You all are doing a great job sending in lots of questions and comments for my Green Living Q&A blog! Almost 100 new comments this week, too. Moderating the blog is my favorite thing of everything I do because I'm really interested in finding out what you want to know, and I learn so much from all your wonderful comments. I want to ask you for some feedback. I'm in the process of considering ways I might update and improve my website, and have a lot of ideas I think you are going to love. But I'd also like to hear from you about any changes or additions you'd like that would help you get more of what you need or want, or make it easier to use the site. Please email me at debra@dld123.com with "SUGGESTION" in the subject line. Thanks! Last week I recorded a podcast for Radio for Your Health with Dr. Christine Horner. You can listen at radioforyourhealth.com. I've been doing a lot of these lately, and want you to know that each one is different. I don't give the interviewers "canned" questions, so each conversation is unique! Debra :-) HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #136 ~ 27 May 2008 * GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG: new Q&As / new comments on previous Q&As If the links don't work on this newsletter, you can view it online at http://www.dld123.com/newsletter/newsletterupdateback.html Health, Home & Habitat Back Issues (tables of contents) There is so much talk today about what is green and what is not. The truth is that "green" comes in many shades and every step in along the green path is a step in the right direction. In my book Really Green, you'll learn the basic principles of what really helps health and the environment, so you can recognize a real green product from one that's greenwashed.
Read about Really Green and order... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG Here are the questions and new comments posted through yesterday. Remember, you are welcome to share your own comments and experience in response to any of these questions, and post questions of your own. To read and comment on more questions posted previously go to Green Living Q&A blog.
* Controlling Mold on Shower Curtains
Plastic food packaging I wonder about the safety of the plastic wrap that grocery stores put around meats (e.g., steaks and roasts). It appears to be the same type of plastic wrap that most of us have in our homes and which (I assume) contains plasticizers and other constituents of plastics that might leach into the meat. Should we be concerned? And is butcher paper any better? (It, too, has some sort of shiny, plastic-looking material on it.) I keep worrying that the meat I cook is tainted with toxic plastic. Thanks for your help. Pet Poop Hi there, Disposable batteries and litter Dear Debra, Stopping carpet outgassing with an Ozone machine I recently moved to an apartment with new carpet. The outgassing makes me sick. The apartment complex is planning to run an ozone machine in a couple days. Is there a possibility this will actually help? If not, I will unfortunately have to move to a different unit with older carpet in it. pesticide use on imported organic clothes I bought organic cotton clothes from a reputable company and the smell was awful - a strong poisonous smell. I washed and soaked the items, but the smell did not diminish and is likely oil based as the smell also got onto all other clothes in the wash. Afterwards the smell also got onto my fingers and took some scrubbing to get the smell off my skin. I can't touch the fabric due to it leaving a residue on my skin that smells strongly of pyrethrins. Laundry soap for MCS? I had started using the Seventh Generation Ultra Free & Clear Natural 2X Concentrate Laundry Liquid. Engineered Flooring Hi Debra - Car smell after engine steam cleaning I took my 1995 Nissan Altima in for a steam cleaning of both the engine and underside. 15 minutes after I picked it up, it had a rubber smell. Now, a month later, it's closer to an old car smell. I'm sensitive to this and can only drive it for short distances without getting ill. I've baked it in the sun with the windows cracked and used an ozone machine on it, and yet the smell remains. Is there anything to be done? I have an Aireox air filter. If I get a converter for my cigarette lighter, would that help? Do I need to sell it? Thanks.
