Chemical Protection for the Car

For those who are chemically sensitive to the touch, it can be crucial to keep one’s automobile relatively free of chemicals such as solvents and pesticides. In the past, pesticide contaminated two different vehicles we owned to the point that I could no longer drive them. Now, I take various precautions with my car:

Gloves

I might go somewhere and pick up chemical residues at the store or shaking hands with someone. When I come back to my car, I put on layered disposable gloves (five polyethelene food service gloves and one nitrile glove per hand) so that I do not spread chemicals from my hands to the steering wheel and other parts of the car. See my blog post here on disposable gloves.

Seat Protectors

I sometimes pick up strong chemicals on my clothes if I sit on a chair with chemical residues. I use seat protectors (a piece of plastic or other relatively hard material) so that I do not contaminate the seat of the car. I can just put the seat protectors in the dishwasher if they get chemicals on them. Towels can work as seat protectors as well but I prefer the harder material because some chemicals on the seat can go right through a towel but generally not through a thick piece of hard plastic.

Containers for Items

I often put groceries and other items into plastic or metal containers, such as a Granite Ware stockpot (see post here) or a plastic bin. That way, if there are chemicals on the items, they will not spread to the seat of the car. I use containers that are barely small enough to fit in our dishwasher so that I can wash them if they acquire chemical residues.

Steering Wheel Protectors
There are disposable plastic steering wheel protectors that one can buy. I haven’t tried this, but that might be a good idea when you need to take your car to the shop. I just wrapped my steering wheel with aluminum foil with duct tape on the outside. If my steering wheel gets very strong chemicals on it, I will just remove the foil and tape.

The back of my car has some extremely strong chemicals on it so I covered it with sheet metal:

Dealing with the Discouraging Circumstances of Chemical Sensitivity

The illness of chemical sensitivity can present some very difficult circumstances. The following are examples of some of the challenging circumstances a person with chemical sensitivity may face:

• The symptoms of the illness can be painful by themselves.
• Family, friends, and others, including doctors, may believe the sufferer is malingering or has psychological problems.
• A person that is chemically sensitive to the touch may not be able to touch anything or anyone.
• The illness often requires people to live relatively isolated lives.
• Chemical sensitivity may cause conflict in a family, as family members may want to use products or do other things that cause the chemically sensitive individual to suffer.
• The sufferer may not be able to work, which can cause financial difficulties.
• According to the book Strategies for Surviving Chemical Sensitivity, the basics (2010), by Dr. Robert Mayer, divorce is common where a spouse contracts chemical sensitivity.
• A person with chemical sensitivity may have difficulty and stress related to finding food she can eat, clothes she can wear, and a place to live that does not make her sick.

    The following quotes have helped me deal with the difficult circumstances of chemical sensitivity:

Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. . . . My declaration is that this is precisely what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us, especially in times of need. There is help. There is happiness. . . . Don’t give up . . . . Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. . . . . It will be all right in the end. Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.

Jeffrey R. Holland, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come,” Ensign, Nov 1999.

It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is.
It all works out. Don’t worry.
I say that to myself every morning.
It will all work out.
Put your trust in God,
and move forward with faith
and confidence in the future.
The Lord will not forsake us.
He will not forsake us.
If we will put our trust in Him,
if we will pray to Him,
if we will live worthy of His blessings,
He will hear our prayers.

From the funeral program for Marjorie Pay Hinckley, April 10, 2004; see also “Latter-day Counsel,” Ensign, Oct. 2000, 73. (available here)

No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.

Orson F. Whitney, in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle (1972), 98.

Beware of Some Organic Food

I became chemically sensitive in 2008 and my dad became chemically sensitive in the late 1970s. My dad says that organic food used to be consistently free of chemicals that made him sick. Some years before I became chemically sensitive, my dad noticed that some organic food growers started to use some kind of natural pesticide that made him sick.

The following site explains why organic food is not always as free of dangerous substances as people often think it is: http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~lhom/organictext.html.

Organic food growers can use a variety of products to kill bugs and other pests and still label their food as organic. Some of these natural pesticides include pyrethrin and rotenone. I believe it is likely that some of these natural pesticides can cause symptoms and other problems in people and especially in those with chemical sensitivity. Furthermore, organic food growers are not subject to the regulations that apply to the use of pesticides, including regulations that limit the quantity of pesticides that may be applied to a crop area. Consequently, consumers of organic food may be eating a substantial amount of natural pesticide.

My health improved substantially after I stopped eating a certain brand of organic brown rice. I had been buying it in bulk and eating a lot of it. I noticed that after I would eat it, my liver area would become inflamed. I brought some of the rice to my dad and he confirmed that it had the natural pesticide in it that made him sick. I switched to conventionally grown (not organic) brown rice and I felt a lot of improvement. I had been dangerously thin and was able to gain over thirty pounds and get closer to a healthy weight.

The natural pesticides that are being used by some organic food growers are so harmful to my dad and I that we often choose to avoid organic food products. Don't get me wrong--a lot of organic food is free of the natural pesticides that make us sick. It is a sad irony that a lot of people are sacrificing to pay a premium for organic food when it is actually damaging their health more than if they were to stick with conventionally grown food.

It makes sense that chemically sensitive individuals would be sensitive to some natural pesticides. For example, pyrethrin is a natural pesticide obtained from the chrysanthemum plant.[1] Pyrethroids are synthetic pesticides that were patterned after pyrethrin, and are chemically similar, but are made to last longer. For example, bifenthrin is a pyrethroid, and is the active ingredient in the product that caused me to become extremely chemically sensitive.

