CHEJ Pulls Back the Curtain on PVC

June 17, 2008 by Alicia
Filed under Buzz, PVC, Phthalates

I still remember opening my first baby doll for Christmas and thinking how wonderful that new plastic smell was. Now when I smell the aroma of fresh PVC off-gassing, I’m struck with a new thought, “Eeewww, smells like poison!”

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) released a new study, “Volatile Vinyl: The New Shower Curtain’s Chemical Smell,” in which they reveal that PVC shower curtains can release over 100 toxic chemicals.

The truth about PVC is even more shocking than we ever imagined. The chemicals researched in the study have been associated with developmental damage, as well as damage to the liver, central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems. It amazed me to learn that some chemicals were found in the air a full 28 days after a PVC shower curtain was unwrapped and hung!

The study also found many more unsettling facts about PVC shower curtains:

Contain high levels of phthalates
Contain high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)
Contain high levels of organotins
Contain lead, cadmium and other metals
Heat and humidity can increase the release of these chemicals

There is some good news in all of this mess. CHEJ confirmed that many leading retailers of PVC shower curtains have plans to phase them out. The list includes: Bed Bath and Beyond, IKEA, JC Penney, Macy’s, Marks and Spencer, Sears/Kmart and Target.

Thanks to CHEJ for their ongoing work to protect our families with well-documented research and education projects. You can read the full report at their website.

UPDATE 6/18/08:

Q: Is there a safe alternative?

A: Yes. EVA is a safer alternative used in some shower curtains. There is a growing trend to replace PVC with EVA, so it won’t be difficult to find a substitution.

Watch for a follow-up article on EVA soon!

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Tags: CHEJ, EVA, Off-gassing, PVC, Toxic Shower Curtains

Qtpies7

Wow! I never thought about the other forms of plastic that we do not eat from!
I had a horrific time with the smell from a clear plastic table cloth I bought to protect my pretty table cloth from spills. The odor was so strong I could barely stand to unfold it, and it lasted for nearly a week.

I think I need to toss it!

Kim

I really feel like throwing out everything I have that's made of plastic...even the ones that haven't been in the news yet. It's probably only a matter of time.

OK, so here's my question: I have a cloth shower curtain and a plastic liner, but I'm not sure what it's made of; it is some sort of plastic, though. Once I throw that out, what kind of liner should I use? Is there a safe alternative yet?

Kirstin

Kim, I second that. Where can we currently buy a safe plastic shower liner?

softlanding

Hi Kim and Kirstin,

There are many great PVC substitutions made from non-toxic EVA (please see our updated note on the blog post).

Alicia

Kim

Ah, thanks!

Joanna

Would you have to lick the shower curtain to get exposed to the phalates? How likely is it that beyond that initial smell (ours is gone already) that the negative chemicals are still there? Just curious. Thanks!

Karissa

Now that all this new information is coming out about PVC, I wonder about all the PVC plumbing that has been put in our homes. Is this a problem that will need to be fixed? Is it a problem to cook with water that runs through PVC plumbing??? Has any research been done on this yet? Yikes!

Rachel

Ikea shower curtains are PVC free!! And just over a buck. Yay!

Vanessa

What about plastic garbage bags? I can smell that "plasticy" smell every time I take one out of the box to put it into my kitchen garbage can. . .I'm guessing that those would leave toxins floating in the air in your home also??

Kim

I contacted Prestige Toy company, which makes toys for Carter's and asked if their three pack of little squirty bath toys are made with BPA, PVC, phthalates, etc. They responded that they are made with a phthalate free PVC. What is this and even if PVC is phthalate free, doesn't it still contain tons of other harmful toxins?