blog. It has so much helpful information for people with MCS. Thanks!

My question is regarding mosquito control.

Our local vector control has started spot spraying BTI (bacilles thuringiensis israelensis) for larvae control. They will start fogging from trucks and possible airplanes for adult mosquitos, "anvil 10 + 10" which is made by Clarke. They also sometimes use "Bio-mist 4 + 4" (also by Clarke).

Vector control said that these sprays are much less harmful than past sprays. I still feel quite concerned about it.

I am trying to decide if I need to leave the area and stay with someone while they spray (especially fog) or even the week following the fogging. I feel especially concerned about the fogging they do at night for adult mosquitos.

Do you have any sense how dangerous these sprays are for people with MCS? Are they much safer as vector control claims?

Thanks in advance for any input you might have! I appreciate your help!

Debra's Answer:

First, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is completely safe. It is a group of bacteria used as biological control agents for larvae stages of certain insects. It works by producing toxins which are effective in killing specific species of mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and blackflies, while having almost no effect on other organisms. Here is the MDSD.

Anvil 10 + 10 is a synthetic pyrethrin pesticide. The MSDS says it contains 20% pesticide and 80% petroleum distillates and says "inert ingredeints are proprietary or non-hazardous" What!!?! Petroleum distillates certainly ARE hazardous! They are a mix of all different kinds of toxic VOCs, whatever is cheapest at the moment when the mix is being made. So when this is being sprayed, they are basically just spraying toxic chemicals around.

Bio-mist 4 + 4--oh, I see--is the same stuff (here's the MSDS) but the 10 + 10 is 10 percent one pesticide and 10 percent another, while this one uses the same two pesticides with 4 percent of each. This is then 92 percent toxic petroleum distillates.

I would say if you are having symptoms, and you have known sensitivites, even that small amount can pose a potential issue.

I would leave while these pesticides are being applied, but since they are so volatile you could probably come back in a couple of days.

Is This a Safe Level of Formaldehyde Exposure?

Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Magaret

New York

Hi I don't know if this is something that can be answered by you or anyone else.

I recently tested air for formaldehyde at home and work. The lab report found that the levels were both 14-15 parts per billion. I know that those levels are well below the EPA guidelines, but for someone with sensitivities can it pose a potential issue?

The guy at Advanced Chemical Sensor lab didn't seem to think that level could be considered a problem. I thought I'd double check with you.

I'm wondering this because I have noticed some symptoms (brain fog & weird feeling in body) at work, but not at home.

I did another air test for my work space, but just for VOC's. All it revealed was (again) a low level of Acetone, which didn't seem too remarkable to the lab.

For what it is worth, prior to doing the testing and during a particularly toxic feeling episode, a holistic dr whom I’d consulted mentioned that I seemed to have some minor formaldehyde issue coming up in my body. (It was however among other more major issues, like pesticide and petroleum solvent exposure.)

Thanks so much for letting me know your thoughts or experience.

Debra's Answer:

Whether or not one reacts to a particular chemical exposure is a very individual thing.

It depends on how much you've been exposed to and how often, other chemicals in your body, your general health...you could put ten people in a room with the same chemical exposure and each will respond differently.

The traditional toxicology viewpoint is that it takes a certain amount of a chemical to cause a toxic response and that can happen all at once or build up in your body over time. But what we are learning now is that some chemicals--like endocrine disruptors--can cause damage at extremely low doses, and people with MCS can react to exposures well below those considered safe. Children are much more susceptible, as are the elderly and those with chronic illness.

I would say if you are having symptoms, and you have known sensitivites, even that small amount can pose a potential issue.

ANY amount of a chemical can cause problems for some people. There is no safe level for lead, for example.

I would suggest to you to remove the source of formaldehyde until you can be in the room with no symptoms.

Smelly Sheets

Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Robin Hart

USA

I just bought 100% white organic cotton sheets that were made in India, and they smell horrible. I have washed them 4 times and they are still to strong to tolerate. I have MCS they are now soaking in baking soda and organic apple cider vinegar and water solution. If that does not get rid of the smell, what else can I do. We have no clothes line and live in an HOA that does allow me to hang anything outside my home, like on the railing etc. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Debra's Answer:

Call Daliya at nontoxic.com 1 800 968 9355. She has a number of products that can help remove odors.

Just a couple of days ago I was reading some success stories about Pure Body zeolite drops, which are designed to be taken internally to remove toxic chemicals from your body. But this person used them to remove fragrance from clothing. "I used 14 drops in the washing machine to wash some used clothes I purchased at Goodwill that had fragrance on them from fragranced laundry detergent and the Pure Body took most of the fragrance smell out!" Makes sense to me since they absorb air pollutants too.

This woman also used Pure Body zeolite drops to remove fragrance from her hands. "I accidentally got hit with a fragranced hand soap one day…I usually use rubbing alcohol to get fragrances off my hands after someone has shaken my hand or if I didn’t know that a hand soap had fragrance in it, but with this particular one, the rubbing alcohol didn’t make much a difference…so, I put a few drops of Pure Body into a cup of water and then used that to scrub my hands and rinse off and it took most of the fragrance off my hands right away! Just needed to scrub more into between fingers to get the rest."

Plastic-free microwave oven

Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

holly

What is the healthiest microwave to buy re: outgassing? I don't use the MW, but my Mom and husband do. My husband bought one and it smelled so bad we took it back immediately. I'm not concerned about the price, but I just don't want the plastics, etc. off-gassing. Please advise.

