Question from shema

Debra, these people sell food grade polyelthelene mattress wraps for $40.

www.yourguidetogreen.com/store/greg-39-s-picks/mattress-covers-no-chem-mattress-wraps/prod_1768.html

Debra’s Answer

Yes, this will block outgassing of toxic chemicals from mattresses, but it feels like you are sleeping on plastic and makes noise as you move around in bed.

It will do the job, but is not the optimum solution. Better to buy a naturally nontoxicmattress that doesn’t need a wrap. See Debra’s List | Textiles | Beds

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Question from Stacey

Hi Debra,

I am looking for reasonably priced blinds for a bathroom and kitchen window. I see Home Depot has Aluminum blinds which are pretty cheap. Are these safe? If not, do you have any other suggestions? The windows are not standard so any other “natural” shades can be expensive…

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Aluminum blinds are fine.

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Question from Angelique

Has anyone found a tolerable version of painters’ tape? The blue and green tapes make me really sick. I wonder if there’s an alternative in case our remodeling job really needs something like that.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any suggestions?

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from Debra Lynn Dadd

Last week an article in the New York Times reported, “A panel of experts convened by the National Academy of Sciences found sufficient evidence from human studies to declare formaldehyde ‘a known human carcinogen’ that causes nasopharyngeal cancer, sinonasal cancer and myeloid leukemia. It also cited evidence from studies of animals and of carcinogenesis suggesting that formaldehyde may cause a much wider array of cancers than just those three.”

In 1981, the National Toxicology Program listed formaldehyde as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” In 2011, they upgraded the listing to “known to be a human carcinogen.” After opposition from industry, Congress had the National Academy of Science review the evidence. Their review determined that, indeed, formaldehyde does cause cancer in humans.

Source: New York Times: The Verdict on a Troublesome Carcingen

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 from Debra Lynn Dadd

After making a comment in a recent post about not using paper towels because they contain formaldehyde, I received this shocked email from a long-time reader

Debra,

I can’t believe that I have been trying to be as toxic free as possible for many, many years and I am still using paper towels daily! Your website as had lots of information through the years about paper towels, including your comments regarding Cathy’s question on August 11 about non-toxic lining for drawers.

I contacted Bounty (Procter&Gamble) and this is the list of ingredients sent me. What do you think?

You can post that information if you think it would be beneficial to others in you Q&A section.

Thank you very much.

Thanks for contacting Bounty, Stephanie.

Below is the ingredients for the Bounty Towels & Napkins

We do not intentionally add formaldehyde to our products, and we check that our raw materials do not contain any formaldehyde either.

Since we don’t add or use formaldehyde in the processing of the product, we don’t test for it in the finished product.

It may be helpful to know that formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance, and can be detected in wood pulp at very low concentrations

Hope this helps.

Wendy
Bounty Team

Need to get back in touch? Please do not change the subject line, just hit reply. This makes sure we receive your message

At first glance this paper towel seems to not contain formaldehyde, however, it does contain “Wet Strength Polymer.”

What is that?

According to Paper Functional Chemicals- Wet Strength Resins, papers such as filter papers, hygienic papers, papers for bags, label papers, wallpapers, laminate base papers, and packaging papers for moist goods can only fulfill their function if they have adequate “wet strength” (the ability to hold together when exposed to water.

The way wet strength is achieved is by using wet-strenth resins (WSR).

“the most common WSR are urea formaldehyde resins (UF-resins) and melamine formaldehyde resins (MF-resins), These chemicals need acid pH conditions and the presence of alum in the papermaking process. For neutral pH conditions polyamide-epichlorohydrin resins (PAE-resins) are mainly used (e. g. for hygiene and laminate papers); polyethylenimine products are used for specialty papers such as industrial filter papers and shoe board.”

This article notes that urea-formaldehyde resins are the least expensive (so likely to be most common). They can be added to the wet mix, “but they can be also used via surface application in the paper machine.” That means the resin is lying right on the surface of the paper.

I don’t know enough about the chemistry of how this works to make an evaluation of how these chemicals interact with the cellulose. I do know that chemicals can react and turn into something else entirely, such as fat and lye make soap.

I also don’t know how much, if any, formaldehyde emissions come from paper, but they are well-known from urea-formaldehyde foam insulation and composite wood products. I first heard about formaldehyde in paper towels years ago from people with MCS who reacted to paper towels.