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[1] Pyrethroid, Wikipedia, accessed on 05/07/13, available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethroid.

Taking Your Pet to the Groomers can be Risky if you are Chemically Sensitive

We used to take our dog to the groomers to cut her hair. However, one time our dog came back from the groomers with a chemical on her that made me extremely sick. Also, after our dog came back from the groomers, she was acting strangely—rolling around and rubbing herself on the carpet as if she were trying to remove something from her fur. I think it was over a year after we took our dog to the groomers before I could tolerate having her in the house again!

I believe what happened is that other pet owners treated their pets with insecticide to kill fleas and ticks before taking them to the groomers. The insecticide on other animals then spread to our dog as the groomers likely used the same combs, clippers, and brushes on our pet that they used on the pets that were treated with insecticide. I do not believe the groomers purposely applied insecticide to our dog. I called the groomers and the person I spoke with said that they do not put insecticide on pets.

Many people with chemical sensitivity are extremely sensitive to insecticide. One of the insecticides that I am most sensitive to is the insecticide in so called “spot-on” flea and tick treatments. The insecticide in spot-on flea and tick treatments seems to be extremely concentrated and powerful. For example, one product recommends applying the insecticide on the back of the neck of a dog and states that one treatment lasts at least thirty days.

The insecticide spreads through the oils on the dog until all of the skin and fur of the dog is treated with insecticide. These spot-on flea and tick treatments spread like crazy, and this is bad news for the chemically sensitive. If a person touches a pet that has been treated, everything that person later touches will then have pesticide on it, until the residues on the person's hand are no longer there. When people treat their animals with spot-on products, they are also exposing themselves, their children, and anyone who touches the treated pet with a potent insecticide. I am so sensitive to such insecticides that it has made me ill when people who have used spot-on products on their cats have later visited me at my house. The visitors did not have their cats with them, but the insecticide had spread to them and their clothing.

A spot-on product website states that the insecticide "remains effective for 30 days, even if your pet swims or is bathed.”[1] This is also bad news for the chemically sensitive, because it means that the insecticide is terribly difficult to remove by washing. I might compare it to liquid lecithin, sunscreen, or road tar–all are very difficult to remove.

Therefore, for a person sensitive to insecticides, cutting your pet’s hair is likely a do-it-yourself project. There are also natural products and methods that can be used to fight fleas and ticks, and there are many online resources that provide education and products in that area.

Also, these flea and tick products have proved dangerous and even fatal for many pets. There are many sites that describe the dangers of these products and here is one example: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-dangers-of-flea-and-tick-products/
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[1] http://www.biospot.com/get-educated/faqs/.

Shower Filters that Remove Chlorine

I am very sensitive to chlorine. If I take a shower or bathe in chlorinated water, it gives me nausea and makes me extremely tired. I have found that shower filters remove a lot of the chlorine from the water. Recently, I discovered that if I attached two shower filters, even more chlorine is removed from the water:

If one filter removes 90% of the chlorine from the water that passes through it, then two shower filters should remove 99% of the chlorine. Of course, I'm not sure exactly how much chlorine is actually removed by the combination of two shower filters, but I have noticed a definite improvement in my symptoms. I purchased two shower filters from Amazon.com that use KDF-55 media to remove chlorine from the water:



After the filters were delivered, I put them through the dishwasher to remove any chemicals. Also, because two shower filters makes the shower head lower, you may need to raise the level of your shower head with an attachment. See this site for how to raise the shower head: http://www.instructables.com/id/Raise-Your-Shower-Head-in-5-Minutes/.

The Wikipedia article on KDF-55 explains what it is:

KDF water filtration media is a high-purity alloy of both copper and zinc, used in a flaked or granulated particulate form. Usually appearing gold or brass in colour. . . . KDF is known to kill algae and fungi, control bacteria growth, remove chlorine, pesticides, organic matter, rust, unpleasant taste and odour, hydrogen sulfide, iron, lead, nickel, chromium, cadmium, calcium, aluminium, mercury, arsenic, and other organic compounds. . . .KDF water filtration media utilize the principle of electrochemical oxidation reduction, more commonly known to the population as the redox process (Redox reaction) to eliminate a vast number of water contaminants.[1]

KDF-55 media will not remove chloramine from the water so it is important to find out whether your water is treated with chlorine or chloramine, or neither (if you're really lucky).

Whole house filters

If you want to remove chlorine from the water in your entire house, and not just from the water in the shower, you might try a whole house carbon filter. I personally cannot tolerate carbon filters, as they trigger my arthritis symptoms and make my skin burn. We had a whole house carbon filter installed and it cost about $150 to install it, and $300 per year to replace the tank with one that has fresh carbon. KDF media can also be added to the tank of carbon. Alternatively, if you cannot handle the carbon, you could use KDF media without carbon in a whole house system. KDF media is expensive, and I noticed that one site recommended adding 10 to 15 pounds of KDF media to a carbon tank. Ten pounds of KDF media would cost about $100 or more.

Gravel or some other substance could be added to the bottom of the tank so that the water does not bypass the KDF media.

I have also heard of an individual sensitive to chlorine who installed a whole house reverse osmosis (RO) filter to remove chlorine. However there are some downsides to whole house RO filters (see here), including the following:

• They remove minerals from the water and make the water more acidic.
• A lot of water is wasted.
• They filter very slowly.
• The systems are expensive.

