The Canary Report

CNN investigative report Toxic America with Dr. Sanjay Gupta to rebroadcast tonight and tomorrow

Posted on Jun 05, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Environment, Government Regulation, Media/Videos, Products, Susie Collins

The two-part CNN investigation “Toxic America” with Dr. Sanjay Gupta will rebroadcast tonight and tomorrow night, Sat & Sun, June 5 & 6, at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Check listings in your area to confirm times. Don’t miss it!

I was hesitant to recommend the CNN special Toxic America with Dr. Sanjay Gupta until I saw the first airing. It’s pretty good actually, although if you look at it through the lens of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity you may feel that it falls short in many areas. Still, it’s heartening to see this topic and type of investigative reporting on mainstream media. Dr. Gupta does a good job of presenting the problems of toxic chemicals in our environment and our homes, and he shows genuine concern, repeating over and over the fact that out of the 80,000 chemicals put into consumer goods, only 200 have been tested for safety.

Click here for dates and times of ONLINE replays June 7, 8, & 9.

Also, for those of you so inclined, CNN is inviting you to “Share Your Story” through video or photos:

Put yourself on video and document conditions in your area, or take photos of what’s around you. Tell us what industrial or chemical pollution may be contributing to health problems for you and those you love, and be sure not to put yourself in a dangerous situation.

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Tags: Air, Asthma, Children's Health, Environment, EPA, Home, Indoor Pollution, Policy, Products, Research, Sick Building, Toxic, Video

Ask the Canary

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, MCS, Products, Susie Collins

My items stored at a controlled storage unit have been contaminated with mothball fumes! What should I do?

The use of storage units can be difficult for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity because there is no control over the use of toxic chemical products in adjoining units and hallways.

Q:

We’ve had the following stored in a non-climate controlled storage unit for two years, anticipating moving to a safe house: two lazy boys, seven composite wood book shelves, a vinyl covered card table, hundreds of books and some stuff mostly stored in cardboard boxes, some older Rubbermaid bins.

When I stopped to retrieve something a few months ago, I smelled moth balls. After inquiring, the owner refused to check with the “neighbors,” but said she had placed moth balls in a unit two doors down and would remove them.

My question: Can our stuff be saved or should I be calling the insurance agent? I aired a vinyl throw pillow in the sun a few days and the odor dissipated. What do you think?

P.S. I know composite wood is BAD. I’m wondering if painting them with tested/tolerated sealer will let us use them.

Thank you!

Fuming at Mothballs

A:

Aloha Fuming,

It’s not the odor, it’s the chemicals in the mothballs, notably the napthalene which is highly toxic. Personally, I wouldn’t even try to introduce into my house anything porous that’s been exposed to mothballs. Be very careful.

You may be able to seal the composite wood, but I’d chuck the book shelves and replace with a solid wood that I could tolerate, or a nonporous material like thick glass or metal. It’s the formaldehyde in composite wood that makes the trouble. I wouldn’t risk it.

Vinyl is problematic in and of itself, it’s a toxic material that continuously offgasses. Further, it’s often stabilized with lead.

You might be able to wash the Rubbermaid bins if they are contaminated, but that kind of plastic may not be safe either, mothball exposure or no. They may have protected whatever was inside the bin, but you’d need to risk exposure to the mothball fumes to check it out– a canary dilemma. Rubbermaid makes a lot of food grade BPA-free products now, but your products’ safety would depend on the age of your products. Canaries often need food grade safety even if we are not using it for food. Also, not all Rubbermaid products are food grade, such as their trash bins. Further, many people with chem sensitivity can’t tolerate any kind of plastics, food grade or no.

The books are a big dilemma, I know! I used to own a bookshop and had shelves and shelves of books, most of which I couldn’t read once I developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity because they were either offgassing or musty. I’ve culled my book collection down several times, giving books away to nonprofits and other groups who would appreciate them. You might want to do that and see what you have left as your core book collection. You’d still need to decide if the mothballs have ruined them.

