Ban Recommended on Toxic Vinyl Shower Curtains
Ask about toxic shower curtains and many people will mention mold and mildew. Those two culprits may be responsible for making your bathroom smell less than fresh but they’re not responsible for the recommendation made today to ban the manufacture and sale in Canada of vinyl shower curtains made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
“Volatile Vinyl: The New Shower Curtain’s Chemical Smell” is the title of a study released today that analyzes the reasons why new vinyl shower curtains smell the way they do. The bad news is because they contain more than 100 chemicals known to be toxic to humans and they release these toxic chemicals into the air for about 28 days.
The Canadian research team tested PVC shower curtains purchased at Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, Kmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond stores in the United States and Canada. All shower curtains under scrutiny emitted dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air when removed from their packaging and they continued to do so for 28 more days.
Researchers express concern that these vinyl shower curtains release so many toxins into the air in the home but they are equally as concerned about the danger of the toxins during the manufacturing and disposing phases of production.
The research team would like to have the Canadian Hazardous Products Act amended to include these PVC-based vinyl shower curtains as dangerous consumer goods and has recommended a complete ban.
Source: CNW
Yet another media attempt to panic the public. How many years have we had these in out homes and suddenly there are a serious problem. So, where have all you scientific whizzes been all this time – scampering after the dehydrating planet syndrome of the early nineties and now the global warming hoax. that failing you have to turn to shower curtains! Come on folks. You can do better than that! Can’t you? Maybe not? ! !?!
Killing us softly…
does this mean pvc pipes are bad too? PVC pipes are used everywhere in conventional home plumbing systems…..
It is a non-issue, ALWAYS launder anything you buy, and with the scary smelling shower curtain, wash it and hang outside to dry, that takes care of the smell and most of the vapors. If you cannot live with that make adjustments, bathe in a clear creek…in the cold…in the woods.
Hey Feodore,
I like your style, stupid scientists! I have some asbestos you might be interested in! It was used by millions of people for decades! Way longer than plastic shower curtains .. so they must be perfectly safe.
I also have some beachfront property to sell you, we both know the oceans won’t be rising anytime soon. Lets get in on the housing action!
Regarding post #5, I’d just like to add this:
Yeah, and lead….it was commonly used in household products and paint for decades, but certainly no risk there either! So feel free to run out to your local Walmart or discount store and stock up on all those products pouring in from China that contain high levels of lead and let your kids on them. Better yet, take them into an older house and feed them some paint chips for a snack.
I would not be so quick to criticize this report. After recently losing my father to cancer, I have total respect and fear of many chemicals. Have you looked at the cancer rates recently? It is a fact that some chemicals are carcinogens. Why take the chance? I would rather have a chemical-free shower, whose design uses perhaps only tile. Or, ventilate the chemical-filled areas better. I definitely appreciate the report and being made aware of the possibility of harmful chemicals. A several month stay with a loved one in a cancer ward would probably make most others feel the same.
Thank you – here’s to your health,
D
But is there any evidence whatsoever that anyone, at any time, has ever fallen ill as a result of this? This is some poor journalism, and only tells half the story. Question have to be asked.
D: “Have you looked at the cancer rates recently?”
Yeah, and the rates are dropping. Genetics have a lot more to do with it than shower curtains.
Still, if you are determined to live in fear then please do so alone and try to avoid forcing all the rest of us to live in fear with you.
I belive that all plastics are harmful. In the ancient world lead was used for drinking cups. Someday you will see.
Anyone who calls scientists “stupid” ought to euthanize themselves un-humanely.
The future will continue to look bleak with a mentality from the dark-ages.
Tests should have been done before exposed to the public in the first place.
“The Canadian research team”
Are you kidding me!? Med research!!!??? Where? Who prints this stuff? Does MedHeadlines expect it’s readers to swallow it without some fact checking? What a lack of integrity.
Last time I checked breathing mold spores was also dangerous. Just ban mold and mildew and we wouldn’t need mold and mildew resistant shower curtains.
After reading everyone’s comments, here are mine: actually I am quite grateful to have accidentally come across this piece of information. My vinyl shower curtain is 9 years old, so I’m already in danger. With this new information I will not replace this now old Wal-Mart vinyl shower curtain with another vinyl one; I will go cloth. However, THERE IS THE MATTER OF THE “LINER” ….
‘Suppose I will follow the suggestion posted to “wash” the vinyl liner before using, and just move on with my life. What else can one do short of doing what else was intoned: bathing in a creek, or rain water, etc.?
And, YES, a great many of us do AGREE and KNOW that mold and mildew are NOT good for us humans or our pets.
For me, it is a matter of choosing which of the 2 thistles to eat, or which of the choices available are the least lethal, and just move on.org!
Happy Life to All!
As a chemist I can tell you this article is absolutely correct.
Polyvinyl chloride shower curtains exude un-reacted vinyl chloride monomer (which also acts as a plasticizer) for several weeks after being removed from their packaging. And since shower curtains have a very large surface area, they exude very large amounts of this chemical – which is allowed to remain in the polymer by its manufacturer to keep it flexible before it is sold.
When I buy a new set of shower curtains, I remove them from the package & hang them outside for several days in the sun. Then wash them with detergent & a couple old towels. After that most of the vinyl chloride monomer is gone, and you won’t be able to smell it. I don’t know just how carcinogenic vinyl chloride is, but you can look up its MSDS online if you are interested. MSDS = Materials Safety Data Sheet.
