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It turns out that most shower curtain liners are made from PVC, a plastic that is known to release
VOCs. The
Center for Health, Environment and Justice reported on a study that demonstrated that a single PVC shower curtain will release 108 VOCs into the air over the course of a month - This far exceeds the guidelines for indoor air quality established by the U.S. Green Building Council. The VOCs released by PVC are linked to minor health consequences like headaches and nausea as well as major health consequences like cancer and hormone disruption, including birth defects, learning disorders, and reproductive harm. Yikes!
There is a very easy way to reduce your exposure to these toxic chemicals - Opt for a PEVA shower curtain liner instead! PEVA is a plastic that off-gasses substantially fewer harmful chemicals, and shower curtains made from PEVA are easy to find and very affordable. Target carries a number of PEVA liners starting around $2-3, so chances are you'll save some money as well. Next time you need a new shower curtain liner, choose PEVA!
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How can I tell what my current shower curtain is made of?
ReplyDeleteGood question :) If it's been up for a while, you might not be able to tell for sure, since PEVA and PVC liners look the same. When you hang a PVC liner for the first time, there's usually a strong chemical smell, so if you remember having that "new shower curtain" smell (or if it still has an odor), it's likely PVC. If you happen to still have the packaging, PVC shower curtains will either say 100% PVC or just "vinyl" - A PEVA shower curtain is also technically a type of vinyl, but it will always advertise that it is PEVA.
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