Question from Sarah Padron

Hi Debra,

Hello, I was wondering if you know about the prefiniahed hardwood floors that have been treated with aluminum oxide. Can children, and adults, absorb the tixins through the skin? And would it be problematic?

Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Here’s a relevant response from consultant Mary Cordaro, who is very knowledgeable in these matters.

It’s from Green Home Guides.

Aluminum oxide finishes can be fast-curing and healthy from a chemical outgassing standpoint, depending on a few variables. Unlike some water-based polyurethane finishes, which often contain chemicals called glycols that may “outgas” for several months (and may not be easily detected by odors), UV-cured aluminum oxide finishes, which are modified urethane finishes, are often well-tolerated even by chemically sensitive individuals. This is particularly true if the finish is baked-on and UV-cured, which is usually the case with prefinished wood floors.

But here’s where things get more complicated, unfortunately. Besides low chemical toxicity, there are some additional factors to consider regarding an aluminum oxide finish. First, from a healthy house standpoint, very little if anything is known about possible health effects from the aluminum content in aluminum oxide floor finishes.

In the past few years, there has been a growing, heightened awareness of the potential toxicity from nano-sized heavy metals in products that touch the skin. Although this concern has been directed primarily at personal products, it is worth considering for any product that touches the skin. One MD I know of, whose patients include chemically sensitive people, has been strongly advising against aluminum oxide finishes, due to the possibility of aluminum oxide absorption through the skin on bare feet.

Prompted by these concerns, a client with an autistic child requested that I look into one particular flooring product, called Bellawood, a brand that is well tolerated by many chemically sensitive people. Bellawood is a solid hardwood flooring product, prefinished with UV-cured, baked-on aluminum oxide urethane. Bellawood is coated multiple times and comes with a 50-year warranty on the finish. I spoke with a technical expert who works for the industrial finish manufacturer that makes the Bellawood finish. He reported to me that the aluminum oxide particles in the finish are much larger than nano-sized. In fact, we both agreed that theoretically, the aluminum oxide particles are probably much too large to penetrate bare skin.

I have not researched other aluminum oxide finishes in terms of the particle size, but it’s possible, given the similar characteristics of aluminum oxide finishes in general, that this may be true for other brands as well. However, as far as I know, there really is no real conclusive data on this issue, regarding possible toxicity from skin contact. So even if you have an aluminum oxide finish, if you want to be on the extra safe side, just wear socks and slippers indoors.

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Question from Richard

Hi Debra,

Thank’s for keeping up the great website.

I have a question about carpet. I’m planning on renting some space in a commercial building. The custom is to use carpeting in the hallways and office spaces. It’s understood that the area of the building under consideration needs and will get new carpet but myself and one other practitioner see people with MCS and suffer from it ourselves. Do you have some any rug manufacturers to recommend?

There is something called The Carpet and Rug Institute which has a certification program called CRI Green Label Plus that identifies low VOC products. Do you know much about the value of that certification? I am aware some programs don’t really raise the bar very high.

I know we could go to Green Building Supply for wool but we really can’t go quite that high end for this office rental situation.

Any suggestions you may have for carpeting that isn’t too pricey would be appreciated.

Debra’s Answer

You’re welcome!

I can’t recommend any of the carpets on the Carpet and Rug Institute list. I haven’t researched them recently or individually, but last time I looked there were none I wanted to look at in more detail. The problem with “low-emitting” standards is they are not “no-emitting.” My floors don’t emit anything.

I had your same situation many years ago where the only office available to rent in the small village where I lived had a very smelly carpet that I was not allowed to remove.

My solution was to use AFM Carpet Seal. IT COMPLETELY BLOCKED THE FUMES TO UNDETECTABLE. At least to my nose.

I worked in that office for a month every weekday, with no reactions. It was a life saver to have Carpet Seal.

That said, I would still get the least toxic carpet you can afford. I haven’t had carpets in my home for more than 30 years, but if I had no choice but to live or work somewhere with carpet, I would immediately order Carpet Seal.

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On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that certain types of laminate flooring made by Lumber Liquidators have a greater risk of causing cancer or other health problems than previously thought.

I would just like to add two things.