I realized I was sensitive to chlorine more than two years before I developed full blown chemical sensitivity. I went swimming in a chlorinated pool and it gave me nausea and made me extremely tired. This is also how I feel when I bathe or shower in chlorinated water but to a lesser extent (the concentration of chlorine is much less in municipal water than in a swimming pool). While I was shopping for shower filters that remove chlorine from the water, I also came across filters that use vitamin C to remove chlorine. I have not personally tried those, however.
I have found that vitamin C is effective at removing chlorine from bathwater (use 2000 mg of vitamin C per bath).

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[1] Kdf-55, Wikipedia, available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kdf-55 (accessed 05/06.13).

Natural Gas and Arthritis-type Symptoms

It seems to be relatively common for people with chemical sensitivity to have problems with their joints.[1][2] I have chemical sensitivity, and certain foods and other substances seem to trigger an autoimmune response in which my immune system attacks my joints and other connective tissue. Some of the things that trigger my arthritis symptoms are:

• Natural gas
• Nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, etc.)
• Citrus fruits and citric acid
• Propane gas
• Pesticide

I have found it to be very beneficial to avoid the things that trigger my arthritis and connective tissue problems. For example, about seven years ago I had terrible TMJ and knee problems. After I stopped eating nightshade vegetables, my symptoms improved dramatically and rapidly.

Natural gas makes me extremely tired. When we were using natural gas to heat our home, I felt like I was so tired I could barely walk up the stairs. Natural gas also makes my eyes burn somewhat and triggers arthritis symptoms—especially in my hips. In fact, my mobility has been affected to such an extent that I cannot do grocery shopping or even walk around the house very much.

Some time ago, we began to use electric space heaters instead of natural gas to heat our home. We also recently changed our natural gas appliances (a dryer and a water heater) for appliances that run on electricity. Since we stopped using natural gas, I have noticed a marked improvement in my joints and connective tissue. My mobility is much better than it used to be and I can now stand for a significant length of time without much pain.

Costs

It cost a little over $1000 to switch out our water heater (including the cost for the electrical work). To switch out the dryer, we already had the wiring installed, so we just had to pay the price of the dryer. Also, heating with electric space heaters has been significantly more expensive than heating with natural gas.

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[1] Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Wikipedia, available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_chemical_sensitivity, (accessed 05/06/2013) ("Symptoms [of multiple chemical sensitivity] are often vague and non-specific, such as nausea, fatigue, dizziness and headaches, but also commonly include inflammation of skin, joints, gastrointestinal tract and airways.")
[2] http://www.chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org/searching-for-elusive-cure.html.

Washer and Dryer for the Chemically Sensitive

My dad and I are extremely chemically sensitive, and we really depend on washers and dryers. I often must put my clothes through the wash more than once to remove chemicals, so it seems like I am doing laundry very often. Furthermore, we must wash new clothes many times before we can wear them, so our washer gets a lot of use. For a chemically sensitive individual, a nice and dependable washer and dryer is a great blessing. I actually wish I had more than one washer! My dad and I both use Whirlpool Duet washers and dryers. They have been quite dependable and we have not had problems with them being too toxic. A few months ago we purchased a Whirlpool Duet dryer. At first it made me somewhat ill as it gassed off (perhaps solvents?). But it was a lot better after a week or two.

Washers

In this section I will compare a  top load washer with an agitator with a high efficiency front load washer.

Pros and cons of top load washing machine with agitator:

Pros:

• It uses more water, and seems to remove chemicals with fewer washings.
• Generally less expensive.

Cons:

• Sometimes quite loud/noisy.
• The agitator is hard on clothing, and clothing seems to wear out much faster than with a front load washer. This is an important consideration for chemically sensitive individuals who have a difficult time finding clothing they can tolerate.
• The agitator gets in the way when removing clean clothing. This is important because the agitator and sides of the top of the washer get chemicals on them when clothing is put into the washer. The agitator makes it difficult to pull out clean clothing without the clothing touching the agitator or the sides of the basket and getting chemicals on them. Therefore, the larger the opening on the washer through which clothing can be removed, the better.

Pros and cons of a high efficiency front load washer:

Pros:

• Gentle on clothing.
• Has a large opening through which clothing can be removed.
• Uses less water.
• Often quieter than washers with an agitator.

Cons:

• Generally more expensive.
• It may require a more washings to remove chemicals because it uses less water.

It may make sense to invest in a fairly nice washing machine that has extra features. For example the following features may be helpful for a person with chemical sensitivity:

• Super hot water. This may help to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals.
• Extra high spin speed. This feature removes more water from the clothing so the clothing does not need to be in the dryer or on the clothesline for as long.
• Extra long cycle. Our Whirlpool Duet washers have a cycle as long as nearly two hours. This is helpful if you want to wash the clothes for a long time but do not want to keep restarting the washer.

Dryers

I like dryers with a large capacity because they dry the clothes more quickly. I am sensitive to natural gas so we recently purchased an electric dryer and I am doing much better with the electric dryer. Natural gas makes me extremely tired and also triggers my arthritis symptoms.

Clotheslines

A clothesline is probably the ideal way to dry clothes for a chemically sensitive individual because the dryer makes clothing wear out more quickly than using a clothesline. However, if the neighbors use herbicides or other chemicals, using a clothesline may be a risky proposition as the airborne chemicals can contaminate the clothes. It is also beneficial to use a clothesline that you can wash. I purchased some copper wire and put it through the dishwasher, making sure to secure it so it wouldn't get tangled in the moving parts. The dishwasher removed any chemicals from the wire and it has worked well as a clothesline. I previously had purchased a clothesline made of plastic or synthetic material and I had to throw it away because I could not remove chemicals from it by putting it through the dishwasher.

The following posts related to laundry it may also be beneficial: Boiling clothing for the chemically sensitive, clothing for the chemically sensitive, laundry detergent for the chemically sensitive.

