The Canary Report

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

Gas well drilling operation impacts health of an entire neighborhood

Posted on Mar 10, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Government Regulation, MCS, Susie Collins

Woman with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is the first in  her neighborhood to detect toxic emissions from gas well drilling site; her health deteriorates while she fights for clean air.

Drilling at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Sandra DenBraber

Sandra DenBraber, who has Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, sent me an update about the toxic emissions from a natural gas drill site near her home. She wanted me to share with Canary Report readers an update about her health and a report in the Fort Worth Weekly published today.

“I really wanted you to have this story since the reporter did such an excellent job,” she wrote me. “The more people that hear about what happens to chemically sensitive people the more hope for change. I will continue to fight for change in drilling. It is essential since now 25% of children in the drilling area have respiratory problems per a recent news article.”

Here’s an excerpt from the Fort Worth Weekly report:

DenBraber, a former occupational health nurse, moved to her neighborhood more than 24 years ago after developing severe chemical sensitivities that forced her to quit her job. She went to great lengths to make sure her environment was as free of chemicals as possible: Her home has no carpeting, no gas lines, and several heavy-duty air filtration units. She lived there in relative good health, getting by on disability payments supplemented by a small income from making and selling charcoal masks for others who suffer from the same problem.

But in 2008, in the midst of drilling operations near UTA conducted by Houston-based Carrizo Oil and Gas, her health declined rapidly. Both DenBraber and her physician, Dr. Alfred Johnson, began to suspect emissions from the well site might be responsible.

“It got to the point I wasn’t able to leave my home without getting an instant migraine,” DenBraber said. “I have an above-ground pool for exercise [following joint replacement surgeries] that I was unable to use. I couldn’t work in my garden; I couldn’t step out the door.”

The change in her health became so pronounced that both Johnson and Dr. Susan Murphy , a rehabilitation specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, sent letters to Carrizo on her behalf in March and April of 2008, asking that the company work with DenBraber to find a mutually agreeable solution to her situation.

“Sandy tends to react more strongly to chemical exposure than most because of her chemical sensitivity,” Johnson said. “In a sense, she’s kind of like the canary in a mineshaft.”

My guess is that no one from Carrizo Oil and Gas lives anywhere near this operation. It shouldn’t be that the people who have been made ill are the ones at the front lines of the battles for clean air, but that is too often the case. Sandra has my respect and admiration for fighting the good fight not just for herself, but for the health, safety and welfare of her entire neighborhood. Brava, Sandra! I hope this is resolved soon so that you and your neighbors, including the students at UTA, are soon protected from this major polluter.

Photo credit of drilling site, Carrizo Oil and Gas.

Photo of Sandra ©2010 Sandra DenBraber

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Tags: Air, Children's Health, Environment, Indoor Pollution, MCS, Nontoxic, Policy, Pollution, Stink, Toxic

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

Linda Sepp launches a blog about her urgent housing needs

Posted on Jan 17, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Linda Sepp, MCS, Susie Collins

The main purpose of Linda’s blog is to send out a clarion call for help in securing safe water, clothing and place to live. Are you able to help?

Canary Report contributor Linda Sepp launched her own blog today! I am doing the admin on the site but the writing is all Linda’s.

As many of you know, Linda suffers severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and is housebound. She faces eviction on April 4. She’s using the blog to explain her urgent housing needs in the hopes of finding people who can help her in securing safe water, clothing and place to live. Other than a limited amount of support given by Canada’s social services, Linda’s basically been abandoned by her country’s safety net, even though Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Environmental Sensitivities are fully recognized by the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The urgency of Linda’s situation cannot be over emphasized given the looming eviction. Please visit her blog, read through the posts and pages, and if you are able to help her in any way, please do so! I’m especially interested in finding people in Toronto who can help Linda with everything from daily chores like shopping and shoveling snow, to the larger challenges such as installing a water filter and finding her a safe home.

Linda’s challenges are great but I’m convinced there are people out there who can help her. We just need to find them and enlist their help. Please do all you can to brainstorm about this, or more importantly, implement action!

