Re: Off-gassing from new computer

[Guest guest]

Hi there. I tried getting a new Dell desktop and had to give it to my

boyfriend as the plastic really bothered me. I have concluded you need

to get a workstation, that has an all metal casing.

>

> Hi,

>

> After living in a house with molds I have gotten very sensitive to all

> forms of chemical off gassing. (MCS)

> Unfortunately my old PC has crashed so I'll have to buy a new laptop +

> a 19 " monitor.

>

> I would like to hear what computer and monitor brand you uses and

> whether or not you have had problems with off gassing.

>

> Does anyone know if some brands are more " safe " than others?

>

>

> Thanks a lot in advance,

>

> Lene

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lene.

I am reprinting, below, a previous posting of mine, which addressed

the question you asked, about computer off-gassing. It is message

#59737, which I posted on Mon. March 17, 2008. One thing I forgot to

say, in the original posting, is to make sure the OLD LAPTOP is

metal, not plastic. You can find more answers to your question by

going to the archive, and searching " computers " or " off-

gassing " . When it comes to avoiding " off-gassing " issues,

remember: " OLD IS GOLD " .

Good Luck

Joe

...................................................

Re:Computer exposure question

I am posting the below article from a science news website, because

it may apply

to you. But, MY personal computer toxic reaction has nothing to do

with the

computer " heating up " before generating fumes. I went through 5

computers,

before finding a very old laptop that does not make me sick. Some of

the

computers made me sick AS I WAS SLIDING THEM OUT OF THEIR CARTON,

before

plugging them into an electric outlet.

I also get the same reaction from T.V. sets. Both my T.V.'s died

within the

same week, recently, and I bought new ones to replace them. (2

different brands)

Both new T.V.'s gave me the exact same reaction as the new computers

had given

me. Also, a 6 year old T.V. gave me the same reaction. Since I am an

asthmatic,

my weakest body part is my lungs. So, the " toxic " (non-asthmatic)

reactions that

I experience, are primarily not being able to breathe. [asthma

medicine only

PARTIALLY releives the symptoms, and wears off more rapidly than when

taken for

asthma] The other toxic reactions are the feeling that every cell in

my body is

exploding, and an emotional psychological feeling that I am going

insane, and a

resulting feeling that I want to kill anyone that tells me that

I " really can't

be THAT sick, and so it must be all in my head. "

But, in any case, here is the science news article (from 2000)

Joe

.......................................................................

...........\

.....

Chemical Found In Computer Can Cause Allergy, Sickness

ScienceDaily (Sep. 19, 2000) — Does computer work give you a

headache? You've

got company. New research suggests that emissions from the plastic of

your

computer's video monitor may be affecting your health, according to a

Swedish

study presented in the current (Sept. 15) edition of Environmental

Science &

Technology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society,

the

world's largest scientific society.

---------------------------------

Triphenyl phosphate - a chemical compound widely used as a flame

retardant in

the plastic of video monitors and other products - is known to cause

allergic

reactions in some people. The reactions can range from itching and

nasal

congestion to headaches.

The monitor emits the compound when its temperature rises during

normal

operations, said Conny Ostman, lead author of the study, from

Stockholm

University in Sweden. It is unknown how much exposure can cause an

allergic

reaction, he added. What is known is that new computers emit more of

the

compound than older ones.

" We have focused our interest on this compound since it has been

proven to be

a contact allergen to man and due to the fact that a number of

workers in Sweden

have acquired health problems related to computer work, " Ostman said.

The researchers measured the level of the compound in the " breathing

zone, "

located approximately two feet in front of the video screen.

Temperatures of the

operating monitors ranged between 122 degrees and 131 degrees

Fahrenheit. The

researchers tested the bodies of computers as well, but found they

contained no

significant amounts of the compound.

The emissions levels dropped sharply after eight days of continuous

operation,

the researchers found, but remained 10 times higher than the

background level

even after 183 days - roughly the equivalent of approximately two

years of

working use.

Computers are a significant source of allergenic emissions in small

indoor

environments like offices, Ostman said. Even with adequate

ventilation, the

compound may be a potential health hazard for computer users, he

continued.

The researchers found appreciable concentrations of the compound in

10 of the

18 brand-new video monitors they tested. Ostman declined to name their

manufacturer, saying that nearly all manufacturers use the same flame-

retardant

compound. The presence and levels of triphenyl phosphate in monitors

varied with

the place where they were manufactured, he explained.

The research cited above was supported by the National Institute for

Working

Life and the Swedish Council for Work Life.

Adapted from materials provided by American Chemical Society.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/09/000919080653.htm

........................................................

>

> Hi,

>

> After living in a house with molds I have gotten very sensitive to

all

> forms of chemical off gassing. (MCS)

> Unfortunately my old PC has crashed so I'll have to buy a new

laptop +

> a 19 " monitor.