Shoes for the Chemically Sensitive

I can wear some steel toe shoes I purchase from Walmart. I think I’m on my fifth pair! The brand is “Brahma” and the style is “Steve.” They cost about $30. (See http://www.walmart.com/ip/Brahma-Men-s-Steve-Work-Boot/21610088). I like these shoes because they have thick soles. If I walk on carpet or other flooring that has pesticides or solvents on it, I can feel the solvents come up through the shoes if the soles are thin. If you find it difficult to believe that solvents can travel through the soles of your shoes, just ask the people who design chemical resistant boots and shoes.

To remove chemicals from these shoes after I buy them, I have used two different procedures: (1) I run hot water into them in the tub for 20 to 30 minutes. Then I pack baking soda into them and let them sit in the sun for a week or two; (2) I just put them through the dishwasher once and they come out wearable. I recently discovered the second procedure and I like it because it is much faster and easier. Once I tried to boil the shoes (to remove the chemicals) and they fell apart because the glue holding them together melted! Boiling them really removed the chemicals, but also destroyed the shoes.

My dad (who is also chemically sensitive) bought some Vans slip-on shoes recently and was able to wear them after putting them through the wash about seven times.

Chemical Sensitivity and Prayer

    “A 2003 survey of 917 MCS patients revealed the two most effective treatments for MCS, in order of self-perceived harm/benefit ratio, were a chemical-free living space and chemical avoidance. Next came prayer and meditation . . . .”[1] I do  not consider myself an expert on meditation, but I have benefited immensely from prayer, so I decided to do a post on this topic.
    I prayed regularly before I became chemically sensitive, but my isolation has given me much more time to devote to pondering and prayer. Those with chemical sensitivity are often forced to live in relative isolation. Schools, churches, stores, theaters, businesses, and even the homes of friends and family members harbor chemicals that often cause symptoms in individuals with chemical sensitivity. Consequently and unfortunately, many chemically sensitive individuals do not have much interaction with other people and cannot participate in many social activities and events.
    I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and much of what I have learned about prayer has come from the Bible, and especially the teachings of Jesus. Prayer has brought a lot of peace, hope, and comfort into my life. Through prayer I have felt the love my Heavenly Father has for me. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. In fact, I believe that many of the ideas I have had for how to deal with chemical sensitivity (including some of the ideas on this blog) have come as inspiration from God.

    How to Pray

    A prayer might include the following:

    1) Address Heavenly Father
    2) Express gratitude for blessings
    3) Ask for things you desire
    4) Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ("If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." (John 14:14.))

    Other subjects appropriate for prayer include praising God, repenting of sins, and seeking forgiveness. Jesus was often engaged in prayer and gave an example of how to pray in the Lord’s Prayer:

9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11  Give us this day our daily bread.
12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.[2]

I also thought that the following quote on prayer was instructive:

As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11).  Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other.[3]

    The following site gives a fabulous overview of prayer: http://www.lds.org/topics/prayer?lang=eng. Chemical sensitivity can be an extremely difficult illness and I feel compassion for those who must deal with it. I often pray for those who are struggling with chemical sensitivity. If you are chemically sensitive, I'll  keep praying for you.

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[1] Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_chemical_sensitivity (citing Gibson, P. R.; Elms, A. N.; Ruding, L. A. (2003). "Perceived treatment efficacy for conventional and alternative therapies reported by persons with multiple chemical sensitivity". Environmental health perspectives 111 (12): 1498–1504).

[2] Matthew 6:9-13.

[3] LDS Bible Dictionary, Prayer (available at http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/prayer?lang=eng&letter=p.)

Air Purifiers for the Chemically Sensitive

My dad and I both have chemical sensitivities. Those with chemical sensitivities often have allergies or are sensitive to pollens or other substances that plants produce. My dad and I have benefitted enormously from air purifiers—the difference is like night and day. When the plant growth is at its height, my dad will run three or more air purifiers at the same time.

I have lived in a rural area and am extremely sensitive to the grasses when they go to seed. The effect the grasses have on me is like kryptonite! I become extremely tired and can barely function. However, with air purifiers running, I feel almost normal when I am in the house. It is also important to make sure the house is sealed pretty well. I sealed some air gaps in our windows and that helped a lot.

I have noticed that air purifiers also reduce the effect of herbicides such as 2,4-D. Every year, usually in early May, the church next door to my home sprays a liquid application of 2,4-D to kill dandelions and other weeds.[FN1] I have to move to a different home before the herbicide is sprayed. I stay in the other home for about a week and wait for the herbicide to dissipate. After I return, I can still feel the herbicide somewhat, but I have noticed that turning on an air purifier reduces my symptoms.

My dad and I have done great with Honeywell air purifiers. My dad said that the black prefilter on one of his models had chemicals on it that he could feel, so he just took it off and he said it still worked fine. I have not noticed any problems from the prefilter myself. We have purchased at least five of these over the years.


FN1: The man who sprays the pesticide is very nice and lets me know when he is going to spray. I have gently tried to persuade him to switch to the granule formulation because it does not affect me as much (less pesticide becomes airborne when it is in a granule rather than a mist). However, he does not believe that the granule formulation is as effective and I have heard that it is less cost effective to apply the granules.

Avoiding Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

The illnesses of chemical sensitivity and Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) seem to be related and individuals sometimes suffer from both conditions. I developed EHS about two or three years after I became chemically sensitive. Those with EHS have symptoms when exposed to certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. For example, I have pain in my hands when I use a computer keyboard. The longer I use it, the more pain I experience. Consequently, I can generally only use a computer for a couple of hours per day.

