Have you noticed the distinctive aroma of the latest shower curtain? Have you any idea where referring from? This noxious odor is really a plastic softener-a potentially hazardous chemical that can do more than purely soften shower curtains.
Companies selling such products usually spray all of them with chemicals as a way to soften the plastic, get them to be fire resistant in order to sterilize them. However, in to the space downsides of such chemicals that coat a number of our products in the home is the affect on hormones.
A study made up of environmental agencies-People for Puget Sound, the Washington Toxics Coalition, Center for Health, Environment and Justice’s (CHEJ), the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition plus the Work Group for Safe Markets-found that toxins coating flooring, shower curtains, many children’s toys could cause low birth weight in infants.[1]?In adults, these toxic chemicals can cause liver failure, respiratory problems, nervous system disorders and poor reproductive health.
Phthalates & Vinyl Chloride
Scientists have found that plastic shower curtains contain huge amounts of phthalates, a chemical that has been scientifically linked with birth defects. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that seven compounds associated with shower curtains are in fact hazardous air pollutants, on of these being vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen, which may cause liver cancer in humans.[2,3]
Since most of these chemicals mimic the feminine hormone estrogen, it will have a very devastating affect on the health of newborns, too. When a pregnant mother inhales these chemicals while bathing, it may reduce the development of the fetus, especially in the first trimester.
How Avoiding Exposure
- Look for labels that say PVC or ‘vinyl’ and prevent them. Don’t think of buying shower curtains that includes these chemicals.
- The more flexible the shower curtain, the additionally likely is definitely the prospect of it containing plastic softeners. Choose shower curtains created from natural substances for instance organic cotton. Be aware of PVC-free versions.
- Choose chemical-free household cleaning products, deodorants, together with other cosmetics.
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References:
1. Stephen Lester, Michael Schade, Caitlin Weigand. Volatile vinyl the latest shower curtain’s chemical smell(PDF). Center for Health, Environment and Justice’s (CHEJ). 2008 June.
2. Chemical Industry Archives. vinyl chloride: health problems kept secret from workers & consumers. Environmental Working Group. 2009 March 27.
3.?Wong RH, Chen PC, Du CL, Wang JD, Cheng TJ. A bigger standardised mortality ratio for liver cancer among polyvinyl chloride workers in Taiwan. Occup Environ Med. 2002 Jun;59(6):405-9. PubMed PMID: 12040117; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1740305.
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