Be very careful about what you introduce into your safe home. Don’t let cost issues or sentimentality rule over risks to your health!

Aloha,
Susie

PS Since you have that option, yes, I think you should seriously consider contacting your insurance agent about claiming the goods you can’t decontaminate a loss.

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Tags: Chemicals, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Products, Toxic

Analysis shows top-selling fragrance products contain secret chemicals never assessed for safety

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, MCS, Products, Susie Collins

President’s Cancer Panel Report highlights threat from endocrine-disrupting chemicals; many found in new fragrance study.

A new analysis reveals that top-selling fragrance products contain a dozen or more secret chemicals not listed on labels, multiple chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions or disrupt hormones, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety by the beauty industry’s self-policing review panels.

Environmental Working Group reports secret chemicals are revealed in celebrity perfumes and teen body sprays.

I’m thrilled to see Anne C. Steinemann quoted in the press release. Steinemann is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington and has done analysis on fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients in three air fresheners and three laundry products, where she discovered over 100 undisclosed volitale organics compounds (VOCs). She’s also complied a list of over 100 citations for peer-reviewed journal articles that support a physiological basis for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

Here’s the release from EWG about the new fragrance analysis:

San Francisco – A new analysis reveals that top-selling fragrance products—from Britney Spears’ Curious and Hannah Montana Secret Celebrity to Calvin Klein Eternity and Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce — contain a dozen or more secret chemicals not listed on labels, multiple chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions or disrupt hormones, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety by the beauty industry’s self-policing review panels.

The study of hidden toxic chemicals in perfumes comes on the heels of last week’s report by the President’s Cancer Panel, which sounded the alarm over the understudied and largely unregulated toxic chemicals used by millions of Americans in their daily lives. The Cancer Panel report recommends that pregnant women and couples planning to become pregnant avoid exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals due to cancer concerns. Hormone disruptors that may play a role in cancer were found in many of the fragrances analyzed for this study.

“This monumental study reveals the hidden hazards of fragrances,” said Anne C. Steinemann, Ph.D, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Public Affairs, University of Washington. “Secondhand scents are also a big concern. One person using a fragranced product can cause health problems for many others.”

For this study, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of health and environmental groups, commissioned tests of 17 fragranced products at an independent laboratory. Campaign partner Environmental Working Group assessed data from the tests and the product labels. The analysis reveals that the 17 products contained, on average:

• Fourteen secret chemicals not listed on labels due to a loophole in federal law that allows companies to claim fragrances as trade secrets. American Eagle Seventy Seven contained 24 hidden chemicals, the highest number of any product in the study.
• Ten sensitizing chemicals associated with allergic reactions such as asthma, wheezing, headaches and contact dermatitis. Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio contained 19 different sensitizing chemicals, more than any other product in the study
• Four hormone-disrupting chemicals linked to a range of health effects including sperm damage, thyroid disruption and cancer. Halle by Halle Berry, Quicksilver and Jennifer Lopez J. Lo Glow each contained seven different chemicals with the potential to disrupt the hormone system.

The majority of chemicals found in this report have never been assessed for safety by any publically accountable agency, or by the cosmetics industry’s self-policing review panels. Of the 91 ingredients identified in this study, only 19 have been reviewed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), and 27 have been assessed by International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM), which develop voluntary standards for chemicals used in fragrance.

“Something doesn’t smell right—clearly the system is broken,” said Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund. “We urgently need updated laws that require full disclosure of cosmetic ingredients so consumers can make informed choices about what they are being exposed to.”

“Fragrance chemicals are inhaled or absorbed through the skin, and many of them end up inside people’s bodies, including pregnant women and newborn babies,” said Jane Houlihan, senior vice president for research at Environmental Working Group.