I believe it is a good idea for those with chemical sensitivity to limit their exposure to electrical devices as much as is possible or practical, especially avoiding devices that produce powerful electromagnetic fields. By taking steps to limit ones exposure to electromagnetic radiation, it may be that a person with chemical sensitivity can avoid developing EHS. With the knowledge I now have, here are the steps I might take to lessen my exposure to electromagnetic radiation:

• Eliminate or limit microwave use. Try to stay far away from a microwave when it is on. Microwaves are one of the most powerful sources of electromagnetic radiation for me.
• Limit computer use. This is hard to do when you use a computer to work from home.
• Limit television and radio. Speakers are powerful electromagnets. Keep the volume low and avoid headphones. As far as televisions and computer monitors, LCDs have been better for me than CRTs. I have heard that LED backlit monitors are better than LCDs but I have not tried an LED monitor.
• Switch from wireless to wired internet and computer networks. This one step made a big difference for me.
• Limit phone use, especially cell phones. Using a speaker phone is better than having the phone next to your ear and your hand. It is better not to carry a cell phone in your pocket or near you if it is on.
• Avoid or limit exposure to devices with powerful electric motors: hybrid cars, vacuum cleaners, blenders, electric tools (e.g. saws, drills), etc.
• Avoid electric shavers.
• Avoid living near high voltage power lines.
• Avoid sleeping near electrical equipment.
• Turn off electrical devices such as computers when not in use.
• Avoid electric blankets.
• Avoid infrared such as infrared saunas.
• Use electromagnetic shielding or other equipment to limit exposure to electromagnetic fields. I have purchased electromagnetic shielding materials from the following site:

   Shop EMF protection and shielding at LessEMF.com

I also have a blog entitled Tips for Living with Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: http://tipsforehs.blogspot.com/.

Washable Pens for the Chemically Sensitive

I am chemically sensitive, and one of the challenges I face is obtaining writing instruments that do not have chemicals on them. I have found that if I put pens through the dishwasher, the chemicals can often be washed off.

Test tube pens

One idea that has worked well for me is to put pens (usually BIC pens) in plastic test tubes (with the writing tip pointed out), held in place with plastic disposable straws. That way, I only touch the plastic test tube and do not touch the pen. Chemicals can be removed from the hard plastic test tube more readily than from the plastic and rubber pens, which are made of material that is softer and more porous. If the test tube pen gets chemicals on it, I just throw the entire thing in the dishwasher. The BIC pens usually continue to work after going through the dishwasher. Although chemicals can be easily washed from glass, I would not recommend glass test tubes because they can be dangerous if they break. I broke one once when I was trying this idea. Here is what my test tube pens look like:

One downside to this test tube pen idea is that water gets up into the test tube and sometimes comes out when I am writing on something. This hasn’t been a big problem for me, however. Also, the pen is a little wobbly because it is held in place by flexible straws. However, as a whole, this test tube pen idea has really been beneficial for me. I purchased 50 16x150mm Clear Plastic Test Tubes from Amazon.com from the seller Lake Charles Manufacturing. I put the test tubes and pens through the dishwasher before I assembled them. I used disposable straws I purchased from Walmart and cut the straws down to the appropriate length. I used three straws per test tube pen.

Shop plastic test tubes at Amazon.com

I also purchased a test tube rack. It is good for drying the pens upside down so that the water drains out. It is also just a good place for keeping the pens free of chemicals.


Below are some pens that I like to use:

Sarasa

I really like these pens: Zebra Pen, Sarasa Gel Retractable Pen, Medium, 0.7mm, Black Ink. As far as chemical sensitivities, they have been tolerable for me right out of the packaging. However, these pens are much more expensive than a BIC ballpoint pen. If the pens get chemicals on them, I found that if I remove the ink cartridge and the rubber grip from the Sarasa pen, I can put them through the dishwasher. However, it is a little bit of work to take them apart, wash them, and put them back together.

BIC pens

I use a lot of BIC pens. I like these because they usually work even after they go through the dishwasher. I mostly use two types:

BIC Ultra Round Stic Grip Ball Pen, Medium Point, 1.2mm, Black.
BIC Round Stic Ball Pen, Medium Point, 1.0 mm, Black.

Good luck!

Book Review: Strategies for Surviving Chemical Sensitivity, the basics (2010)

Title: Strategies for Surviving Chemical Sensitivity, the basics (2010)
Author: Dr. Robert Mayer
Published by: Chemical Injury Information Network
ISBN: 0578055481
Pages: 204

    This book is a great starting place for those who have chemical sensitivity. Because I grew up with my dad having chemical sensitivity and because I had been chemically sensitive for some years, I didn’t think the book would be very helpful to me. However, I learned a lot of great things from this book that have helped me substantially. A book or other resource such as this is important for those with this illness because chemical sensitivity is so rare and advice from those experienced with chemical sensitivity is very valuable for those who are new to it.
    At 204 pages, the book is not very long. The book does not go into great depth into the covered topics but provides a good overview of a variety of issues faced by those with chemical sensitivity. Also, because it provides references to websites and other resources, it can serve as a springboard to explore various areas. Some of the topics the book covers include: issues related to housing and automobiles, finding a physician, and trying to have social experiences. One of the parts of the book I found most helpful was the results of a survey of people with chemical sensitivity. Based the survey, the researchers compiled a list of treatments that have been beneficial for the chemically sensitive.
   