Debra's Answer:

I certainly don't know, as I don't recommend microwave ovens at all.

But I'm posting your question because I understand when living with people sometimes you need to accommodate them.

Readers, any suggestions for a microwave oven that doesn't smell of plastic?

Air Quality Emitted from Bottle Sterilizer and Dehumidifier

Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Junia

USA

Debra, I have a baby bottle steriliser (Philips Avent, BPA Free) which uses water steam from a cup of water . What type of toxics are released from the vapour? Also, I'm currently looking for a used dehumidifier for my living room, but after looking around, all of them use hard plastic housing (not sure what about inside). Since dehumidifiers emit warm air, do you think it is safe to use? Should I be worried about the plastic offgassing, the compressor oil or other lubricants? Thank's a lot.

Debra's Answer:

Here's the science of plastic.

Softer plastics release vapors more easily than hard plastics.

Even hard plastics can release vapors when heated.

The worst possible way to use plastic is in conditions where it is heated.

Personally, I wouldn't use a product of any kind that requires heating up plastic of any kind.

It doesn't matter that this product is BPA-free. It could have other plastics and other emissions.

But listen to this...you don't need to sterilize your baby bottles. Here's what WebMD says: "In the old days when water supplies were not reliably clean, it made sense to sterilize baby bottles. But now, sterilizing bottles, nipples, and water is mostly unnecessary. Unless your water supply is suspected to harbor contaminated bacteria, it is as safe for your baby as it is for you. There is no reason to sterilize what is already safe.Sterilizing the bottles and nipples is also unwarranted. Thorough cleaning with soap and water gets rid of almost all germs. And once on the bottle, the nipple begins to pick up all the germs in the environment, so a "sterile" nipple and bottle is just a pipe dream anyway." http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/should-you-sterilize-your-babys-bottles

I've never used a dehumidifier. Readers, any experience or suggestions regarding dehumidifiers?

Petition for Toxic Injury Awareness Month

Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Debra Lynn Dadd

Florida,USA

I signed a petition at change.org asking President Obama to declare the month of May as Toxic Injury Awareness, Education and Prevention month.

You can read more and sign the petition here:

https://www.change.org/petitions/president-obama-declare-toxic-injury-awareness-education-and-prevention-month.

Please tell others.

Fragrance-Free — What's your definition?

Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Derbra Lynn Dadd

Florida, USA

Ever since your enthusiastic response to my post Let's petition to remove scent from products through change.org. I've been thinking about what we can do to accomplish the goal of reducing or eliminating toxic fragrances from public places. I'm considering how best to do the petition, and there are other things we can do to improve the situation without depending on the decision of a multinational corporation.

One of them is to promote products of all types that could be used instead of the ones with toxic fragrances. I'm working on such a list and would like your help.

The first thing I want to do is add a "fragrance-free" search to Debra's List. But to do that I need to define what "fragrance-free means.

I want to get your opinion.

Over the years, "fragrance-free," "unscented" and other such terms have meant to me that a product contains no toxic petrochemical fragrances.

On Debra's List I allow products that contain natural essential oils as functional ingredients or for scent. These I do not consider to be toxic, but neither are they fragrance-free. They have a fragrance, just not a toxic fragrance. I allow them because many natural and organic products have their own scent from the ingredients used, not added. And they are not petrochemical fragrances. So should "fragrance free" mean "no petrochemical fragrances" or "no fragrances of any sort from any source"?

On the other hand I have steered away from including products like All Free & Clear which are fragrance-free but basically petrochemical detergents. Should I include these?

It seems to me that for our purposes I should include on a "fragrance-free list" any product that does not have toxic petrochemical fragrance, making note of 1) products that contain natural fragrances and 2) products that are made from petrochemicals or may have toxic ingredients. This way, anyone choosing products from a list would have the greatest number to choose from. Someone who is an average consumer, for example, may be willing to switch to All Free & Clear, but not Soapnuts. And then there is another whole type of consumer that doesn't want to give up fragrance but might switch to a natural one.

How does this sound to you?

Any comments on this criteria?

I think if we can get more people to use existing fragrance-free products, then we can encourage other manufacturers to eliminate the fragrance as we want them too.

Also, any fragrance-free products you would like to add here are welcome.

Here are some interesting links to pages that discuss the definition of unscented and fragrance-free. There is no legal definition.

Birch Hill Happenings: What is Meant by Unscented, Fragrance Free, Scent Free and More?
http://birchhillhappenings.com/unscented.htm

Our Little Place: FDA "Regulation" of Cosmetics and Fragrances
http://www.ourlittleplace.com/fda.html
http://www.ourlittleplace.com/terms.html

Interfacing in Baby Clothes

Sat, 19 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Orsolya

USA

Hi Debra, I just noticed that all my organic baby bodysuits has a white patch in side behind the embroidery design. I believe it is called Pellon interfacing fabric. Is it safe for babies? Thank you so much! Orsolya

Debra's Answer:

Well...Pellon interfacing fabrics are made from polyester. They have a whole line of interfacings. Some are made from 100% polyester and others have a little nylon. But they are not organic in any way shape or form, so what are they doing in in organic baby bodysuits?

Is it safe for babies? It would be difficult to make a case for a tiny amount of polyester interfacing being toxic. But polyester can effect your energy field and may be irritating to the skin.

Personally, I stick with 100% natural fibers and organic whenever possible. I wish these manufacturers would understand organic should be ALL organic.