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June 16, 2008
Report: Volatile Vinyl -- the new Shower Curtain’s Chemical Smell
 Our colleagues at the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) have a new report -- Volatile Vinyl -- the new Shower Curtain's Chemical Smell. That link goes to a site with a variety of materials in addition to the report and news release. Excerpt from the release:
Results from a two-phase study released today by the Center for Health, Environment & Justice, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing environmental health harms caused by chemical threats, show that shower curtains made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic contain many harmful chemicals including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates and organotins; these PVC shower curtains are potentially toxic to the health of consumers. Vinyl shower curtains and shower curtain liners release chemicals into the home that are most easily identified by that "new shower curtain smell" and are routinely sold at major retail outlets. The report includes a variety of recommendations for government, retailers and manufacturers. For consumers, CEHJ says:
Consumers should avoid purchasing shower curtains made with PVC, and should not buy shower curtains that are not labeled with their content. "The new shower curtain smell may be toxic to your health," said Michael Schade, report co-author and CHEJ PVC Campaign Coordinator. "The good news is that families can take simple steps to protect their health by avoiding shower curtains made with PVC and choosing healthier products." CHEJ's founder and executive director is Lois Gibbs, who led the historic fight for environmental justice at the Love Canal.
Posted by Ed Mierzwinski at June 16, 2008 12:07 PM
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