Dear Umbra,
You have successfully instilled the fear of all things vinyl in me. Now the big question is: with what do I replace my old vinyl shower curtain? We have a cotton one at work, but it clings to your legs like a drowning jellyfish. This, and the constant mold, is something I would like to avoid in my own bathroom. Any suggestions?
Flo Miller
Montpelier, Vt.
Dearest Flo,
I'm always full of suggestions -- in a wide range of usefulness and accuracy. Today's suggestion: polyester. I found, after looking a bit harder than usual -- some of you may have noticed that I don't get out shopping often, so "harder than usual" means I actually went to a store -- that my trusty Northwest housewares emporium did carry polyester shower curtains and liners.
The vinyl countdown.
Photo: iStockphoto.
I now have a duo in the (moldy) Grist Test Bathroom that works quite well. The inner liner is a densely woven but lightweight polyester; the outer, aesthetically pleasing cover is like a sheer window curtain -- you could use a cotton one for that purpose. But cotton and polyester aren't innocent fabrics themselves, you cry! Cotton's got the old pesticide problem and polyester is PET plastic, so petroleum, noxious chemicals, and massive processing are common to both materials -- all three materials, if you count vinyl. I suppose you could look for an organic cotton or hemp liner, or make your own from worn-out clothing, but let's face it: very few people will spend the money or time to do that. In this "which is better?" dilemma, cotton and PET are preferable to vinyl.
Anyway, the whole ensemble stays put and does not cling to my legs. When the pink mold begins to appear on the curtains, I throw them in the wash and then hang them in the sun. The sun is a definite mold-be-gone. If only I could put the entire bathroom in the sun; perhaps something could be done using mirrors.
When Grist relocates, I plan to move the whole shower rig to my new basement office. Unfortunately, moving the curtain will cost $10,000 -- we truly need your donations.
Oh, just kidding, I can carry the curtains over myself. We need the help to support actual operating expenses.
That way, we can run such fabulous articles as an interview with Bill Walsh from the Healthy Building Network, who aptly and succinctly describes the troubles with vinyl. I've focused on vinyl's dioxin/chlorine connections in the past. Another major problem is phthalates, which are used to soften vinyl, but have been fingered as suspected carcinogens and hormone disrupters. From our backpacks to our sex toys to our shower curtains: No on vinyl, and that's final.
Cleanly,
Umbra
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Comments
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erinr11 Posted 6:13 am
26 Jun 2006
From the Ikea website: "PEVA, a chlorine-free plastic material, is an alternative to PVC."
Anyone know anything more?
Thanks,
Erin
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virgobee Posted 6:37 am
26 Jun 2006
"What differentiates PVC from the other vinyls is the addition of a chlorine molecule (the chloride "C" in PVC and PVDC). Chlorine is the source of many of the environmental health concerns with PVC, such as the generation of dioxin, a highly carcinogenic chemical produced in both the manufacture and disposal of PVC. Due to its persistent and bioaccumulative nature (it travels long distances without breaking down and concentrates as it moves up the food chain to humans) dioxin has become a global problem and an international treaty - the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) - now prioritizes the elimination of processes that produce dioxin.
Some of the non chlorinated vinyls (EVA, PEVA, PVA and PVB) are now beginning to be used as direct substitutes for PVC. EVA has been in use for several years as a chlorine free substitute for PVC - primarily in non building materials like toys and athletic shoes, but occasionally as a protective film or binder. In the building industry, post-consumer recycled PVB is now beginning to be used to replace PVC in carpet backing. Absence of chlorine alone does not make these other vinyls the final answer in the search for green polymers. There are still plenty of toxic challenges and untested chemicals in the life cycle of any petrochemical product. As is the case with most other polymers competing with PVC, however, the weight of available evidence indicates that the absence of chlorine in the formula will generally render the lifecycle environmental health impacts of PVB and the other vinyls less harmful than PVC and initial study is bearing this out. Like the polyolefin plastics, the use of PVB and the other non chlorinated vinyls represents a step forward in the search for alternatives to PVC."
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arousiak Posted 7:44 am
26 Jun 2006
Doesn't get very wet and after almost a year of use has just now gotten a wee bit funky--but you can just throw it in the machine. and i have a beauteous all-cotton one over it.
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bookerly Posted 8:58 am
26 Jun 2006
The general style in China is that the bathroom floor is tile with one or more drains, and you just shower there. (No bathtubs.) So, no shower curtains needed. It works pretty well, not sure why the model can't be adopted elsewhere. It would be interesting to hear of different customs in other countries.
patrick
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caniscandida Posted 8:12 pm
26 Jun 2006
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