Minimizing toxic exposure in a new apartment

[bluedaisy]

We live and work at a university and housing is part of my salary - we will be moved into a newly renovated apartment next month - with new furniture, appliances, carpet, dry wall, and paint (my school is pretty concerned with environmental issues so at least the paint is no-VOC)

Any suggestions for how to minimize exposure to toxic chemicals?  I have a 2 yr old dd and we are thinking of starting ttc soon.  Should I hold off ttc for a while?  I don't want my baby exposed to lots of chemicals in the first trimester. 

We are on the east coast so it will be too cold to keep windows open all the time - I'm thinking of getting plants (any recommendations for the best "filtering" plants) and maybe an air purifier, but money is pretty tight right now so I'm not sure if we can realistically afford it.  Any recommendations for air purifiers?  Do you think it would be worth the investment?  I guess we should have some tax money coming soon.

I'd love any other suggestions as well!!

[marimara]

The new carpet will probably be the single biggest source of toxins. You will def. need houseplants (you can google houseplants and clean air and you will find a list of the most common plants that filter air, i know pothos and snake plant are on the list).   You will also need an air purifier, whole house filter is best. (honeywell makes good ones)  Do any of you have allergies/asthma/ezcema/migraines/sensitive skin/chemical sensitvities?  Be prepared for them to get worse. I wouldn't ttc in a house like that.  You can try to lessen your body burden by using non-toxic cleaners/laundry detergents, eating organic food, wearing and sleeping on organic and natural fabrics.  Using an organic mattress. 

I would let the house air out before you move in but you said you can't do that.   I would put a cotton blanket down for the toddler to play on.  Vacuum daily with a HEPA filter and empty outside.  Use a good air con/heater filter/ HEPA.  Open windows as much as possible, don't crawl/play/sleep on the floor.  

Further Reading:

http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/

http://www.ewg.org/featured/15

http://living.amuchbetterway.com/toxic-carpet-dangerous-toxins-that-live/

[bluedaisy]

Marimara - thank you so much for your response and the links - it is so discouraging to learn about how many toxic chemicals we are exposed to, especially the ones I feel like I have no control over at this point.

We will likely be in this apartment for over a year - are you saying you wouldn't ttc at all while living there, or just not initially?

We will be moving things in over a period of a few days so I am hoping to leave the windows open a few nights before we actually sleep there.

I will try to find out more about the carpets they ordered - they are trying to make this a "green" building and I found out the y are using no-VOC paint, so maybe I will be pleasantly surprised that they are also choosing a less toxic carpet. 

I already have a vacuum with a HEPA filter, I will look into the air filters. 

Ugh, this is really frustrating.

[goldenwillow]

Originally Posted by marimara 

The new carpet will probably be the single biggest source of toxins. You will def. need houseplants (you can google houseplants and clean air and you will find a list of the most common plants that filter air, i know pothos and snake plant are on the list).   You will also need an air purifier, whole house filter is best. (honeywell makes good ones)  Do any of you have allergies/asthma/ezcema/migraines/sensitive skin/chemical sensitvities?  Be prepared for them to get worse. I wouldn't ttc in a house like that.  You can try to lessen your body burden by using non-toxic cleaners/laundry detergents, eating organic food, wearing and sleeping on organic and natural fabrics.  Using an organic mattress. 

I would let the house air out before you move in but you said you can't do that.   I would put a cotton blanket down for the toddler to play on.  Vacuum daily with a HEPA filter and empty outside.  Use a good air con/heater filter/ HEPA.  Open windows as much as possible, don't crawl/play/sleep on the floor.  

Further Reading:

http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/

http://www.ewg.org/featured/15

http://living.amuchbetterway.com/toxic-carpet-dangerous-toxins-that-live/

Fantastic advice!

