Vinyl Flooring Health Risks

Dioxins and vinyl flooring.

Vinyl flooring health risks.

Most vinyl flooring contains chemicals called phthalates many of which have been banned from children s products over concerns of negative health effects. Many consumers are opting for vinyl or linoleum flooring because they are durable versatile and economical options. Vinyl and linoleum flooring. Known as off gassing this process can have major negative health effects over the long term.

The studies that did find negative effects of phthalates in vinyl flooring on children focused primarily on their effect on the airways and assessing phthalate levels inside the body. Researchers say vinyl flooring and sofas with flame retardants can present a health risk to children. Share on pinterest experts say linoleum is a safer alternative than vinyl flooring. As well as potentially containing harmful contaminants recycled vinyl flooring breaks down sooner than 100 virgin vinyl and therefore needs replacing sooner.

Phthalates are used to soften plastic and vinyl and make them more flexible. These substances pose a health risk to anyone who is exposed to them. The toxic fumes that are produced into this space are a product of the off gassed chemicals in the air that when inhaled and or exposed to. Vinyl is made from pvc or polyvinyl chloride plastic which produces toxic chemicals during manufacturing like dioxin a carcinogen and reproductive toxicant.

However the act of recycling vinyl to be re used in flooring uses a lot of energy and also means you are running the risks of introducing contaminants into your flooring. Vinyl flooring health risks. There is a new trend away from laminates towards a flooring called luxury vinyl tile flooring lvt. The flooring giant lumber liquidators was accused of selling illegally sourced laminate wood with high levels of formaldehyde a known carcinogen.

Dioxins are carcinogenic bioaccumulative toxins that can persist in the environment for a prolonged period. After vinyl flooring is installed inside of your home the chemicals that are released from the flooring into the air will off gas and create a pungent odor in the environment. However formaldehyde is also a concern in vinyl flooring although its levels tend to be lower than in laminate flooring. After 60 minutes discovered excessive amounts of formaldehyde in lumber liquidators laminate flooring flooring products made in china became even more questionable because of their effects on humans and the environment.

Most vinyl flooring contains multiple harmful chemicals including the same phthalates that have been banned from children s toys. These harmful chemicals are created during the manufacture of the chloride in pvc.