Click through to the article if you want to learn more about what is used to make paper. This is an industry website with lots of information.

Read more here about Toxins in Toilet Paper.

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Question from shema

Hi debra

I have heard that wood cutting boards can be dangerous if used to cut raw meats because of bacteria growth so instead what should I use? I have seen polypropylene but not sure.

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

The problem with cutting raw meat on any cutting board is that if you then cut vegetables on the same cutting board, the bacteria from the meat can transfer to the vegetables. If you then eat the vegetables raw, you will eat the bacteria from the raw meat.

In professional restaurant kitchens, they have different colored cutting boards for different uses, to prevent cross-contamination.

You can buy these in a set, They are made from polyethylene, which is a nontoxic plastic. The label says they are antibacterial.

I don’t think I need six different cutting boards. But I took a clue from this and have two separate wooden cutting boards: one for meat and poultry, and another for everything else. When I use the cutting board for meat and poultry, I immediately put it in the sink and wash it with the hottest water. Then I put it to air dry and hang it on a wall so it continues to be exposed to air.

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Question from TA

I am looking for a waterproof mattress protector to take along while traveling, to protect the bed from any leaks my toddler might have. It seems like the best options I’ve found so far are the “waterproof breathable” mattress covers, which are cotton terry with a polyurethane membrane:

MALOUF SLEEP TITE Hypoallergenic 100% Waterproof Mattress Protector – 15-Year U.S. Warranty – Vinyl Free – Queen

Queen Size Luna Premium Hypoallergenic 100% Waterproof Mattress Protector – Made in the USA – Vinyl Free

SafeRest Queen Size Premium Hypoallergenic Waterproof Mattress Protector – Vinyl Free

The prices seem reasonable, and the SafeRest and Luna ones have over 3,000 reviews each, most of which are positive. I see a number of good things: made in the USA, free of PVC, not thick or crinkly, protects against dust mites and allergens, etc. But what I’d like to know is whether you think this polyurethane membrane is non-toxic and free of chemical smells. It appears to fold up like a sheet and would be easy to take when traveling (well, easier than a bulkier mattress pad, anyway!). I need to get something right away, but I’m holding back until I get more assurance about this PU membrane. It definitely seems better than PVC. What do you make of it?

The disposable options don’t seem like a great idea, and other smaller options tend to have plastics and PVC. Wool is pricey and thicker/heavier to haul along with all our other travel gear. Vinyl is a definite “no.” A folded-up towel isn’t super effective and smaller things like that also shift around while sleeping on them. So I keep coming back to a mattress cover like these I linked to above, but I’d just like to feel sure that they are free of toxicity.

Ughhh… Now that I looked more closely at the Q&A on the product pages for the Luna and the SafeRest covers, I see that customers asked what materials are used in the covers, and the answer is 80% cotton and 20% polyester. I had assumed that the cotton terry was 100% cotton. It appears that this one might be 100% cotton surface:
www.amazon.com/LinenSpa-Waterproof-Mattress-Protector-Eliminates-Warranty/dp/B00A2WEJY4

In all cases, I see reviews that say “my toddler (or dog) had an accident or diaper leak or spill on the bed and nothing got through to the mattress” and those that say “my toddler (or dog) had an accident/leak/spill on the bed and the mattress got soaked.” I don’t know why there would be such variability in user experiences. The reviews overall seem positive. There are also differing report about whether the covers make the users feel hot and sweaty. Along the same lines, I came across the Gotcha Covered mattress cover that uses organic cotton and a recycled PU backing; but the price is considerably higher (more than 3 times higher than some of the others), and out of 4 reviews, 2 of them are negative, saying “hot and sweaty” and “not waterproof.” Since it’s something I need just for travel, I’m not inclined to pay that much more for something that might not work very well.

I also see this Natural Mat product, which is not as large of a cover; it is designed for a crib mattress, but I believe it would lie flat on the bed. They also use PU, but it is apparently contained between the 2 layers of organic cotton.

I am aware that Naturepedic makes a safe cover, and I’ve actually had one. However, it is more expensive, fairly heavy, and it did not protect the new mattress it was used on from body oil. It wasn’t tested against urine, so I can’t speak to its effectiveness for that purpose.

