In this issue I have the first of two parts on the adventure I've been going through the past two months to remove mold from my house. Today, I'm going to tell you about the inspection and results, and in the next issue, you'll see what was done to safely remove mold from my house. Did you know that mold spores can lie dormant until they are disturbed, and then completely contaminate a house if they are not properly removed? This is one of those "don't try this yourself at home" situations. Also, be sure to read about lead in power cords. This is a common exposure we all have to lead (for which there is no "safe" level) and it is not widely known. Debra :-)
HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #38 ~ 21 Febraury 2006
* AT HOME WITH DEBRA: Humidity, Moisture & Mold Health, Home & Habitat Back Issues
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AT HOME WITH DEBRA: Humidity, Moisture & Mold This is the next part of reporting the results of my Bau-Biologie Home Inspection, in which I learn about an unexpected mold problem in my home. Read about Humidity, Moisture & Mold...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THE BLUE EGG Some of you know about another website I publish called Wisdom of Life. It's not a consumer website, but rather about becoming more aware of nature and how we relate to it. Over the weekend, I posted an essay called "The Blue Egg" and I got such a positive response, I thought some of you would enjoy reading it too. It's about what a natural egg really is.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MONEY-SAVING TIPS Today I have a money-saving tip that might surprise you: become a member of Costco. (This was my husband's idea.) Here's how I save money at Costco, which then allows me to spend more on eco-friendly products like organic cotton bedlinens. My biggest savings comes from buying my computer printer cartridges there. I get brand-name printer cartridges--the ones with the least toxic ink--at a 50% discount. I got my membership fee back and more the first time I purchased printer cartridges. And, Costco has many organic foods. They have very delicious frozen organic string beans, which we keep in the freezer for days when we've run out of fresh vegetables.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
DEBRA'S LIST: New website links
California Organic Flowers ships "a rainbow of fresh flowers" direct from the farm. Simple. Pure. Clean. makes all natural cleaning products made with simple, plant-based and mineral ingredients, available both unscented or scented with real essential oils for aromatherapy benefits. Magdalena's Natural Soap is "created by hand using premium quality natural, organic and wild crafted ingredients from around the world." NatureWear Organics sells "comfortable, stylish, sustainable clothing for the whole family." Environmental Health News sends a free daily email newsletter with stories about scientific links between environmental exposures and human health.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SWEET SAVVY: Cut-out Cookies and Mousse
Because cut-out cookies are so popular for holidays, I added two more recipes for cut-outs to the Sweet Savvy natural sweetener recipe database. Chocolate Cookies for Cut-Outs are crisp and delicious made with brown rice syrup. Linzer Cookies are made with walnuts and are sandwiched together with fruit-sweetened raspberry spread. I had to make Meyer Lemon Mousse when my tree bore one lemon. And then Chocolate Mousse because it's such a classic favorite. Both are sweetened with no-calorie, no-carb white stevia powder. You'll like these recipes even if you don't like stevia.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q & A: Electric Blanket and EMFs My husband refuses to believe the "electro magnetic field problems." I went to Radio Shack to get a meter to detect the radiation and to make a long story short was unsuccesful. Anyway, he is a cardiac patient and our temperature last night was minus-17 degrees celcius which is very cold. Can turning the blanket on minutes before bedtime be beneficial or should I just move to another room? J.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q & A: Lead on Power Cords I just purchased a new laptop computer, made by Toshiba. In the "Resource Guide", on both the first page and on page 29, it says "WARNING: Handling the (power) cord on this product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING".What can I do to protect myself from this exposure to lead? J. L.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q & A: Is Water an "Organic" Ingredient?
People ask me all the time if cleaning products can be organic. I have a hard time answering this because most people do not consider "water" to be organic. Do you think water should be considered "organic"?
David Zielski
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If you have a question of general interest, I am happy to answer free it in this newsletter and post it on my website for others to benefit from. If you have a question you would like to submit, please send me an email to debra@dld123.com with your question. It may take two to four weeks or longer for your question to appear in the newsletter. Usually I send an immediate quick answer to email questions, but then give a more detailed answer in the newsletter. All of the questions and answers, including those in the current issue, can be accessed through the Q&A index page at http://dld123.com/q&a/index.php. I also am available to answer your questions immediately and personally with a paid telephone consultation.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
|
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