From Linda’s “About” page:

I am disabled and housebound from severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivities / Environmental Sensitivities (MCS/ES) and chemically induced Fibromyalgia (FM) as well as some ElectroHyperSensitivity (EHS). My symptoms and abilities are directly, and often severely impacted by exposure to petro-chemicals, moulds, wireless technologies and high electrical fields, yet most resolve when I am able to avoid exposures. There may be some residual and permanent brain damage, but we won’t know until I have safe housing and the therapeutic supports required to repair and heal the damage.

My critical and urgent needs list includes: 1) a whole house water filtration system and installation, 2) a washing machine, 3) clothing, 4) a housing search and preparation, and 5) an advocate to help me navigate the processes to secure it all. Are you able to help me in any way?

Bloggers, please add Linda’s blog to your blogroll and share her story with your readers. Please do all you can to find people who can help her secure safe water, clothing and a place to live. You can also donate funds by check or PayPal, or purchase some needed clothing for Linda.

Together, we can make this happen!

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Tags: Air, Environmental Health, Health, Healthy Living, Home, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Nontoxic, Support, Water

Bronner’s soaps and fair trade

Posted on Nov 15, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Home & Garden, Media/Videos, Susie Collins

A video about Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, fair trade, and organic olive oil from the Holy Land.

I was fascinated with this video about the olive oil used in Dr. Bronner’s magic soaps. I use Bronner’s USDA Certified Organic liquid soaps head to toe, usually the lavender. Dr. Bronner soaps are not safe for everyone who has Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, so always proceed with caution when trying a new product. I have heard some complaints about cross contamination with mint in the non-mint soaps, and I occasionally detect mint in the lavender liquid soap (I do not like mint in soap!). But many peeps with MCS use Bronner’s for bathing and housecleaning with great success, so if you are looking for safe soap you might like to give it a try. I like the liquid because it rinses better than the bar soaps, and I can use it for a household cleanser.

My favorite all-round nontoxic cleaning solution is:

2 gallons hot water
1/4 cup borax
1/4 cup vinegar
A squirt of Bronner’s liquid lavender soap

I use it for everything: counter tops, floors, tub, toilet, walls, garbage pails, kitty litter pan, porch floor, mudroom, muddy shoes, everything. It rinses off very easily. You’ll be amazed at what that solution can clean!

Link to Bronner’s website.

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Tags: Children's Health, Cosmetics, Environmental Health, Healthy Living, Home, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Nontoxic, Organic, Personal Care, Products, Video

Fake Plastic Fish sings the praises of baking soda

Posted on Nov 05, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Home & Garden, Susie Collins

Beth Terry at the blog Fake Plastic Fish shares myriad uses for baking soda, including personal hygiene, cleaning, deodorizing and baking.

Environmentalist Beth Terry (left) at Fake Plastic Fish reports about the many uses of baking soda. She put out a call on Facebook and Twitter for “unusual uses for baking soda,” and I chimed in with a couple of ideas. She was kind enough to give The Canary Report two shout outs in the post, adding my input about the use of baking soda for bathing for people who are chemically sensitive. It’s always a pleasure to see Multiple Chemical Sensitivity talked about from a supportive and inclusive perspective.

Face and Body Cleanser: Susie Collins of The Canary Report, a blog about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, told me that many people who can’t tolerate soap wash instead with baking soda, mixing it in a 50%/50% ratio with water. She also let me know that people with MCS often have difficulty finding pure baking soda that hasn’t been cross contaminated by products with strong scents. Since baking soda absorbs odors, it could potentially pick up the odor of anything it was shipped or stored near.

I did clarify in the comments that it’s really the problem of toxic chemicals in modern scent that sometimes cross contaminate baking soda in storage facilities and transit, not odors per se.

Beth’s post includes myriad uses for baking soda, including personal hygiene, cleaning, deodorizing and baking. She buys it in bulk at her health food store (see photo). We all know baking soda is an MCSers best friend!

Hats off to Beth for all her hard work in environmental protection, esp in the area of plastics, she’s a true environmental warrior. She’s just launched a discussion board on her blog, so I hope you’ll drop in to visit Fake Plastic Fish to learn about ways you can cut down on your use of plastic.

You can also find Beth’s post at Blogher: Save Money & the Planet With Baking Soda: How Many Uses Can You Think Of?

Thanks, Beth!

Photo used with permission.