One is that this is not all flooring made by Lumber Liquidators, only the laminate flooring.

And the other is this formaldehyde danger is not limited to Lumber Liquidator’s laminate flooring. It applies to ALL laminate flooring. I’ve been warning about this ever since laminate flooring first came out.

Please do not buy laminate flooring. Instead purchase solid wood refinished flooring, or unfinished solid wood flooring and apply your own least toxic finish.

CDC: Statement regarding Formaldehyde in Laminate Flooring Report

USA TODAY: Elevated cancer risk in Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring

NPR: CDC Says It Underestimated Cancer Risk From Lumber Liquidators Flooring

If you have purchased flooring from Lumber Liquidators, they are offering indoor air quality testing at no cost to qualifying customers. To see if you qualify, visit www.lumberliquidators.com/ll/testkit.

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A new study—appearing in the March issue of the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) —found laboratory rats who breathed Beijing’s highly polluted air gained weight and experienced cardio-respiratory and metabolic dysfunctions after only three to eight weeks of exposure.

Compared to those exposed to filtered air, pregnant rats exposed to unfiltered Beijing air were significantly heavier at the end of pregnancy. At 8 wk old, the offspring prenatally and postnatally exposed to unfiltered air were significantly heavier than those exposed to filtered air. In both rat dams and their offspring, after continuous exposure to unfiltered air we observed pronounced histologic evidence for both perivascular and peribronchial inflammation in the lungs, increased tissue and systemic oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and an enhanced proinflammatory status of epididymal fat.

The conclusion from the study: Chronic exposure to air pollution particles increases the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Now this was a study done on rats, however, I believe it holds true for humans as well. Many chemicals have already been associated with obesity. I haven’t yet checked, but it may be that many of them are found in air pollution.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: On the Ground I knew Beijing’s bad air was killing me slowly. But is it making me fat too?

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Question from Sally S

Hi Debra,

I have been all over the internet and dug through archives, but am having little results looking for luggage. It seems that even those touting ʻeco friendlyʻ are really a typical derailment of fact.

If it is made of recycled materials, I question what was in the previous encarnation. Nylon has been treated with chemicals. Handles made of ʻtprʻ? Some claim ʻecoʻ and yet state pvc dividers.

They stink! They cause hands to react, rashes and blisters, my husband has to wear gloves when traveling.

I need to replace my old bags and am in need of something for mobility, in other words I am no longer able to perform pack mule duties. I have seen abs, polycarbonate, polyester, nylon, and many with ʻCA Prop 65 warningʻ. (The top rated Travel Pro)

The leather bags come from China and everything is suspect. Buying used is just as risky, pesticides and cleaners or such.

Any guidance or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

I totally understand, and this is not an easy question to answer.

Some years ago I was traveling a lot and my old suitcases were in tatters. I wanted to get the least toxic luggage I could find and I did.

It was made by a company called Sand & Storm . I just looked them up and they are still in business. They are very well made of cotton and leather (no odor) and are extremely durable. Not inexpensive, but I had some extra money at the time and decided to make an investment. I’m sure they will last for the rest of my life. They have already lasted 10 years and are like new.

They used to make luxury safari tents. Now they make safari-grade bags. In Kenya. From Tanzanian 18oz all-cotton canvas (very soft and lined with even softer cotton), hand-selected leather hides, and solid brass fittings. I have two duffle bags and an overnight bag. All with strong comfortable straps so I can toss them over my shoulder.

I found mine at Bloomingdale’s in New York and fell in love instantly. If you want this luggage, I think you’ll need to contact them in Kenya and see if they can ship it to you.

So now the best I can do is to recommend cotton duffle bags, such as those sold at Port Canvas.

Try searching on “cotton luggage,” “linen luggage, and “hemp luggage.”. There were a lot of results, such as this one from Pottery Barn.

Trouble is that these companies are not dedicated to being nontoxic, so I don’t know what the finishes are, etc. Sometimes they are lined with nylon.

Now about the wheels, there ARE some cotton duffle bags with wheels such as this one at Orvis. Again, I don’t know how this might be contaminated, but the materials are pretty good. At least better than conventional luggage.