Product Review: Granite Ware Stock Pot

This is a great item for the chemically sensitive. I purchased a 21-quart Granite Ware stock pot from Amazon.com in January of 2012 for just under $30. I use this pot to keep my clothing free of chemicals. After my clothes are done drying, I put them directly into this pot, which I keep next to the shower. I can fit three days’ worth of clothing into this pot. If the pot gets chemicals on it, I just put it through the dishwasher, as it just barely fits.

The pot is steel with a layer of porcelain on the outside, so it cleans up easily. The pot I purchased was made in Mexico. Based on the reviews at Amazon.com, the porcelain can chip if something hard bangs against it, but mine has not chipped. Also, I have never used the pot for cooking, but it should not be used on glass stovetops. Because the metal is so thin, the food will burn if used on a glass stovetop.

I like these pots because they are generally much less expensive than a stainless steel pot of a similar size. Additionally, I have had problems with some stainless steel pots. Some of them seen to have solvent embedded into the metal. No matter how many times they go through the dishwasher, they still have chemicals on them that make me ill. For example, we purchased a Calphalon pot (made in China) for about $90. Even after it went through the dishwasher more than ten times, it was still toxic and unusable.

 Shop Granite Ware Stock Pots at Amazon.com

I have purchased two of these pots and they have been great:

Disposable Gloves for the Chemically Sensitive

I really depend on disposable gloves. With these gloves, I can do the dishes, prepare meals, use the computer, and do other work around the house. Without the gloves, I would be constantly washing my hands to remove chemical residues.

Using disposable gloves can be a pretty expensive habit and I am trying to cut back. You can reuse them as much as you want until they get chemicals on them. Using disposable gloves is helpful to keep toxic chemicals from spreading around the house. If you get chemicals on them, you can just throw the gloves away, and the chemicals cannot spread from your gloves to other things you touch.

Sometimes I wear these gloves out in public when I go shopping. However, people may think you have some contagious disease if you wear nitrile gloves because people typically see such gloves in the health care profession. Therefore, sometimes I wear other gloves over the nitrile gloves. I wear some mechanics gloves over mine but you could also wear cotton, leather or other gloves--perhaps washable gloves.

I also use disposable gloves to protect things that I want to keep chemical-free. If you are chemically sensitive to the touch, you know that sometimes you have chemicals on your hands and do not even know it. When this is the case, we spread the chemicals to everything we touch. Therefore, I use gloves when I use my computer because it is critical that I keep my computer chemical-free. I also have used gloves to keep other things chemical-free, such as books, cell phones, notebooks, and pens.

To prevent contamination of clean gloves, I wash my hands then put clean plastic gloves on my hands. Then I tear open the box of gloves and take out a bunch of gloves from the box and put them on a plate that is straight out of the dishwasher. I find that this works much easier than pulling the gloves out of the box through the hole at the front.

I use a combination of two different types of gloves: (1) high-density polyethylene (hereinafter “plastic gloves”); and (2) nitrile gloves. If you are very chemically sensitive to the touch, you know that many chemicals will go through a single plastic glove. Therefore, to obtain additional protection, it is necessary to wear multiple layers of gloves. On each hand, I wear five layers of the plastic gloves followed by one nitrile glove. Besides providing additional protection from chemicals, the nitrile gloves provide a much better grip than the plastic gloves.

Polyethylene gloves. I buy a brand called “Clean Ones” at Costco stores. I have also seen them for sale at Amazon.com. I have not had problems with these gloves having chemical residues on them. The last time I purchased these gloves, they cost about $12 for 2000 gloves (4 packs of 500). Therefore, the gloves cost about 1/2 of a penny each.

Shop for polyethylene gloves at Amazon.com

 

I will rank the PE gloves I have used on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being the best and 10 being the most toxic).

 

•Clean Ones: 1

•Daily Chef: 1-2

•Member's Mark: 4-5

•Choice Disposable Gloves: 7

 

Nitrile gloves. I buy the Kirkland brand from Costco, but the gloves are manufactured by Kimberly-Clark. The Kirkland nitrile gloves are grey, but Kimberly Clark sells gloves of different colors through different distribution channels. I have only tried the grey ones and they have not caused problems for me as far as chemical sensitivity. The last time I purchased these gloves I think they cost $17-$20 for 400 (2 packs of 200). If they cost $20, that would amount to five cents per glove.

Shop Kimberly-Clark nitrile gloves at Amazon.com

 

Nitrile gloves are generally good for chemical protection.[1][2] Sometimes it is helpful to wear double gloves. (Id.) One thing I found it interesting from the sites listed below is that certain types of gloves protect against certain solvents much better than others. (See Id.) If you know what chemical you are dealing with, you might try a glove that is especially effective at blocking that chemical. 

 

The other issue I have faced is that I cannot use some nitrile gloves because they cause me symptoms. I will rank the gloves I have used on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being the best and 10 being the most toxic).

 

•Ammex black nitrile: 1
•Infi-touch white (or beige?) cleanroom gloves: 1
•Infi-touch blue: 1 or 2 (the ones I purchased have a thickness of 6 mil, which is about twice as thick as most other nitrile gloves I have tried. The thickness makes it so less chemicals get through but they are also more expensive and can be a little harder to get on and off.)
•Curad: 3
•Kimberly Clark (now Halyard): 4 (These used to be a 1 before Halyard bought Kimberly Clark. I have tried purple, lavender, and grey.)
•Acceletrator-free gloves from Hourglass Intl.: 4
•Microflex: 5
•Relion: 10

I usually put on five polyethylene "Clean Ones" or "Daily Chef" gloves (from Sam's club) under the nitrile gloves. The polyethylene gloves give me additional thickness at a fraction of the cost of the nitrile gloves. I use nitrile gloves on top for grip and to lessen the bulk of the polyethylene gloves. I also tried Choice PE gloves but they seem to have more chemicals that give me symptoms.

