Today, we want to take a look at just one aspect of toxic living that you can change easily and without much effort. If you have a shower without doors then chances are you have a shower curtain and if your shower curtain is cloth it may be a vinyl shower curtain liner.
Some companies who produce vinyl shower curtain liners use chemicals that aren’t the safest for us but it’s important to note that not all vinyl shower curtains are toxic. The reason some are and some aren’t boils down to the use of Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC. This commonly used chemical has been given the nickname “The Plastic Poison” and is typically just listed as vinyl on the packaging which confuses consumers. You think you are purchasing a safe product that is simply vinyl but in reality you are purchasing a harmful and toxic product.
The PVC that is found in vinyl shower curtains has been linked to liver damage, damage to the central nervous system as well as the respiratory and reproductive systems. It is just a nasty thing that no one should be exposed to and if you have ever hung a brand new vinyl shower curtain and breathed in that overpowering smell that accompanies the curtain out of the package chances are you have been exposed to these toxic chemical cocktails.
PEVA as substitue to PVC
Besides just installing shower doors, which might not always be a possibility, there are many alternatives to a vinyl shower liner. Some of the best are Polyester, Hemp, Cotton, and PEVA ( Polyethylene vinyl acetate). PEVA is a non-chlorinated vinyl and has become the common substitute in several products on the market. Many have been doing the switch to PEVA as it is waterproof, BPA-free and is a safe product to use at home.