>

> I would like to hear what computer and monitor brand you uses and

> whether or not you have had problems with off gassing.

>

> Does anyone know if some brands are more " safe " than others?

>

>

> Thanks a lot in advance,

>

> Lene

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this interesting information. I believe more and more items

have plastic in them and are becoming intolerable to me, too. I am now

on a learning curve about that, too. Thank God for Craigslist. I'd

like to get an LCD or plasma flat screen tv but I'm looking for one at

least a year old on CL. No way would I buy a new one I'm sure I'd

react. I will say I have an ultraportable IBM x40 and if I ever

replace it, Id probably get that again, it was very tolerable. Its

also quite small! It's for travelling.

I posted to the original poster to look for a Dell workstation, a used

one maybe a year old at least, they still run very powerful. They have

metal casing. The new Dell's with plastic casing are unbearable. I

outgassed mine, sitting there, for six months in the foyer, and then

when I tried to plug it in still reacted, so I gave it to my boyfriend

(who jokes that since I have MCS he has MCI, Multiple Chemical

Insensitivity ha ha ha ha, but actually he doesnt, either. He is more

aware now of reacting to things).

The other good thing about getting a workstation is you can replace

parts as they wear out, unlike a dying laptop.

Another issue I've discovered is shoes are often terrible. For

instance the most comfortable sandals and walking shoes made by

merrell stink to high heaven of god knows what toxic materials.

Meanwhile, for your asthma, Joe, have you tried IV glutathione, and

also IV Meyer's cocktail push? Google these, I think this guy named

Levin at Yale did a study. When I stopped these IV's for 10 months I

decompensated into SEVERE asthma. Now that I've replenished my stores

I have only the mildest asthma. You can find studies on glutathione

and the lungs. These might help you a lot if you can find a holistic

doc who does this. The best glutathione is from Wellness Pharmacy, and

I get 1000 mg which is 5 ml. You can do it in 100 ml isotonic saline

water bag, or in 15-20 ml of water in an IV push. Magnesium,

meanwhile, works on the gated ion channels in the cell--go look on

Medical Hypotheses for an article by LEvine and Dr. Ba on this

whole issue, it explains cellular excitation in asthma. Also Shrubby

Sophora a Chinese herb seems to help asthma.

Good luck!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill1313,

Thanks for the info. I had already begun looking into Glutathione on

some MCS health websites. When you have a life-long chronic

illness,(56 of my 65 years) you never stop exploring new

possibilities. I have temporarily managed to eliminate all mold and

chemicals from my environment,[who knows what the future holds?] and,

having done so, I am enjoying my best asthma summer in over 20 years.

A word of fatherly advice, about your boyfriend. MARRY HIM!!!!!!!!!

We are living in a very lonely world that labels us mentally sick,

because THEY don't understand our suffering. You have found a rare

exception, in your boyfriend. Don't let him get away.

Regarding any computer purchase. I don't think that one year old is

old enough. Remember, used computers don't come with a warranty or

return policy. Though I have been able to tolerate regular computers,

I personally have had better luck with laptops. Make sure you

regularly " back-up " all your computer files on a flash drive. They

are very cheap now.

If you are not sensitive to rejection, I would sugget that you go

around to your neighborhood banks and other large users of laptops

and computers, and ask them if they have any old laptops that they

are throwing out. Ask them if they will give you one FOR FREE! Old

computers have absolutely no resale value. After you tell them your

health problems, you might be surprised at the compassion that they

have for your condition. Remember, OLD IS GOLD, when it comes to off-

gassing.

Joe

.....................................................

-- In , " jill1313 " <jenbooks13@...>

wrote:

>

> Thanks for this interesting information. I believe more and more

items

> have plastic in them and are becoming intolerable to me, too. I am

now

> on a learning curve about that, too. Thank God for Craigslist. I'd

> like to get an LCD or plasma flat screen tv but I'm looking for one

at

> least a year old on CL. No way would I buy a new one I'm sure I'd

> react. I will say I have an ultraportable IBM x40 and if I ever

> replace it, Id probably get that again, it was very tolerable. Its

> also quite small! It's for travelling.

>

[Guest guest]

Joe, you wrote " I have temporarily managed to eliminate all mold and

chemicals from my environment,[who knows what the future holds?] and,

having done so, I am enjoying my best asthma summer in over 20 years. "

Just curious how the heck did you do that? Do you use air

conditioners? Its so hot here. I am not sure how much to use my

portable a/c. It did help yesterday although a friend says I should

have gotten a stronger unit, as the portables don't cool as well. So

in getting a 7000 btu I didn't realize, I should have gotten a 10 or

12,000 btu.

[Guest guest]

Hi Jil1313,

I see, in one of your other posts, that we both live in New york City.

