Toxic Shower Curtains?

July 1, 2008
Vinyl shower curtains have always been a little creepy ever since the famous shower scene from the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock thriller As it turns out the

Vinyl shower curtains have always been a little creepy ever since the famous shower scene from the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock thriller “Psycho.” As it turns out the unmistakable odor of shower curtains are also bad for your health, according to a story recently posted on the Environmental News Network's website, www.enn.com.

The study was published by the U.S.-based Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) and in Canada by Environmental Defense and the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA). PVC shower curtains apparently contain many harmful chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates and organotins. The report says, “Toxic chemical off-gassing from PVC shower curtains may contribute to respiratory irritation, damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidney, nausea, headaches and loss of coordination.”