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Tags: Children's Health, Fragrance, Healthy Living, Home, Nontoxic, Products

The Million Baby Crawl

Posted on Oct 19, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Home & Garden, Media/Videos, Susie Collins

Seventh Generation and several co-sponsors launch a brilliant ad campaign for reform of U.S. toxic chemical policy.

Babies are getting on soapboxes to demand toxic chemical policy reform from Congress, and to rally support for The Million Baby Crawl.

Click to learn more about the Million Baby Crawl.

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Tags: Chemicals, Children's Health, Environment, Environmental Health, Healthy Living, Home, Indoor Pollution, Nontoxic, Organic, Personal Care, Policy, Products, Support, Toxic, Video

How to green your campus

Posted on Oct 14, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Media/Videos, Susie Collins

Share with your favorite student!

And how about encouraging them to add organic cleaning and fragrance-free policies to their campus’s green initiatives?

Link

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Tags: Air, Chemicals, Environment, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Healthy Living, Indoor Pollution, Nontoxic, Organic, Perfume, Products, Sick Building, Video

Michael Walkup’s farm grows

Posted on Oct 12, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Home & Garden, Michael Walkup, Susie Collins

Canary Report contributor Michael Walkup, who advises us on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity disability claims, is featured in local press about his family farm.

Northwest Herald reports on Canary Report contributor Michael Walkup, attorney-at-law, who runs Heritage Farm and Gardens. Michael took his family’s land in Illinois and turned it into a small organic farm. In addition to supplying local restaurants, he also serves about 50 subscribers to his Consumer Supported Agriculture program, where his customers pay upfront to receive a box of fresh, organic produce that ripened that week.

CRYSTAL LAKE – A veritable cornucopia of McHenry County’s bounty is picked up each week in boxes at Michael Walkup’s small Crystal Lake farm on the street that bears his family’s name.

His family goes back six generations on the land, so the tomatoes are not the only heirloom that he has on his farm across from Veterans Acres Park.

For the past five years, Walkup has been feeding a small, but steadily growing, population in McHenry County – locavores, people who buy and consume produce that is grown locally. [...]

Walkup said his customers did it to know where their food comes from.

“You go to the store and you don’t know what the food has been treated with,” said Walkup, an attorney who works with people who have chemical sensitivities and who got turned onto organic farming after developing a chemical sensitivity himself.

Link to Michael’s columns on MCS and disability claims here.

Michael is an experienced disability attorney with more than 25 years experience in the disability law field. In 2001, he became disabled due to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). He now provides a service to advise clients with potential disability claims who have MCS, CFS and/or FMS. As these programs and law are usually federal, he is able to practice in all 50 states and, therefore, represent clients regardless of location.

Michael is a long time Sustaining Member of the National Organization for Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, the only national body for disability representatives. He is also certified as a Federal Trial Lawyer and is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran’s Claims.

Michael would welcome the opportunity to possibly help with disability claims. For more information, visit his website MCS Legal Help at walkuplaw.com. Contact info: email MJWalkup@Amertech.net or call 866-880-4878.

~~~

Editor’s note: This post was revised on 10/13, correcting the term Consumer Supported Agriculture, which I had mistakenly written as Community Supported Agriculture.

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Tags: Children's Health, Environmental Health, Food, Healthy Living, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Nontoxic, Video

The pampered canary

Posted on Sep 03, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Kimberly Shaw, Personal Care

“There’s no better way to energize your body, mind, and spirit than by taking care of yourself.” ~Stephanie Tourles

Post by Kimberly Shaw.

One of the ways I take care of myself is to make time to pamper myself with my own homemade organic personal care products. When I make something myself, I know exactly what goes into it and can use ingredients that work for me.

The recipes below include a basic unscented version and also variations with organic essential oils. If you have very severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, are currently in a “universal reacting” stage and/or are recovering from a recent exposure, I’d strongly suggest NOT trying the essential oil variations. Even natural and organic scents can and often will trigger reactions. Some with MCS can tolerate organic essential oils in moderation and even find they have aromatherapy benefits. For many years, I could only use unscented products. After much recovery and studying aromatherapy, I find that some essential oils in moderation work well for me.

If you have extremely sensitive reactive skin, keep things very simple. When my MCS was really severe I cleaned my face with just organic jojoba oil.

Feel free to omit any ingredients you are sensitive to or substitute for another ingredient. You are welcome to email me, if you need help tailoring a recipe to work for you.

Due to the nature of these ingredients, products should be used within six months. Before trying something new on your face or large parts of your body, you might want to do a small skin test on the inside of your arm. As with any skin care products, discontinue use if any skin reaction or rash appears.

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Relaxing Bath Salts

• ¼ to ½ cup Epsom salt
• ¼ to ½ cup Dead Sea Salt or any type of sea salt
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon organic jojoba oil

For a regular size bath, use ¼ measurements, for a larger bath use ½ measurements. Add salts and oils to running bath water. Soak and relax for at least 20 minutes.

Variations:

Add several drops of an organic essential oil such as lavender or vanilla.

Add some green tea (or your favorite herbal tea) to the bath. I tend to use about 6-8 tea bags or about 6 teaspoons loose tea in a cheesecloth bag or stainless steel tea infuser.

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Body Scrub

• 2 cups organic sugar or sea salt
• ¾ to 1-cup organic oil (jojoba, olive, grapeseed, sunflower, and/or other organic oil of your choice)

Variations:

10-30 drops organic essential oils, if desired. Tangerine or grapefruit work well.