Stained Glass Lamps Hi Debra, Are eco-friendly cars toxic? Hi. I'm writing for a friend that is chemically sensitive (I am also) and has also had a masectomy because of breast cancer 3 years ago. She is very environmentally conscious and wants to get a 2009 Prius from the factory. I am very concerned about her exposure to formaldehyde and all the other various chemicals in a new car. She has a tendency for headaches upon exposures. Any advice or information would be much appreciated. Thank You. Lawn care pesticides and herbicides Dear Debra, What we pick up on our shoes Dear Debra, Prana Sleep Salad dressing safety I was going to start making my own salad dressing to be more healthy and use less artificial ingredients. However I read homemade dressings can lead to botulism? I am confused on what is safe to mix and for how long- I really don t know anything about botulism. Why is it that store bought dressings if homemade are not safe? Are dressing mixes such as good seasonings or hidden valley safe? How long do dressings (homemade, store bought, and seasoning mix ones) last safely? Tritan copolyester There is a new plastic Tritan copolyester. Companies such as nalgene are now using this plastic instead to make water bottles. What is your opinion on this plastic? Do you think it is only a matter of time before we learn of downsides of this plastic as well and I should avoid jumping on the band wagon? For example, I am sure nonstick pans for awhile were once thought to be safe and now we know that they are not. Soy lecithin safety? Hi Debra, Polypropylene food containers Debra, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CLASSIFIED ADS to place a classified ad in this newsletter... A FULL RANGE OF PRODUCTS FOR HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE LIVING. Debra's readers receive a 5% discount through June (code: DEBJUNE5). www.dwellsmart.com FREEDOM FROM ARTIFICIALITY! Natural Cosmetics, Hair & Body Care. Save 10% on your First Order, use Promo Code: NEW. www.NaturalJoyBeauty.com SOAPSTONE COOKWARE IS NATURALLY NONSTICK. Natural stone cookware is beautiful, warms food quickly over low heat, is bacteria-resistant and naturally non-stick, and is so durable it can be handed down for several generations. Food tastes better cooked in soapstone. www.greenfeet.com REUSABLE BAGS. Eliminate disposable plastic bags and bottles from your life. Bags of all shapes and sizes are made from cotton, organic cotton, hemp, and recycled materials. Shopping bags, tote bags, and everything you need to pack a lunch. Reusable produce bags really keep organic food fresh. Reusable aluminum drink bottles. www.ReusableBags.com FIX WHOLE, ORGANIC FOODS FAST IN A VITAMIX. Whole food vegetable and fruit juices, creamy soups, frozen treats, whole grain breads, fresh nut butters and more are yours in minutes, made from your own organic ingredients. www.vitamix.com GIVE YOUR BODY THE NATURAL SALT IT NEEDS. Revive your energy with natural living salt. Contains 84 minerals essential to human life. Hand-mined to retain original primordial vibration pattern. Delicious taste makes food "come alive". A life-giving, natural, whole food. Email info@himalayanlivingsalt.com for free sample. www.himalayanlivingsalt.com SUSTAINABILY-HARVESTED WILD SALMON and other wild fish from the pristine waters of Alaska. Flash frozen, smoked, sausage and burgers, cans and pouches, salmon caviar. www.vitalchoice.com CALL FOR A HEALTHY BED CONSULTATION. 100% wool-filled and wool-encased mattress of heirloom quality, placed on a slatted wood frame for optimal airflow. Our wool fill comes from the EcoDomestic Wool Project and Woolgatherer Carding Mill in Montague, California, home of our production company. Available in U.S. and Canada. www.shepherdsdream.com SOLUTIONS FOR FLUORIDE HAZARD! Custom made water filters. Removes fluoride, arsenic, chlorine and chloramines without taking out the good minerals that make water wholesome. Whole house systems, under the counter systems, and 100% chlorine-free pool and spa system. Medical grade alkaline water unit. Natural Plus Plus LLC 727-447-2344 www.gobeyondorganic.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
|  The new, revised, edition of Home Safe Home is now available in bookstores nationwide. Home Safe Home tells what toxic chemicals are generally found in specific household products of all types, and safe solutions you can buy or make at home. It's different from other books on toxic chemicals because the focus really is what you can do to protect yourself and your family and create a healthy home. I bring over twenty years of research and personal real-life experience to this book. * 10 Simple, Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reduce Household Toxics * How Toxic is Your Home? Quiz (excerpt from the book) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Debra's List ~ 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise products
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ email: debra@dld123.com web: http://dld123.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
"I was blown away by this terrific book; it has changed forever the way I think about 'green' products." 
I also am available Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm eastern time to answer your questions immediately and personally with a