For those really wondering why this is news, please go away, take your blood pressure medication, blow cigarette smoke in your kids faces while you feed them transfats and fill your home with VOCs. Tonight you can pop a Viagra and flop your fat belly on your wife and revel in how manly you are to have sounded out the Truth About VOC Safety to the rest of us who simply appreciate the knowledge and would like to not accumulate so many toxins into our bodies. Like somebody said, there was a time when lead wasn’t thought to be such a big deal… I imagine that if you were alive back then you’d argue that information about lead toxicity was “just fear mongering”. And to imagine, your kids are probably going to grow up dumber than you. How sad.
Austin, Texas
Okay, if you have an issue with vinyl shower curtains then don’t purchase them.
Problem solved.
I wonder how long until we hear that some “wise” elected official introduces a bill to ban vinyl shower curtains.
What about other stuff made with vinyl? Or is this just about the smell?
# Bobslob June 14th, 2008 12:39:
I belive that all plastics are harmful. In the ancient world lead was used for drinking cups. Someday you will see.
So you’re saying that plastics are harmful based on the ancient world using lead (which we know is hazardous to health) in drinking cups? What sort of argument is that? Not much, IMO.
Okay, you Feodore bashers have some valid points, but so does Feodore.
How many times have we heard our so-called ‘unbiased news media’ report unverified theories, fueled by some obscure scientist telling us something or the other in our normal everyday lives is going to kill us if we don’t stop using it immediately! Such stories are instantly grabbed up by the media, seemingly without regard for proof or journalistic integrity, and spread all over the world in order to get people to read their product.
Can you honestly say you believe that ‘all scientists’ are in it purely for the science, and not to get their names in the paper so they can get bigger government and corporate grants? Please….
I have to agree with Stephanie — where’s the evidence?
TOP, do some google searching for “volitile organic compounds” and decide for yourself whether or not that “new car smell” is really something you need in your life.
le monomère chlorure de vinyle est toxique et la fabrication des objets en PVC doit donc être méticuleuse.
En revanche, dans une salle de bains/douche normalement aérée le danger n’existe pas. une analyse positive à un produit ne signifie rien. Orfila disait : l’important est la dose. Pour prendre au sérieux cette nouvelle, il faudrait citer les chiffres des dosages, s’ils ont été faits, avec les conditions d’émissions des toxiques en cause.
A défaut de quoi, ceci n’est qu’une farce. (PRANK)
Cette farce anti-américaine publiée n’est donc qu’une manipulation pour créer de nouveaux impôts, d’abord aux USA, puis en europe.
Américains, soyez rigoureux. Défendez vous!
Indeed there are valid points on both sides of this argument. What really concerns me is the fact that grown adults cannot disagree without acting childish. If you disagree, you must be an uncaring ogre that blows smoke in your kids faces? WTF? Intelligent baby, intelligent.
To Feodore:
It’s been known only RECENTLY that PVC/vinyl plastic leaches harmful chemicals and VOCs that disrupt reproductive and nervous systems. It is a very REAL problem. There simply wasn’t technology/methods/resources/what have you that could detect such a threat in years past. As unscrupulous as the media is, they aren’t lying about this one!
Today I hung a PVC curtain in the shower room to replace an old polyester one. The smell was very strong and it did irritate the back of my throat. Out of curiosity I googled ‘shower curtain’ and came across this site. What is smell? Is it not the detection of airborne chemicals? There is definitely something being released by the curtain. If scientists are recommending caution then to ignore it seems a bit foolish. I am going to just hang it out side for a few weeks. As for the cynics, be it on their own head.
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these may contain toxic chemicals, but has anyone really become dangerously sick or ill from this? and shouldnt it be safe after 30 days after it stops gassing?
Today a newly opened curtain sent my blood pressure and heart rate soaring..it’s now in the trash. For chemically sensitive people, these things are probably one of the worst triggers for reactions such as mine. I almost went to the emergency room. Surely they can find other materials from which to make these liners.
shower curtains that are made from acrylic and polyester are the most durable ones, that is why we always use them .
those plastic shower curtains are very cheap and you can install it easily without sweat ,’”
I have to say that I have always been bothered by that chemical smell of a new shower curtain. Another great way to get toxins out of the air in your home is by filtering the water. When you cook, all the chemicals get airborne. In the toilet bowl they linger. And when you shower, the heated up water gets absorbed right into your skin. Yuck. I’m ready for a new shower curtain right away. Thanks for the story!
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Wow! That’s crazy to think about. I will from now on be conscious of the kind of shower curtain that I purchase. I wonder are there any shower curtains out there that are safe and won’t omit dangerous chemicals in the air. Thanks for your response!
I saw a report about this once. I wasn’t so sure then they were entirely serious. I guess it must be true since more and more people are coming forward with the same information. I don’t like the smell of new shower curtains but I never thought that there were chemicals in or on them. People need to know
Shower is when i do my best thinking and having to smell chemicals just doesn’t do it for me. I still used them do as the smell tend to go away after a while. It’s not like the natural ones are cheap either, they cost a lot where I am at!
Nice Blog! I’m getting fed up with reading mindless web sites so I appreciate your well thought out discussion. I just wish there were more educated responses. Thanks again!