If you’ve ever been in a bathroom with a new PVC shower curtain you may have noticed a strong and unusual chemical smell. The Center for Health Environment and Justice (CHEJ) has just released a report claiming that PVC shower curtains release an excessive amount of toxic chemicals that may pose a serious health risk.
The nonprofit CHEJ published a report last week, which suggests that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shower curtains can be harmful to humans when first unpacked, and the dangerous compounds continue to fill the air for more than a month. PVC shower curtains are sold by all major retail outlets in North America, including Target, Sears, Kmart and Wal-Mart, and are used by millions of Americans every day.
In a 44 page report, the CHEJ outlined the results of scientific research conducted to determine the toxicity of PVC shower curtains. The study used curtains purchased from a variety of outlets, including Bed Bath and Beyond, Target and Wal-Mart. The results of the study indicated that PVC curtains carry a variety of chemical compounds known to pose health risks to humans.
The shower curtains were tested both for the concentration of chemical compounds inherent in the PVC, and volatile organic compounds that are present when the plastic shower curtains are unwrapped and used. The report specified that more than 108 potentially harmful organic compounds were present in the PVC curtains, and traces of them were still detectable in the surrounding air 28 days later. Many of the compounds in question have been linked to reproductive diseases, cancer, and central nervous system disorders.
The study also determined that a warm and humid environment (like most bathrooms) further promoted the release of the harmful compounds, resulting in abnormally high levels of toxic chemicals present in the air after the shower has been used.
But not all scientists agree with the report by the CHEJ. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has so far withheld passing judgment on the PVC curtains, despite immense pressure from the CHEJ and other consumer protection organizations. Consumer advocates have charged that the government is playing politics with the health of the public by refusing to ban PVC shower curtains out right.
But even without a full-on ban, many retailers are voluntarily pulling PVC shower curtains from their shelves. IKEA, for example, has begun phasing out the sale of PVC curtains and replacing them with environmentally friendly alternatives.
As consumer pressure mounts, the government may finally be forced to take action and ban the curtains. In the meantime, several consumer protection organizations are recommending that individuals do not buy the curtains, and replace any PVC shower curtains already in their home.
I always puzzled as to how such things get on store shelves before any serious testing has been done on them.
Shame to the merchants who sell anything without any regards for their customers’ health safety.
Comment by Claude Gelinas — July 3, 2008 @ 11:56 pm