A recent EWG study found synthetic musk chemicals Galaxolide and Tonalide in the umbilical cord blood of newborn infants. The musk chemicals were found in nearly every fragrance analyzed for this study. Twelve of the 17 products also contained diethyl phthalate (DEP), a chemical linked to sperm damage and behavioral problems that has been found in the bodies of nearly all Americans tested.

TAKE ACTION! Click here to sign the petition for safe celebrity fragrances!

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Tags: Chemicals, Cosmetics, Fragrance, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Perfume, Personal Care, Products, Toxic

Ask the Canary

Posted on Apr 21, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Products, Susie Collins

I don’t have access to a safe, nontoxic washing machine, what do I do?

The Wonderwash is a possible solution for people having a hard time finding a safe, nontoxic washer at an affordable price.

Q:

I live in an apartment building and the common laundry facilities are too toxic for me to use. I also don’t dare go to the neighborhood laundromat because it’s a toxic soup; the use of dryer sheets alone is enough to knock me out for a week. My landlord refuses to provide a safe nontoxic machine for me. Because I am disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and other illnesses, it’s too exhausting for me to do my laundry in my tub or sink, especially the big items like sheets and towels. Do you have any ideas about how I can do my laundry safely?

Sincerely,
Wash Wishing

A:

Aloha Wash,

This is a common problem for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity who don’t have the resources or the living situation to buy their own washing machine. And peeps living with inconsiderate roomies or family are always in the position of being the Laundry Police; all it takes is one toxic product used in the machine to render it off limits to a canary. Sometimes I think the idea of beating our laundry on rocks in a creek seems a better way to do our laundry.

For people with limited resources and no access to a safe washer, members of our community often recommend the Wonderwash, a countertop unit for under $50. You might like to read a review of the Wonderwash by Leslie at The Oko Box Blog.

Most people say their new Wonderwash needed some time to offgas, which can be expedited by running it through some cycles with lemon, alternating with your nontoxic clothes soap. And I have heard someone say that the unit did not work well at cleaning their clothes, but I’ve only heard that once out of many positive recommendations.

I don’t recommended that you buy a used washer as it can be a nightmare if it arrives contaminated with previously used products.

I hope this gives you a possible solution!

Aloha,
Susie

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Tags: Ask the Canary, Home, Products

Ask the Canary

Posted on Mar 22, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Products, Susie Collins

Paint used in new house remodeling project has me sick: HELP!

Always test paint before starting the job.

Q:

We are remodeling our new house and the contractor assures me he is using the lowest VOC paint. But I am so sick from just stopping by the house. Even what’s leftover on my coat is making me react. If my husband comes home after being there, my lungs burn, I am light headed and develop blue circles under my eyes. I am still in the inflamed mode, I don’t know what to do. My contractor is certified green and says he understands these issues. I am truly sure he doesn’t understand Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and the severity of how and what chemicals are affecting me.

What the heck do you suggest for the house so that I feel better? I am so sick.

Sincerely,
Foiled by Fumes

A:

Aloha Foiled,

Your “green” contractor obviously does not understand chemical sensitivity; this is a very common problem with green contractors. It’s not unusual for people with MCS to become ill from low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) or even no-VOC paints. The VOCs are not the only chemical in there! Some canaries are okay with low-VOC but not okay with no-VOC paints.

I always recommend a “jar test” before you start painting to see what works for you. You paint a small piece of wood, let it dry, put it in a jar, close the cover tightly, place in the sun for a couple days (or near radiator, don’t let it get TOO hot), and then stick your nose in the jar. You’ll know in a second if it’s okay for you.

Since your place is already painted, you could try to wait for it to offgas to see if becomes better for you; that process can takes days to months to never. Or you can identify a safer paint and then repaint over the toxic stuff. Here are some suggestions for possibly safe paints:

You might want to try milk paint. Here’s a company that I like, The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company. They have a milk paint product that you can paint over latex. Here’s another milk paint source, The Real Milk Paint Company. There are some people with MCS who cannot tolerate these products, so be sure to test compatibility first.