Debra’s Answer

All of the mattress protectors you are describing are using the latest technology of a very thin layer of polyurethane fused to a fabric, so it can be waterproof without the sweatiness or noise of a vinyl mattress cover.

The difference between the different brands is the type of fabric used.

Because I’m familiar with the one sold by Naturepedic, I can tell you that the polyurethane film is completely nontoxic. I’ve seen and smelled samples of this film and there is no odor whatsoever.

And I’ve researched polyurethane. Polyurethane itself, as I’ve said many times before, is completely nontoxic. What makes polyurethane foam and polyurethane wood finish toxic is the additives. But this film is simply polyurethane. Though made from petroleum, it is nonetheless not toxic.

Naturepedic is so scrupulous about not using toxic materials that if Naturepedic uses a material, it can be trusted to be safe. In addition, they have their products tested by independent third parties that verify they meet nontoxic standards.

About their polyurethane film, Naturepedic says, “Drysleep uses a specially formulated polyurethane waterproof barrier that is proven to not leach harmful chemicals. It is made from the same grade material as is required for food contact applications. It also meets the highest standards for medical device biocompatibility (USP Class VI). It does not contain any fire retardants or antimicrobial treatments and is free of vinyl/PVC, phthalates and latex. It also easily passes the GREENGUARD “Gold” certification standards for chemical emissions. With a Naturepedic organic mattress pad, you never have to worry about harmful chemicals or allergenic materials.”

So this gives you something to compare to with the other brands.

As to whether or not this polyurethane film protects from urine or other liquids, I don’t know why it appeared to not work for some, but as you said, the majority of the reviews are positive. I see no reason not to use one of these mattress protectors.

Question from Patricia

Hi Debra,

I currently find myself living across a wall from a guy who found a bedbug.

His girlfriend who is there most of the time has a roommate who recently brought bedbugs back with her from NY. Their apartment has a full blown bedbug infestation.

I have a pretty pricey mattress that was a gift from my sister this last Christmas.

I have been unable to find a a safe mattress encasement anywhere. Where can I find one? Help!!!!!

Debra’s Answer

Patricia wrote back to me and said she found one at The Clean Bedroom and it’s on sale now for 20% off.

I just wanted to mention that I did some research on this before she called back, and I was erroneously told by one seller that a bed bug is smaller than a dust mite and so encasings made to keep dust mites out don’t work for bedbugs. That’s totally wrong. Dustmites are so small they are invisible, and you can see bed bugs, so any mattress encasing that completely encloses the mattress and is made to keep out dust mites would work for bed bugs.

Here’s a bit of info about dust mites and bed bugs.

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Question from Stacey

Hi Debra,

I purchased an outdoor table made of a “PE faux wood resin.” I have tried researching what exactly could be in this material, and I have come across some sites where the resin could be composed of PE/PP/PVC. Of course the PVC concerns me…I contacted the company a couple times, and one rep responded that the table was simply made of polyethylene, while another rep thought it might contain PVC, but was looking into it and hasn’t gotten back to me yet. Do you think I can trust that this table is only PE, or would you not trust it…Do they have to disclose that the table contains PVC, even if it is a smaller amount than the PE? Just wondering what you would do! I love the table and think it’s great for seaside, but would rather my family be safe!

Thanks so much!

Debra’s Answer

There are many labeling laws, but the overarching one is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) “Truth in Advertising” law.

This says that “ads must be truthful, not misleading, and, when appropriate, backed by scientific evidence.”

This applies to labels too.

So per this law, if the label says PE it should contain PE and if it says PVC it should contain PVC.

I would assume that it is 100% PE and the first rep was right. But now that there has been a question about it from the other rep, I would follow through and get a confirmation.

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Question from Stacey

Hi Debra,

I purchased a pair of moccasins thinking they would be safer since they are made of suede, sheepskin, EVA/Poron cushioning, but I see they are also “water-resistant.” I contacted UGG Australia and a rep informed me that the shoes are treated with a protectant or coating to make them water-resistant. Would you return these, or is the coating harmless in a shoe?

Thank you!

Debra’s Answer

Actually water-resistant coatings can be pretty toxic. It’s better to get shoes that don’t have them.

I personally would return these shoes and look for others without the coating.

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