Mail Call: Nontoxic Shower Curtains
Dear Chekhov,
I was wondering if you had some ideas on a good replacement for my PVC shower-curtain liner. I’ve heard of cotton and hemp but also heard they mold pretty bad. A glass door won’t work for us because we have a corner tub with two sides against the walls and two exposed to the room.
Any help would be great.
Thanks,
Chelee
Dear Chelee,
Actually, hemp, a low-maintenance and prodigious fiber requiring little or no pesticides or fertilizers, is durable and naturally antibacterial—a perfect choice for mold-resistant shower curtains.
Toxic additives used to “plasticize” PVC—such as DEHP, a hormone-disrupting, carcinogenic phthalate (pronounced THAL-ates) known to cause reproductive disorders and damage to the liver and testes, especially in utero—can off-gas from your vinyl shower curtain and cause persistent, elevated levels of dangerous air toxins. That new plastic shower curtain or new PVC toy smell? You’ve got a nose for the phthalates volatilizing from the PVC, which can migrate and leach into our air, water, and bodies.
In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified at least four compounds classified as hazardous air pollutants by the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Plastic shower curtains are also commonly treated with antimicrobial pesticides, which, as I’ve mentioned before, can lead to infertility, nerve and neurological damage, blood and lymphatic system cancers, cancers of the lip, stomach, lung, brain, and prostate, plus melanoma and other skin cancers. Pesticides have also been linked to Parkinson’s disease.
A 1999 study by the National Institute of Public Health in Norway found that the risk of children developing bronchial obstruction—an asthma symptom—“increased in relation to the amount of plasticizer-emitting materials in the home.” According to the authors, children exposed to PVC flooring and wall coverings in nurseries, bedrooms, and other rooms have an 89 percent higher risk of developing bronchial obstruction than kids who pitter-pattered in PVC-free homes.
And while a long, relaxing bath can easily be made more luxurious with a few strategically placed aromatherapy candles, a single rogue spark could turn your vinyl shower curtain into a hunk-a-hunk of burning scourge. According to The Green Guide, a single PVC fire can “cause permanent respiratory disease.” The International Association of Fire Fighters calls PVC a “poison plastic,” which, during combustion, exposes fire fighters to toxic chemicals associated with brain cancer, liver cancer, and lymphatic or haemotopoietic cancer.
This brings us, in a looong, roundabout way, back to that chemical-free hemp shower curtain we were talking about. Some other immediate benefits: You don’t need a separate plastic liner and the fabric dries quickly. And, if you start to notice some buildup, simply toss it into the wash and hang it up to dry. The steam from your next shower will straighten out any wrinkles.
Averaging $80 a pop, a hemp shower curtain could be prohibitive to some wallets. (Other less-expensive, but also less eco-friendly options include conventional cotton, nylon, and polyester, but anything’s better than vinyl.) Considering how long-lived hemp material is, however—hemp was used for ship sails and rigging way back when—you might actually be saving money in the long run. You could also think of it as cash you won’t be spending on future chemotherapy.
Nontoxically yours,
Chekhov
A selection of retailers (note that we do not actively endorse or guarantee any of these stores; we just Googled):
1. A Happy Planet (From $94)
2. Eco Bathroom ($89.99, on sale)
3. Eco-Wise ($84.95)
4. Good Common Sense (From $64)
5. Greenfeet ($78.95)
6. Green Home (From $65)
7. Pristine Planet ($78.95)
8. Rawganique (From $69, different colors)
Related articles:
1. Sam Suds and the Case of PVC
2. The Poison Plastic
3. Blue Vinyl
Have a burning question about health and the environment? Leave a comment or e-mail chehov-at-worstedwitch-dot-com.
Erica said,
October 16, 2006 at 6:27 pm
After obsessing over a shower curtain for far too long, I finally went with a nylon/polyester one for about $10. I was able to buy it nearby and can wash it in my machine. I hope to eventually upgrade to something even more eco-friendly, but I’m living pretty bare-bones right now.
Chelee said,
October 16, 2006 at 8:08 pm
Thanks Chekhov!
green la girl said,
October 17, 2006 at 12:02 am
Chekhov — I was wondering — What shower curtain does Jasmin have?
Melissa said,
October 17, 2006 at 9:33 am
Thanks for this article! We are desperately needing to replace our shower curtain, and I am SO happy to know that hemp is an option.
For anyone who likes to sew, a GREAT website that sells a wonderful selection of sustainable fabrics is http://www.NearSeaNaturals.com
I think I will have to make my own hemp shower curtain now :-)
Felicia C. Sullivan » Blog Archive » things worth reading… said,
October 20, 2006 at 7:35 pm
[...] *jaded about publishing and the churn of the book business? jy renews his love of books after witnessing a feat of feats in the office. *i’m not sure why i can’t simply hijack all of jasmin’s posts, however, here are a few that bump the swoon factor. *the ugliest pillow contest had me in tears (simply for the fact that we may have owned one of these wretched things, in addition to the plastic sofa). *this is why people should be duct-taped. down with all of these affected hipsters and their chelsea lofts. *wait? fall is a big season for books? really? you don’t say. chaos in the book industry! take cover! hide your kids! there may be one too many books on the shelves. tell me something i don’t know. *miss. merrick reminds me of the joys of a little housecleaning and keeping only which is significant and useful. so much wasteful spending and conspicuous consumption. why not own what we love instead of filling our homes with clutter? *read her blog immediately. the vibrant color, the sweet pies…sometimes i just want to lick the screen. Tag Me:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
The Worsted Witch » Blog Love: Ideal Bite said,
November 13, 2006 at 2:33 pm
[...] Related articles: 1. Mail Call: Nontoxic Shower Curtains 2. Mail Call: Toxic Wood 3. Sleep Tight, Don’t Let the PBDEs Bite 4. Color Me Bad 5. Color Me Better [...]
enrique vamp said,
December 29, 2006 at 1:37 am
These fabrics are durable, washable and air dry after use to help reduce the growth of mold and they emit no toxic gasses into your indoor air.
Jennifer said,
January 12, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Ikea has one for about two bucks.
John said,
September 9, 2008 at 6:42 am
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