Some people with MCS like AFM Safecoat. Fresh Aire from Home Depot might work. Some sensitive peeps like Mythic Paint.

Most paint stores have sample sizes you can take home to test. Be sure you test the exact color you plan to use. Again, always be sure to test paints before painting a major section! I hope you are able to remedy this problem very quickly.

Aloha,
Susie

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Tags: Ask the Canary, Healthy Living, Home, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Products

Finishing wood with walnut oil and beeswax

Posted on Mar 18, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Guest Bloggers, Healthy Living, Products

Walnut oil is a great nontoxic choice for finishing wood, and you can easily make your own mixture with beeswax.

By guestblogger Erik Schimek.

Walnut oil is a great choice when creating your own oil and wax mixture due to its safety and low rancidity (it does not spoil easily, when compared with other common oils). It should be combined with beeswax, using the process outlined below.

Finding Walnut Oil and Beeswax

Walnut oil can be purchased in many grocery stores and food co-ops; there’s little difference between organic walnut oil and conventional walnut oil as the oil will not be consumed.

Beeswax can be purchased in bulk at many farmers markets, or in block form on ebay.

Creating the Oil and Wax Mixture

Walnut oil makes a great nontoxic finish for your wood furniture.

Add the walnut oil into the top of a double boiler, on low-to-medium heat. Boil it lightly; do not overheat.

Add beeswax to the double boiler, in a ratio of 2 (beeswax) to 1 (walnut oil). Heat the mixture to the melting point of wax, then stir to combine the oil & wax together.

When completed, the mixture should be solid enough to apply easily with a rag without being “drippy” or liquid. Add additional beeswax or walnut oil as needed.

Note: The leftover mixture can be stored for several years; it will harden into a block and can be reheated for later use.

Applying the Oil & Wax Mixture

Step 1:

The initial coat of oil and wax should contain a higher proportion of oil, to assist in the application process.

Rub the mixture into the wood with a rag. Let it set for a few hours.

Step 2:

A second coat is recommended, with a higher proportion of wax than the first layer. The second coat should also be allowed to set for a few hours.

Step 3:

Take a second (clean) rag and buff off the excess oil & wax.

Step 4:

The oil and wax should be re-applied at least once a year, more often for high-traffic surface areas like floors or desktops.

Guarding Against Rancidity

Although walnut oil is resistant to rancidity, all natural oils will develop a foul odor if they are not boiled, if they are exposed to constant moisture of high humidity, or if they not mixed with enough wax.

Homemade oil and wax, by its very nature, is a natural product and can react differently in various climates.

~~~

This post was originally published at Erik Organic Blog.

Erik has been designing custom cabinets and furniture for nearly a decade. When he became ill due to solvent exposure several years ago, he became acutely aware of hidden toxins in the home which slow down the healing process. Erik Organic was founded in 2007 to provide safe, high quality home improvement options.

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Tags: Healthy Living, Home, Nontoxic, Products

The Canary Report launches online shop!

Posted on Feb 25, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Products, Susie Collins

I’m pleased to announce the launch of The Canary Report online shop!

Women's Organic Cotton T

Men's Organic Cotton T

I’ve started us off with some organic women and men’s t-shirts; a darling organic infant “onesie”; some buttons, magnets, keychains and bumperstickers (made with sustainable paper products).

