I dried some habaneros in the food dehydrator once. I did fine with that. But then I decided to put them in the blender and make powder out of them. I took the lid off the blender too soon before the dust had settled and had what's best described as a really bad asthma attack. Couldn't even breathe for coughing for about 30 minutes after going outside. Ever since then, I've been really sensitive to hot pepper fumes, even rinsing cut jalapenos in warm water in the sink will set me off. The worst part is I love habaneros and make lots of hot sauce with them, I'm trying to get it cleared here with the board of health, permits and such to make it commercially and sell it at the farmers market. But I just have to be careful for the fumes still affect me!

Sorry it took so long to get back. There are several essential oil which pregnant women should avoid during pregnany, such as, peppermint, which is a stimulant and used to get labor going. Eucalyptus and Rosemary are also recommended to not use during pregancy. Lavender is used to relax and calm and is used during labor sometimes to calm. Lye, as we all know, is caustic and should not be inhaled even if you are not pregnant. It is a chemical so it should be used very carefully pregnant or not. I am opting to not use during pregnancy, my DH gets to make the CP soap right not :) Regarding FO, they are synthetic chemicals as well and there is not much out there on guidelines on use during pregnancy, I am trying to touch it as little as possible, wearing latex gloves etc. There is so much out there today that can already be harmful during pregnancy that I don't want to add anything else which may harm the developing fetus. Another EO pregnant women should avoid is Pennyroyal (for that matter most women should avoid it) it can actually change your menstrual cycle etc. I am going to read up some more on EO etc during pregancy if I find anything interesting I will post. Elle

How long have you had this smell? Did it just start or have you had this smell since Mid March after completed renovation? Is there a gas intake to heat water? Is there a problem with garbage disposal? Is the smell plastic, chemical or rotten food like? Does it smell like rotten eggs? I ask this odd question because of a program on NPR about drywall from China having sulfer. Sulfer destroys copper. It also emits a horrific rotten egg smell. Some drywall from China has sulfer in it's makeup causing serious illness in children. Here are some articles. ~boxerpups http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101037056 http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/03/24/chinese.drywall/ By Jason Hanna CNN (CNN) -- Strontium sulfide, a material that can emit corrosive gases in moist air, was found at trace levels in testing of Chinese-made drywall, the Florida Department of Health said.The drywall samples gave off a sulfurous odor when heated, and in at least one case, sulfide gases corroded copper coils in an air conditioner of a Florida home containing Chinese drywall, said the department, which commissioned the study. But more testing is needed to determine whether strontium sulfide was causing the odor and contributing to the corrosion, the department said. And more tests are required to determine whether the drywall poses a threat to human health -- a process that probably will take at least several months, state toxicologist Dr. David Krause told reporters Monday. "It's very hard to predict when we'll have the answers [relating to possible health hazards]. ... We're moving as quickly as possible," Krause said. Concerns about Chinese-made drywall, which is suspected by some homeowners of ruining appliances and causing health problems, emerged in Florida last year but have transcended state lines, with class-action lawsuits alleging it has caused problems in at least three states: Florida, Louisiana and Alabama. The Florida Department of Health has received about 150 complaints, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it is investigating the Florida allegations. Homeowners' lawsuits against certain manufacturers and suppliers contend the drywall has caused them to suffer health problems such as headaches and sore throats, and left them facing huge repair expenses. The drywall is alleged to emit sulfur-based gases that smell of rotten eggs and corrode piping and wiring, causing electronics and appliances to fail. The Florida Department of Health said complaints there generally involve homes built between 2004 and 2007, around the time a building boom and post-hurricane reconstruction caused a U.S. drywall shortage and spurred builders to use imports. (there is more to this story at the link.) Here is a link that might be useful: Drywall has material that can emit corrosive gas

Adequate caution was not rendered. The manual states "to speed up the process" run the self-clean cycle 2x. That's on page 35 of the "online" manual in the troubleshooting section. Not all people have a computer and would never know that this process should be done, but even so, the information given does not indicate it is necessary to do so. Plus, they refer to "an odor which is normal" but do not relay the magnitude of how bad the fumes really are. They are so bad that no one should ever have to tolerate going thru this with a brand new oven. For people with respiratory issues or other illnesses, pregnant women, and babies should never have to endure this whether if it is made clear to the consumer or not. This process should take place in the factory instead of polluting lungs and homes. Because I contacted the State of Ohio's Atty General's Office, I received a phone call on Friday from the Asst to the President of GE noting he was calling because he got notice from the Atty Gen Office. He attempted to discuss the issues with me but was very blunt, resistant to my concerns, and denied the validity of everything I reported. I am continuing to work with the Atty General's Office and shall see if anything can be done to correct the situation and at the very least mandate that a tag is attached to the oven door noting that the procedure needs to be done, how to do it properly, and to encourage people who are sensitive to such need to leave the home during the process. My personal damages was suffering a headache, preparing a meal that could not be eaten due to fumes contaminating it, and subjecting all my family including a 5 month old to fumes of which I have no idea what the chemical composition of "burning off an acrylic binding agent" is. I'll keep you posted as I progress with any outcome. Thanks for your responses. Laurie