Dangers of PVC

[spookyhurst]

I've been reading a lot about how we shouldn't have things made out of vinyl and PVC (polyvinyl chloride). They put toxic chemicals into the air. Many companies are phasing PVC out of their products.

 

Many of us, including me, have a bird gym made from PVC. I'm going to remake it with wood. My dad told me when I originally built it that it was a dangerous material, but I told him that I'd seen it recommended as a good gym building material. Should have listened to daddy.

 

Here's a website to look at:

 

http://www.pvcfree.org/

 

A couple quotes from it are:

 

PVC - The Poison Plastic

 

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl, is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. PVC is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle, at the factory, in our homes, and in the trash. Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which may pose irreversible life-long health threats. When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.

 

New Car or Shower Curtain Smell? The Smell of PVC

 

PVC is useless without the addition of a plethora of toxic additives, which can make the PVC product itself harmful to consumers. These chemicals can evaporate or leach out of PVC, posing risks to children and consumers. New car smell? New shower curtain smell? That’s the smell of poisonous chemicals off-gassing from the PVC. One of the most common toxic additives is DEHP, a phthalate that is a suspected carcinogen and reproductive toxicant readily found in numerous PVC products. Children can be exposed to phthalates by chewing on vinyl toys. While it is still legal for US retailers to sell PVC children’s and baby toys containing dangerous phthalates, the European Parliament voted in July, 2005 to permanently ban the use of certain toxic phthalates in toys. One EPA study found that vinyl shower curtains can cause elevated levels of dangerous air toxins, which can persist for more than a month.

[lovemyGreys]

Thanks for the information on the PVC & yes many members have made stands from them.This came up a while back, i'll see if i can find the link

[spookyhurst]

I think I remember that thread. I probably said, "Oh sure, make a PVC gym. You'll be fine." :blush:

 

I'm going to get a different shower curtain too. I have some health problems, so maybe having this stuff around doesn't help matters :dry:. And I sure don't want Nikko to be troubled by it.

[lovemyGreys]

i think it was this one

 

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/offtopic-discussions/43425-new-pvc-playstand.html#62943

[judygram]

I was seriously considering making one of those playstands with the pvc but not now, I will get something made out of wood. I like that playstand that Knight05 made, it is real neat looking.

 

Dang, you can't use anything anymore, it is all toxic or poisonous to us.

[lovemyGreys]

yes that was so nice Judy i want a java tree but they cost a fortune around £200 / $400 :whistle:

[spookyhurst]

I got a new mattress recently and was not pleased with the chemical like smell it had. It was either the foamy stuff them put in the pillowtop, or it absorbed some of the smell from the plastic that was wrapped around it. Nikko and I had to put up with it for a couple of weeks. Finally, a nice day came along and I stripped the bed and left the windows in the room wide open to try to air it out. Seemed to do the trick, because I can't smell anything now.

 

Also, we had a finish put on the concrete in our courtyard. You wouldn't believe the horrible fumes it produced. I demanded that the front window and door stay shut for a couple of months. It's been almost 6 months now, and there is still a faint odor. You would think that the fresh air / rain / etc. would have taken care of it by now .

[lovemyGreys]

:ohmy: seems nothing is safe theese days :unsure:

[judygram]

Yep, it will either cure us or kill us:ohmy:

[spookyhurst]

You can say that again Judy. Check out the warning label on a medication I take:

 

Long-term use of azathioprine may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer (e.g., skin cancer, lymphoma). You must be closely monitored by your doctor during treatment and regularly afterwards if your doctor stops treatment with this medication. Azathioprine may also cause serious (rarely fatal) blood disorders (decreased bone marrow function leading to anemia, low number of white blood cells and platelets). It can lower your body's ability to fight an infection. The risk of these side effects is higher in patients receiving this medication to prevent kidney transplant rejection than in patients treated for rheumatoid arthritis. To reduce the risk of side effects, use this medication at the lowest effective dose. Keep all medical and laboratory appointments.

 

Taken at the dose my doctor wants, I feel hideous, but he says to take it anyway. A blood test showed I was at near toxic levels too. So I played doctor and secretly am taking a little less than prescribed. Shhh! Don't tell!