~~~

The Canary Report Cap

Of special interest, as we approach MCS Awareness Month in May, is our yellow hat, designed specially for the Yellow Hats and Feathers Multiple Chemical Sensitivity awareness campaign! (Come join our Yellow Hats and Feathers Group on our network and post a photo of you in your yellow bling!)

~~~

Our 2010 Calendar, “The Naked Truth About Multiple Chemical Sensitivity,” is still available for purchase, but is hidden from view on the public shop because of the nudity and strong language. Here are the direct links: Version 1 and Version 2. All profit from sales of the calendars goes to The Environmental Working Group.

I’ll be launching a T-shirt slogan contest very soon! So put on your thinking caps, Canaries, and come up with some brilliant slogans you’d like to report to the world on your t-shirts. More soon on that! (And yes, the contest will offer a chance at some free merchandise! WoOt!)

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Tags: MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Products

CFL bulbs are not a safe choice for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Posted on Feb 09, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Products, Susie Collins

Lighting can be a difficult issue for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, but compact fluorescent bulbs are not the answer.

Compact fluorescent lighting (CFL)  is a classic example of something being touted as green but in fact being anything but. While CFL bulbs use less electricity, and therefore are lessening the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, they contain trace levels of mercury, which can be released into the environment if they are accidentally broken, like in your home. In many states, CFL bulbs are regarded as hazardous waste, and in those states it is illegal to just throw out the old bulbs with the regular trash; they must be recycled at hazardous waste recycling centers. Of course the problem with this is that most people are not doing that, they just toss out the bulbs with the trash.

But getting back to the topic of CFLs in regards to people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Here are my thoughts on the topic:

CFL bulbs are toxic, period. If one breaks, trace mercury is released into the environment– that means if the bulb breaks in your bedroom, the mercury is in your bedroom and you are at risk for breathing vapors. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. Clean up would be an expensive nightmare. Here’s an article “objectively” arguing that if you break a CFL bulb, there’s really nothing to worry about because only trace amounts of mercury vapor are released and so it probably won’t do any harm– the problem with that argument is that people with MCS can be made seriously ill from trace levels of toxic chemicals, especially neurotoxic.

The very first rule for someone with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is to limit exposure to toxic chemicals, limit risk. I don’t care how much electricity you save with a CFL bulb, it is not worth the risk to have a bulb break inside your home.

Further, many people with MCS also have problems with the flicker of fluorescent bulbs. It’s simply not the best choice for someone whose body is stressed from chemical injury.

Right now, Light Emitting Diode or LED (at left) is the best lighting choice if you can afford it. While some people with light sensitivity may have problems with the brightness of LED, there are things you can do to lesson that brightness like shades, filters, or fixtures that create indirect light in the room. Otherwise, halogen or plain old light bulbs are best for canaries (you can play with full spectrum to see if it works for you or not). Try to stay away from fluorescent and CFL lighting as much as possible; I do not recommended that you bring CFLs into your home at all.

Thanks to Dennis, Connie, Hank, Linda, and Katrina for their contributions to this report!

Photo credit

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Tags: Environment, Healthy Living, Home, Indoor Pollution, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Products, Toxic

Chemically-safe building practices: what we did when we renovated our bathroom

Posted on Jan 29, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Guest Bloggers, Products

Many of the resources used were environmentally-friendly, but it should be noted that “green” does not always mean “chemically safe.”

By Guest Blogger Catherine Ockey

Background

In the spring of 2009 we discovered a leak in a shower faucet in our home. Upon further investigation it was determined that water had been leaking down an inside wall for some time and had caused damage to the bathroom walls and subflooring. The process of repair and reconstruction occurred over a three-week period in the fall of 2009. Before the actual work began, however, I did a lot of research into chemically-safe (or safer) building products and found a contractor willing to follow my instructions explicitly. I am happy to share more details of my experience with anyone by phone or through email. Following is a summary of what we did.

Contractor

We found a contractor with experience in environmentally friendly building practices. He had previously built an entire house for a person with MCS, so he had some familiarity with the issues. However, every person with MCS has slightly different issues, so I micro-managed the entire project myself from start to finish. I let the contractor know upfront that this is how it would be done and also had this written into our contract with him.