 

Non-disposable gloves: If you need some really thick gloves to keep free of chemicals, Bluettes have worked well for my dad and I. We cut a few inches off the bottom so that they are easier to get on and off. We put them through the washing machine when we first buy them to remove chemicals from them. We also put them through the washing machine if they get chemicals on them.

Shop for Bluettes gloves at Amazon.com

 

[1] http://amo-csd.lbl.gov/downloads/Chemical%20Resistance%20of%20Gloves.pdf

[2] http://www.aps.anl.gov/Safety_and_Training/User_Safety/gloveselection.html

Disposable Garbage Receptacles

I am chemically sensitive, and getting disposable garbage containers has made my life a lot easier. Because items with chemicals on them are frequently thrown in the trash, trash receptacles invariably have chemicals on them. I have had to get rid of some trash cans for this reason. I found that my hands would burn with chemical residue after I touched the trash can to empty it.

I purchased some brown paper disposable trash bags at Home Depot. They are very large (30 gallon; 16 in. x 12 in. x 35 in.). The bags can stand up on their own once they are unfolded. Last time I checked, Home Depot only sells the bags in stores and not online. However, the company at the following website makes similar bags: http://www.danoinc.com/ecolobag.html. Here is what the bags look like:

Another option is to purchase trash receptacles that are small enough to fit in the dishwasher, so that the chemicals can be washed away.

Bar Soap for the Chemically Sensitive

My dad and I are both extremely chemically sensitive and the purpose of this post is to share the bar soaps that my dad and I can use.

I also wanted to share the idea of cutting bar soap into smaller pieces: If you are chemically sensitive to the touch, you know that chemicals from your hands can spread to the soap. If the chemicals are very strong, it is sometimes necessary to throw away the entire bar of soap. To avoid wasting so much soap, I cut bars of soap into smaller pieces with a knife and a plate that are straight out of the dishwasher. I then put the pieces of soap in a quart jar and put a lid on the jar. If the soap is left out in the open air, it will rapidly dry out. I leave a bowl of pieces of soap near the sink to use. A quart jar of cut up Kiss my Face soap:

To cut soap, I have found that the knife I use is important. I use a long knife with a sturdy but thin blade. If the blade is too thick then the soap will break. Also, of the soaps below, Ivory cuts quite easily because there is a lot of air in it. Dr. Bronner's just crumbles and does not cut into pieces well. Kiss My Face is difficult to cut because it is so dense but makes very nice little soaps that last quite a while. (see pic below)

Ivory (original): I use tons of this and it is quite inexpensive. I purchase it at Walmart. I think a package of eight to ten bars costs around $5.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Soap, All-One Hemp Almond: My dad and I can use this soap but it is more expensive than Ivory. Ingredients: Organic coconut oil, Organic palm oil, sodium Hydroxide (none remains after saponifying oils into soap and glycerin), Water, Organic Olive oil, Organic Hemp oil, Organic Jojoba oil, Natural Almond fragrance, Salt, Citric Acid and tocepherol. This soap comes in many different varieties, and this is just one type:



Kiss my Face Pure Olive Oil bar soap:  This soap is also expensive but it is the best soap I have come across as far as my chemical sensitivities. My dad says he does not think that this soap removes chemicals from his skin as well as other soaps. This soap does sting if it gets in your eyes. This soap is dense and lasts a lot longer than Ivory. The soap I bought came in huge bars and they are solid and heavy. Careful not to drop it on your foot! The soap is a green bar and has the distinctive smell of olive oil. Ingredients: Saponified Olive Oil, Water, Sodium Chloride.




N.E.E.D.S. sells some kings of soap I can tolerate and they seem pretty reasonably priced. The two brands below can be purchased from their website.

Green Mountain Soap - Original, Unscented (they also make a liquid soap for soap dispensers)

Clearly Natural Essentials - Unscented - Glycerin Soap

Laundry Detergent for the Chemically Sensitive

In this post I will share some of the brands of laundry detergent that I can tolerate. I know that not everyone with chemical sensitivity can tolerate the same products. However, both my dad and I are extremely chemically sensitive, and we can both tolerate most of these products pretty well.

I like to use the powder form of detergents because I can put the powder into a container near the washing machine. I can then use a spoon to put the detergent into the washing machine. With the liquid form, I have to handle the bottle of liquid to put the detergent into the washing machine. If you are chemically sensitive to the touch, you know that the less you touch, the better. If there are chemicals on the bottle of liquid laundry detergent, my hands get chemicals on them each time I do a load of laundry. If my spoon gets chemicals on it, I just put it into the dishwasher.

Here are the laundry detergents that work well for me:

Country Save: This is probably the least toxic detergent for me that I have come across. It is expensive, however. I use the powder form.

Click here to view the selection of Country Save at Amazon.com



OxiClean: I use this regularly and it works really well. I buy it in bulk from Costco. It is less expensive than Country Save and Seventh Generation.


Click here to view the selection of Oxiclean at Amazon.com



Seventh Generation: I can tolerate a number of the detergents that Seventh Generation produces. Some of the Seventh Generation detergents have a pretty strong odor, but the odor does not bother me.

Click here to view the selection of Seventh Generation laundry detergent at Amazon.com

Boiling Clothing for the Chemically Sensitive

I have found that boiling clothing is an effective way to remove some chemicals from clothing so that they are wearable for a person with Chemical Sensitivity. Boiling clothing can remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals that cause problems for people with Chemical Sensitivity.

