Shower Curtain Smell? Yup, Toxic.

By Alex in Health, Home & Garden on Jun 16, 2008 at 1:17 am

Ever smelled a new shower curtain? According to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, a Virginia-based advocacy group, that smell is toxic:

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.

Link

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Parker
Jun 16th, 2008 at 3:27 am
I feel like this is one of those incredible things that might not have ever been discovered because no one’s thinking about the chemicals involved in shower curtains besides the manufacturers.

Also, I freakin loved that smell.
MightyCow
Jun 16th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Holy crap, run for the hills!

Wait… not really significantly dangerous after all. Good one, fear-mongers, almost got us.
Josh
Jun 16th, 2008 at 5:29 am
I love the smell of a new shower curtain.
Lauren
Jun 16th, 2008 at 5:34 am
…in the morning.
BikerRay
Jun 16th, 2008 at 5:44 am
The “new car smell” is also plastics outgassing, apparently. That a problem as well?
Doesn’t bother me – I have neither a new car or a new shower curtain!
Peaches
Jun 16th, 2008 at 6:01 am
I hate new car smell…
This reminds of our hose discovery. We just bought a new garden hose and on the package it says “HOSE CONTAINS LEAD – DO NOT DRINK FROM HOSE – WASH HANDS AFTER USE!” (This is all hidden by the actual hose when you buy it.)
So apparently almost all garden hoses have lead in them. Isn’t that weird?
Tweeker
Jun 16th, 2008 at 7:15 am
mmmmmm free monomers
prophet
Jun 16th, 2008 at 7:35 am
I will never take a bath again.
roger
Jun 16th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Um, let’s not slip the dogs of panic just yet. This group tested ONE shower curtain, their testing was not verified by an independent lab, and was subject to a variety of other problems. See “Studies Gone Wild? Death by Shower Curtain”

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5057141

I’m skeptical because PVC has been used for so long and is so ubiquitous. I’m not saying I’d be comfortable living in a house built out of the stuff, but I think this is absolutely a panic story. My local news ran this story as if you had these shower curtains, better make sure you have your funeral plans all set.
rhea
Jun 16th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I can’t stand the smell of a new shower curtain. When I get a new one, I unfold it and air it out for a day or two in a large room, and then I put it in the bathroom. Otherwise, the bad odor stays in the bathroom for weeks.
gl3nk
Jun 16th, 2008 at 9:09 am
This news is old. Heres an article back from Janbuary; It was old news then also.

naturalnews.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/022548.html
Mel Phistopheles
Jun 16th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Go cotton shower curtains! If they get a bit of mold, firstly, don’t leave them bunched up on one side, spread them out! Secondly, you can always throw them in the wash with some bleach. I used to like the vinyl smell, too, but I’ll fight a little bit of mold over incipient brain rot any day.
Benny Lava
Jun 16th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Does this mean I should stop sleeping in the shower?
Neatoramawontsendmeapassword
Jun 16th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I can’t stand the smell of new plastic. I don’t know why anyone would like it. Unless they’ve already caused brain damage by huffing their shower curtain. Hee hee…
Jorge Gonzalez
Jun 16th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I’m so glad I bought that Target-branded curtain made in China. That means it’s safe.
Tim Giachetti
Jun 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Jorge’ I about pissed my pants on that one!
lolol
cuimhne
Jun 16th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Man I haven’t seen an actual shower curtain in years (everyone has those glass screens these days!).
Jorge Gonzalez
Jun 16th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Cuimhne, you must be livin’ all fancy like.
Lea
Jun 16th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I had a boss that collected shower curtains…
Brad
Jun 17th, 2008 at 4:25 am
I’m sick of fear mongering white males.
MoonCake
Jun 17th, 2008 at 5:53 am
yea i was lucky enough to get those fancy doors.

did anyone really think that smell was beneficial to our health? anything that smells like chemicals USUALLY isn’t recommended to be huffed.

surprised? no.

@ peaches: i guess that’s why i was always told not to drink out of the hose..
Paul D.
Jun 17th, 2008 at 5:55 am
We bought a woven nylon shower curtain for two dollars more than the cost of the disposable PVC variety. We’ve been using it for three years and just throw it in the wash when it gets that “not so fresh” smell.
cindyloowho
Jul 19th, 2008 at 12:05 am
I’ve always liked new shower curtain smell… and puppy breath. No I have never used illegal drugs, model glue, or canned air.(but I did smell my ditto paper when the teacher gave it to me still slightly damp from the ditto machine.)
Everyone who is at least 26 years old nod and smile because you got those purple and while ditto papers and YOU sniffed them. You also probably avoided taking the one the teacher’s licked finger touched.:)
Jessie
Sep 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Why buy vinyl, when there are shower curtains made of fabric? Take a look at http://www.ilmaofsweden.com. Love them all! The designer, Annie, is new in the business so help her get a good start by ordering her beautiful shower curtains.

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