The answer to your question has a lot to do with the context of our

respective environments. The soot that you metioned, in your other

post, probably indicates that you live in Manhattan. For many years I

walked the streets of Manhattan, as a salesman. At the end of the day,

when I would eat, I could hear the sound of the grime and grit, as my

teeth rubbed together, from the grime and grit that had accumulated

during the day. No person, with OUR health problems, can ever hope to

overcome the context of such an unhealthy environment, to create a mold-

free and chemical-free oasis for our exterme health needs.

I live in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. I am one block from lower New York

bay, between the Verrazano bridge and Coney Island There IS NO grit and

grime in the air, as the constant breeze from the bay blows it away.

You are invited to visit me, to sample the difference in air quality

between here and Manhattan. I have stressed, in most of my postings,

the futility of trying to create a healthy oasis in ANY horrendous

environment. I believe that people should stop wasting their time

trying to turn hell into heaven, and should, instead, get the hell out

of hell, so they can start enjoying life.

If you can endure a 45 minute subway or express bus ride, to get to

work in Manhattan, there are always co-op apartments for sale, where I

live, for one-quarter the price of similar places in Manhattan.

Since I live in this relatively healthy macro-environment, I only had

to battle the micro-environment of my apartment, to create my oasis of

mold-free and chemical-free living. Fighting mold is a life-long task.

You never reach a point where you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of

your labor. It's sort of like mowing grass. The minute you finish, the

grass starts working to undo all your efforts. I sometimes feel that

mold can actually " THINK " , by the ingenious ways that it finds to hide

from our eyes, while it destroys our lungs and nervous system and

digestive system.

Air conditioners are a must! But the soot and grit, in Manhattan air,

will shorten the effective life span of the air conditioner, as surely

as it is shortening your own life span. To air condition any apartment,

no matter how small, you need more than 7,000 BTU. Also, in my life,

air conditioners have sometimes turned out to be a major internal

source of mold growth, themselves. For a period of about 4 expensive

years, I was throwing out air conditioners the way some people throw

out kleenex. A special New York warning about air conditioners. Here,

in New York, advertising " pushes " the Freiderich brand. Go to the web

site of Freiderich, and you will see their explanation of why their air

conditioners last longer than other brands. They contain a unique

rotating flywheel that scoops up the water generated by the unit, and

flings it against the parts of the unit that get hot from operating,

thus creating a more engineering " efficient " unit. Unfortunately, for

us " moldies " , it also creates the perfect MOLD GROWING ENVIRONMENT

within the air conditioner. This IS NOT my opinion. This unique feature

is boasted about, on their own web site.

One caveat, you should be aware of, is that the more effort that you

make to find and remove mold and chemicals, you more impression that

you establish, among those around you, that you are the " mold-crazy

man/woman " who lives in the building. Such is life.

Joe

........................................................

>

> Joe, you wrote " I have temporarily managed to eliminate all mold and

> chemicals from my environment,[who knows what the future holds?] and,

> having done so, I am enjoying my best asthma summer in over 20 years. "

>

> Just curious how the heck did you do that? Do you use air

> conditioners? Its so hot here. I am not sure how much to use my

> portable a/c. It did help yesterday although a friend says I should

> have gotten a stronger unit, as the portables don't cool as well. So

> in getting a 7000 btu I didn't realize, I should have gotten a 10 or

> 12,000 btu.

>

[Guest guest]

liveing alone can give you more oppertunity to have a greater level

of avoidence. more control over your environment. having a

boyfriend/family who go into the outside world everyday and bring

home contaminated cloths/body can make it much harder.they have to be

willing to live in your world by your rules. apartment liveing can be

hard to control, the forst floor may expose you to molds in basement,

the top floor may expose you to ,old from roofs. not having your own

entrance means usually contaminated hallways and smells can come up

from apaerments below you, through floors and other cracks and

crevises. I lucked out in having a window unit that both heats and

cools, but with this came a tiny apartment,which makes it even worse

when people come here with their smells on. even if they remember not

to wear perfume their cloths and bodies still have the smells of it,

laundry soaps, drier sheets,ect. the shampoo they use, even their

shoes and feet can be a problem as all smells do rub off on

furniture,blankets,pillows,ect. hard with grandchildren. and even

with all that,even with not leaveing my space, what the weather

outside is doing does affect me inside,still. I have a bigger problem

with dry,as in dust and whats in that dust and a good rain actually

clears the air for awhile and I fell better. here, it's when it rain

to long that the air becomes moldy, but sll thats dust is not dust

and it goes everywhere.

In , " joseph salowitz "

<josephsalowitz@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Jil1313,

>

> I see, in one of your other posts, that we both live in New york

City.

> The answer to your question has a lot to do with the context of our

> respective environments. The soot that you metioned, in your other

> post, probably indicates that you live in Manhattan.

[Guest guest]

The same issues apply to TVS that apply to computers and all plastic

items that get heated up..

Computers don't have some kind of monopoly on offgassing, etc.