Here is a link with a great book and suggestions on which plants are great for this.... 

http://simpleorganic.net/using-houseplants-to-reduce-toxins-and-grow-fresh-air/

[bluedaisy]

Xantho - thanks, that link is very helpful!  I need to go looking for houseplants now :)

I'm curious - marimara suggested a number of things that would be really helpful, but there's simply no way we can afford all of them right now.  I'm wondering what you think would be the top priorities.  I already have a HEPA vacuum and we are definitely planning to buy houseplants.  The other options are:

Air filter

Organic mattress for DH and I (queen that DD usually spends half the night in - we are planning to keep our same mattress)

Organic twin mattress for DD (she will be getting a new mattress from the school - a dorm style mattress)

Organic mattress cover for DD

Organic bedding for DH and I

Organic bedding for DD

Or, forget about these big purchases and just buy houseplants and spend more money on organic foods.  We already use nontoxic cleaning supplies and cosmetics (I make my own)

Thanks!

[marimara]

On a budget, what I would do:

houseplants like you said

air filter, by far #1 priority (since you already have a HEPA vacuum)

after that you can use just regular cotton (not necessarily organic) bedding after washing them a few times w/borax/baking soda/vinegar rinse

and then organic foods and good antioxidant rich multivitamin

at least this the order we did it in. we moved to an apartment last year too and have been having to deal with the realities of apartment toxicity.  Make sure you request at your office that they DO NOT spray pesticides in your house.  They come and knock on my door monthly w/spray bottle in hand ready to spray and I say  NO WAY.  You might also be able to ask them to notify you ahead of time when they spray outside (pesticide and herbicides) if you plan on having your windows open often.  I know in the middle of winter this isn't an issue right now but later in the year it will be.  
 

Originally Posted by bluedaisy 

Xantho - thanks, that link is very helpful!  I need to go looking for houseplants now :)

I'm curious - marimara suggested a number of things that would be really helpful, but there's simply no way we can afford all of them right now.  I'm wondering what you think would be the top priorities.  I already have a HEPA vacuum and we are definitely planning to buy houseplants.  The other options are:

Air filter

Organic mattress for DH and I (queen that DD usually spends half the night in - we are planning to keep our same mattress)

Organic twin mattress for DD (she will be getting a new mattress from the school - a dorm style mattress)

Organic mattress cover for DD

Organic bedding for DH and I

Organic bedding for DD

Or, forget about these big purchases and just buy houseplants and spend more money on organic foods.  We already use nontoxic cleaning supplies and cosmetics (I make my own)

Thanks!

[bluedaisy]

Thanks Marimara!

I think we are going to invest in an air purifier - I have so many questions!

which honeywell air purifer do you have?  did you get one for each room?  Do they also remove toxins?  They just mention airborne allergens, not toxic chemicals.  Austin air purifiers list that they remove toxins like formaldehyde, etc but the austin ones are a lot more expensive. 

I'd appreciate any recommendations!

[marimara]

I only have a room size one for my bedroom.  I have the Honeywell Enviracaire   17000.  They remove all dusts and particles from the air which contain the toxins.  The carpet and padding and other stuff can have dust that contains the toxins in them and that is one way they get in our body (inhaling the dust, eating the dust i.e. its' on our hands and food, and drinking the dust) Plus it does "purify" the air, so not only does it remove particles but it can remove smells/odors too.  You are not going to able to completely eliminate  the toxins present in newly produced standard furnishings/carpeting/ etc.  You are just trying to minimize it as best as you can.  Make sure you get one that is suitable for the size room you plan to use it in if you don't get a whole house filter (which I would get if I could afford it).  

[talia rose]

AFM Safecoat makes a 3 Step Carpet Sealing Process. It is a little labor intensive but works really well to seal in the chemicals so they don't offgas and get on your child's hands.

I would advise an Austin Air Plus Air Purifier. It is specially designed to remove gasses from new construction and products. Also, whenever the weather is nice, open the windows. The plants suggested above are excellent all year round.

[ASusan]

I wouldn't discount opening the windows at least once daily for a long airing.

I lived with  a woman from South Korea who would open the front and back doors while vacuuming. At first, I thought it was strange (in February in upstate NY), but after a while, I loved having the house aired out on a regular basis. Even when I was paying for heat!

And if it is University housing,  is heat included? (sorry, but even more reason to open the doors for an hour or so a day - not environmentally correct, but, hey, they put down the carpet.)