Using shower curtains to add that touch of classy appeal in most bathrooms as we all know but this piece of news regarding the toxic substances that they emit may make us think otherwise. Known to help avoid water splatters from your shower spot, you will notice some smell of normal plastic with mixed chemicals that seem to be normal with placing new shower curtains.

This was our immediate presumption. Apparently there is something else. These fumes do not emit such for nothing and for sure this is what this study from the Vinyl Council of Canada.

The study was conducted on five PVC shower curtains purchased from retail outlets in the United States and Canada. Testing showed different volatile organic compounds being released into the air from a vinyl shower curtain over 28 days. The total VOCs measured was 16 times greater than the recommended amount for indoor air quality.

All of the brands tested contained di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and diisononyl phthalate. These chemicals have been banned in children’s toys in California. Other chemicals found in the curtains (such as ethylbenzene, methyl isobutyl ketonedefine and cyclohexanone) are considered a human health concern under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

(Source) The Med Guru

Tags: bathrooms, canada, canadian environmental protection act, chemicals, cyclohexanone, environmental protection act, ethylhexyl, indoor air quality, phthalate, shower curtain, shower curtains, toxic substances, volatile organic compounds

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 15th, 2008 at 1:00 pm and is filed under BED News, Bathroom, Bathtub, Home Designs.
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