Resources

Books

Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 3rd edition: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders & Homeowners by Paula Baker-Laporte, Erica Elliott and John Banta. (Both my contractor and I had a copy of this book. It was our most valuable resource.)

The Healthy House by John Bower. (I have an older edition of this, but I believe it has been updated.)

Magazines

Fine Home Building
Green@Home
Mother Earth News

Web sites

Care2 Green Living
Safer Building

Various manufacturer’s Web sites

Lassen Technologies
Ecohaus
Healthy House Institute
Guide to Less Toxic Products
Safe Shopper’s Directory: Building Materials

[...]

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Tags: Healthy Living, Home, Mold, Products

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity housing survey

Posted on Jan 21, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Healthy Living, MCS, Products, Susie Collins

Home renovation expert launches survey to discover the housing needs of people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Please take a moment to participate!

James Van Raden, doing home renovation services under the name Paragon Renovations in North Dakota and Minnesota is starting a new “energy efficient affordable housing” business called Building Impressions. He’s expressed interest in including safe homes for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as part of his services. To that end, he’s currently conducting an exploratory survey to discover the needs of people with MCS.

James is a member of our Canary Report social network and I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with him. I think he’s genuinely interested in exploring the housing needs of people with chemical sensitivity and sees as his goal the creation of safe housing for people with MCS. I hope you’ll join me in supporting his efforts.

Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey so James has the information he needs to develop this aspect of his business.

Hello Everyone!

The housing study is ready and can be accessed by visiting

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22A53MHW7T7

Thanks everyone for your willingness to participate and the survey is limited to 100 responses and I hope that there are many more that wish to take the survey than that!

If there is more interest in participating than 100 I will create another study so PLEASE visit the study page and answer as many questions as you are willing.

Also, for those NOT afflicted with MCS please leave the study for those that are and I appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Warmest regards,

James Van Raden

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Tags: Environmental Health, Home, Housing, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Products, Support

Xtrema cooking

Posted on Jan 20, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Food, Products, Susie Collins

Founder of Xtrema cookware says it’s made of nontoxic material that can be left on the heat indefinitely and not emit toxic fumes even if boiled bone dry.

This Xtrema cookware looks interesting, coated in a nontoxic ceramic glaze that will not emit toxic fumes even if cooked bone dry on high heat. The high heat safety factor is in comparison to Teflon, which studies show emits dangerous toxic fumes when overheated. Xtrema also claims their nylon lids and utensils are nontoxic.

Feature: High temperature, ultra-durable non- scratch finish, inside and out.

Benefit: Xtrema products feature a revolutionary and technologically advanced ceramic non-scratch ceramic glaze on the inside and outside of every vessel. This ceramic-glaze consists of 100% natural ceramic materials and is completely environmentally safe. The glaze will never emit gaseous or toxic odors (at any temperature), it will not be damaged by the use of metal cooking utensils, and will never peel or flake off into the food. The ceramic glaze on the outside of the cookware also provides faster clean-up and helps keep Xtrema cookware looking brand new, year after year.

The flash graphic on the header on their website is a little scary: thick black smoke curling and swirling. But they say their product is as nontoxic as they come.

The founder of Xtrema is Rich Bergstrom, a former Corning representative. I love my Corning baking dish–I’ve had it for 30 years–and I often recommend Corning to canaries asking about cookware. Bergstrom has something interesting to say about Corning:

Corning Ware manufacturing facility in Martinsburg, WV was closed and dismantled in 2002. Corning Ware is still being marketed today by World Kitchen but the product is now being made of stoneware and not the patented pyro-ceram material that made Corning Ware so recognizable.

Hmmm. Not sure I can recommend that product anymore, at least not until I am convinced the new material is as superior and nontoxic as the old Corning. Is anyone using Corning purchased after 2002?

Has anyone tried Xtrema? It’s not cheap. This darling tea set is $129 and their most basic skillet about $100. But I think it’s going on my wish list. Right after the new HEPA air filter and organic cotton futon for the bedroom.

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Tags: Children's Health, Food, Healthy Living, Home, Indoor Pollution, Nontoxic, Products