~~~

If you can use essential oils, here is one of my favorite recipes:

Kimberly’s Mojito Sugar Scrub

• 2 cups organic sugar
• ¾ cups grapeseed oil (I use it because it is naturally green in color)
• 20 drops organic lime essential oil
• 10 drops organic spearmint essential oil

(When I make it for gifts for friends and relatives, I add a dash of rum.)

Mix well and store in a glass container. Use in the bath or shower. Be careful may make surfaces slippery. Do not use on face or sensitive areas.

~~~

Face and Body Wash

• 8 oz. organic unscented castile soap
• 8 oz. distilled water
• 1 tsp organic jojoba oil

Variation:

• 8 oz. organic unscented castile soap
• 4 oz. organic hydrosol* (I often use calendula hydrosol)
• 4 oz. distilled water
• 1 tsp organic jojoba oil
• (10-20 drops organic essential oils, if desired)

*I find since most hydrosols contain less than 5% essential oil they are mild and subtle and some with MCS can tolerate them.

I put this recipe in glass pump dispenser bottles and use as a basic liquid hand and body soap for the whole family.

If you have really dry skin, add extra jojoba oil to the mixture.

~~~

Organic Eye Butter

• 3 Tablespoons organic shea butter
• 2 Tablespoons organic avocado oil
• 2 Tablespoons organic coconut oil
• ¼ teaspoon organic rosehip oil
• ¼ teaspoon organic calendula oil
• 2 drops organic carrot seed oil (optional)

Gently melt shea butter in a double boiler. Add all oils and blend well. Store in glass container. If storing in warmer environment, keep in refrigerator. Use within three months.

Apply a small amount around eye to help hydrate and soften wrinkles. It also works great on lips!

~~~

There are many places to get organic ingredients, one of my favorite places is Mountain Rose Herbs.

In the coming months, I’ll be sharing more organic body care recipes!

Enjoy!

Come visit me at Serendipity.

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Tags: Cosmetics, Healthy Living, Home, Leisure, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Nontoxic, Organic, Personal Care, Products

Genetically modified, conventionally grown or organic?

Posted on Jul 26, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Food, Home & Garden, Kimberly Shaw

For those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, it is very important to avoid GM produce.

Post by Kimberly Shaw.

About 70% of grocery store foods now contain genetically modified ingredients. For those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, it is very important to avoid GM produce. If your body does not recognize a food it will treat it as a foreign agent. This often results in allergic or other adverse reactions.

Sometimes it is hard to tell how an item is grown.

For produce or animal products, just check the PLU code on the package or sticker:

* Has a four-digit number – “Conventionally Grown”
* Has a five-digit number beginning with 9 – “Organically Grown”
* Has a five-digit number beginning with 8 – “Genetically Modified” (GM)

Avoid processed drinks and foods. Most of them contain GM ingredients, unless they are organic.

Avoid farm-raised fish and conventionally raised meat and chicken.

For more information:

Seeds of Deception

What are the dangers of genetically modified foods, and what are GMOs, anyway?

Photo by Susie Collins

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Tags: Chemicals, Children's Health, Environmental Health, Food, Healthy Living, Home, Law, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Nontoxic, Organic, Policy, Products, Toxic