Here are some tips for boiling clothing:

• I usually put clothes through the wash two or three times before I boil them. Then I boil the clothes all day, two days in a row. After that, I wash the clothes a few more times. If the clothes are still really toxic after all of that, I usually give up on the clothes. Some chemicals cannot be removed from clothing with boiling. I have not had good luck with clothing that is “wrinkle free.”
• Do not boil different items of clothing together unless you are sure that chemicals from one piece of clothing will not contaminate other clothing.
• I put some ingredients into the pot prior to boiling. I use one cup of salt, one cup of baking soda, and a little bit of soap or detergent.
• Do not let the pot of boiling clothing run out of water! I put a tissue on my bed to remind me that my clothes are boiling so that I do not go to sleep without turning off the heat.
• It is best to start with clothing that is as chemical-free as possible. Organic clothing is quite pricey, but I generally do better with organic clothing. However, I have found I cannot wear a lot of clothing that purports to be organic. I previously wrote a post in which I listed the clothing that has worked well for me.
• Do not boil shoes that are held together with glue. I tried this once and my shoes fell apart. I will note, however, that my shoes were much less toxic after boiling them.

Options for heating the water:

1. A 220V hotplate.

You will probably need an electrician to install the wiring and outlet. It should be installed outside or in the garage so that the fumes from the clothing do not come into the house. This option could cost $400 to $500 for the hotplate and the wiring. I purchased a 110V hotplate a while back and it could not even bring eight quarts of water to a rolling boil. Check the specs on the hotplate to make sure it can boil the amount of water you need. Also, let your electrician know the specs on the hotplate so he or she can install the right wiring and outlet.

2. Use the kitchen stove.

Do not boil clothing inside your house unless you are not sensitive to airborne chemicals. I tried boiling clothes on the kitchen stove once and it made me ill. Perhaps someone else could boil the clothing while the chemically sensitive person is away. After the clothes are done boiling, the house could be aired out.

3. Use a roasting oven.

Roasting ovens generally cost $20 to $70. I have used a GE roasting oven to boil clothing successfully for many years. The downside is that the water does not get as hot it would if I were to use a 220V hotplate. The water does not come to a rolling boil until much of the water has steamed off. But it has worked really well to remove chemicals from my clothing. My roasting oven can hold about six t-shirts at a time. I also like my roasting oven because there is a removable roasting pan that I can put through the dishwasher if it becomes dirty or acquires chemical residues.




Amazon.com has a variety of roasting ovens. Click here to see their selection.

4. Use a propane stove.

Propane makes me ill but since the clothes would be boiling outside, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

I learned some of the principles above about boiling clothing from the following site: http://planetthrive.com/2010/08/washing-clothes/. The aforementioned planetthrive article is very good, but I also wanted to share the roasting oven idea, as well a few other ideas, so I did this post.

Clothing for the Chemically Sensitive

One of the most stressful things for a chemically sensitive person is to run out of clothing. I would wear clothing until it would literally be falling apart. Sometimes I would purchase clothing, wash it numerous times, and it would still make me sick, so I would give it to the thrift store. I was worried I would not be able to purchase clothing I could wear. I finally found some clothing I could wear, so the purpose of this post is to share what has worked for me.

Organic clothing is quite pricey, but I generally do better with organic clothing. However, I have found I cannot wear a lot of clothing that purports to be organic. Here is a list of the clothing that I can tolerate:

Esperanza Threads (http://www.esperanzathreads.com/). I have bought at least five pairs of sweatpants from this company and they have been the most chemical-free of any clothing I have come across.

Patagonia. (http://www.patagonia.com/us/home). I have purchased around 15 to 25 items of organic clothing from this company and have been able to wear all of them! I have purchased levis, khakis, collared shirts, flannel shirts, lots of white t-shirts, and other items. The clothing is expensive, but sometimes there are sales. Sign up to receive emails if you want to be notified of their sales. I have purchased two items of synthetic clothing from Patagonia and was not able to wear them.

Lands’ End (http://www.landsend.com/). I have done great with some white dress shirts (No Iron Pinpoint Oxford) I purchased from Lands’ End. I was able to wear them after boiling them and numerous washings.

Adidas. (http://www.adidas.com/). Polyester clothing generally lasts a lot longer than cotton clothing. I purchased some pants direct from Adidas’ website that I was able to wear after boiling and numerous washings. The pants are the Firebird Track Pants, Item:  X41215. They are black with white stripes and they cost $61.52.

JC Penney. I purchased some pants from this company and was able to wear them after numerous washings and boiling them: "Stafford® Essentials Pleated Dress Pants, Item #FC553-4780D, color: Grey Tic, $20.00 clearance." I also purchased the following pants from the same company but could not remove the chemicals: "jcp Flat-Front Dress Chinos, Item #FC560-8259D."


Socks:

Maggies Organics (http://www.maggiesorganics.com/). I have purchased a lot of socks from this company. I buy the “99% cotton allergy crew.” I have tried their other socks that have a lower percentage of organic cotton and I was not able to wear them.


Hanes. I bought three packages of these socks: "Hanes Cushion Crew Socks 10 Pack, 10-13-White." I put them through many washings--probably about 16 hours of washing. The socks still made me a little bit sick after all those washings so I boiled them in my roasting oven (see my post on boiling clothing) for about 16 hours. After I boiled them and washed them a couple more times I could wear them and they didn't make me sick. It is so nice to have plenty of socks to wear now. These socks are much less expensive than the socks from Maggies Organics, but it takes more work to remove the chemicals from them.