Vinyl Flooring Health Risks

Vinyl and linoleum 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. However formaldehyde is also a concern in vinyl flooring although its levels tend to be lower than in laminate flooring. Share on pinterest experts say linoleum is a safer alternative than vinyl flooring. There is a new trend away from laminates towards a flooring called luxury vinyl tile flooring lvt.

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. The new lvt trend. Most vinyl flooring contains multiple harmful chemicals including the same phthalates that have been banned from children s toys. Dioxins and vinyl flooring.

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. Researchers say vinyl flooring and sofas with flame retardants can present a health risk to children. 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. As well as potentially containing harmful contaminants recycled vinyl flooring breaks down sooner than 100 virgin vinyl and therefore needs replacing sooner.

Vinyl flooring health risks. 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. Formaldehyde is more common in laminate flooring where it s found in the adhesive and resin. 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.

Known as off gassing this process can have major negative health effects over the long term. These harmful chemicals are created during the manufacture of the chloride in pvc. But they re believed to be toxic and have been linked to a laundry list of ailments. Dioxins are carcinogenic bioaccumulative toxins that can persist in the environment for a prolonged period.

Vinyl is made from pvc or polyvinyl chloride plastic which produces toxic chemicals during manufacturing like dioxin a carcinogen and reproductive toxicant. Phthalates are used to soften plastic and vinyl and make them more flexible.