“Most people use a PVC shower curtain every day and have no idea what it can cause. Volatile compounds in PVC can cause not only headaches and irritation, but also potentially contribute to major problems like infertility and increased risk of cancer. Dr Scott Noorda, American specialist in functional medicine.
For Dr Noorda, we should all ditch our plastic shower curtain as soon as possible, and replace it with a fabric shower curtain. “Look for a fabric curtain made from a machine-washable natural material, like cotton or linen,” he explained on his Instagram account. “Or consider a glass shower door as a more permanent and durable option.”
Be wary of the smell of a new shower curtain
The advice is not new: a few years ago, an analysis of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) curtains showed that the famous “new shower curtain smell” was in fact caused by the release into the air of 108 volatile organic compounds dangerous to health.
Exposure to such chemicals causes symptoms in some people such as headaches, nausea, loss of coordination, and irritation of the ears, nose, or throat.
PVC itself is not carcinogenic, but according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), vinyl chloride compounds are associated with an increased risk of liver, brain, and lung cancer, as well as lymphoma and leukemia. .
