Plastic Shower Curtains may be Health Hazard, U.S. Study Shows

A new study says some plastic shower curtains may be hazardous to your health.

The U.S.- based Centre for Health, Environment and Justice says polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shower curtains may release 108 toxic chemicals into the air.

The study found the ubiquitous PVC curtains contain harmful chemicals that can cause a litany of adverse health effects to the lungs, central nervous system, liver and kidneys.

The study examined shower curtains purchased in the U.S. from Bed Bath and Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart stores - but most major Canadian retailers carry some variety of vinyl shower curtain.

A spokeswoman for Bed Bath and Beyond in Canada says the retailer is aware of the study's findings and is moving a Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association released the study in Canada and are calling on Ottawa to ban PVC curtains and force manufacturers and retailers to instead sell cotton ones.

way from PVC curtains.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Thursday, June 12, 2008