The Center for Health, Environment and Justice, a Virginia-based advocacy group has released the following warning about new vinyl shower curtains that might give you pause:
Vinyl shower curtains release over 100 toxic chemicals into the air in people’s bathrooms, including known carcinogens and reproductive toxins, according to a new report calling for the ban of Polyvinyl chloride in bath curtains and liners...
The laboratory tests of five new PVC shower curtains, released Thursday, found 108 different volatile organic compounds were released
into the air over a 28-day period, including off-gassing above the recommended level in the United States for seven days.
These compounds can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea and damage to the liver, kidney and the central nervous system. Some VOCs are also suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.
Especially nasty are toluene and ethylbenzene, cited in the findings, both which are listed on California's Proposition 65 list of chemicals that are known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Yikes...one wonders while you're rinsing off the dirt, you might be inhaling something much more dangerous. This doesn't necessarily mean all plastic shower curtains contain any or all of the chemicals mentioned, but it should give some pause about what you're bringing into the home, especially if it gives off strong odours. Like a date from a bar, if it reeks, don't let it in!
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
It also smells terrible. Anyone have any good non-molding water-resistant alternatives?
view amt230's profile
i'd like to know what the alternative is. Are their any eco-friendly shower curtains?
view susie b's profile
Polyester and Nylon shower curtains are water resistant, machine washable and not very expensive - just Google "Hotel Shower Curtain".
view bepsf's profile
I totally agree-I just opened our new liner from Target and was blown away by the fumes. I should have tossed it/returned it, but we just opened the window and didn't use the bathroom for a week. Super toxic-gross!
view aweekinparis's profile
When a vinyl-sided house burns, these same chemicals go into the local atmosphere/environment. Just an FYI... friends don't let friends go vinyl.
view ilovebutter's profile
I can't believe anyone still buys these. I stopped years ago. The smell when opening a new shower curtain is (literally) sickening. Hotel shower curtains do the same job and aren't toxic, or expensive.
view greer's profile
Ok will watch out for the plastic bottle of water you drink from, your fridge lining, car lining, computer keyboard parts, IV when in the hospital, and most of the off gasing from IKEA, West Elm, Room and Board furniture, etc.. Just a few I can think of that would be equal to the PVC shower curtain.
view LoriSF's profile
Wow, am I the only one who *likes* the smell of a new PVC shower curtain? Reminds me of the old Thingmaker Plastigoop!
Dear Glade Corporation: When new PVC shower curtains are finally outlawed, could you pleaseohplease make a room spray with the same smell?
view AlmostAD's profile
Lol, Thingmaker and Plasticgoop was a big part of my life as a wee tot.
Yeah, it was like sniffing the mimeographed assignment sheets in school. ;^)
view btoddster's profile
Great article. I have noticed other plastic items like blank CDs and the camera latch for my tripod smelling very badly indeed. In fact, I called Sony to ask them about their CDRs smelling of burnt radiator fluid and they were very anxious to have me send a few back to the factory. Funny thing is, they sent me a free spindle of 50 for free that smelled exactly the same.
view twolibrans1969's profile
Point one: Thank you to my mother, who, for the last several years, has crusaded (which is not quite to say pestered) everyone she knows about this.
Point two: Even though I've switched over, the problem is that I still pretty much hate the alternatives. They stick to you and mildew. Gross.
Point three: I find that picture hilarious. One day I might DIY that curtain as a joke. Halloween, anyone?
view katiebug's profile
We have a PEVA world map curtain from Izola that we love. But this freaks me out. Does anyone know of cute cotton/canvas alternatives?
view werlemmings's profile
Unfortunately all the really great design shower curtains are made with this toxic plastic -- i know because i searched forever before I found mine and when i opened it, it stank like a plastic factory! (you can see it in the LA "maria's black bathroom" story from last week). Anyway, all this stuff is made in China it seems which has it's own issues -- i am thinking one could use fabric but you have to use a water and mildew resistant liner. I wish that there were good ones that weren't toxic but like the reader above, i hosed mine down and left it outside for a few days before putting it up. And considering i smoke, drink, curse and spend inordinate amounts of time in front of the computer, I figure i'm already filled with not so good things...at least i eat my vegetables from the farmers market!
view pugluv's profile
Skeptics pointed out what they call a glaring error in the study's methodology. The group tested a total of five shower curtains, of which only one shower curtain â not one brand; one curtain â was subjected to complete testing for chemicals in its composition, as well as those it released into the air â a phenomenon known as "off-gassing."
Further testing was not performed "to avoid potential instrument damage," according to the report.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5057141
view audomatic's profile
Could one use oilcloth, maybe the more flexible vintage kind? It would be a heavier drape than the hotel liners and could look great.
view annessa's profile
I am with LoriSF on this one; If you are worried about offgassing, you really would have to eliminate a lot of plastic from your life, as well as other materials. It's odd that AT post so much furniture made of manufactured wood products from Ikea, West Elm, etc. Then AT posts about keeping your bedroom healthy. Particle board, MDF and plywood usually have a certain amount of offgassing of carcinogenic formaldehyde. Good luck sleeping on that.
view HillE's profile