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That “new shower curtain smell” comes from over 100 chemicals being emitted into the air, a new study by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) finds.  In their press release,  CHEJ states that "results from a two-phase study...show that shower curtains made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic contain many harmful chemicals including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates and organotins; these PVC shower curtains are potentially toxic to the health of consumers. Vinyl shower curtains and shower curtain liners release chemicals into the home that are most easily identified by that “new shower curtain smell” and are routinely sold at major retail outlets.* Results of this study show that PVC shower curtains can release toxic chemicals into the air that may lead to adverse health effects including respiratory irritation, central nervous system, liver and kidney damage, nausea, headaches and loss of coordination."

Within hours the American Chemistry Council issued their own national press release saying that the CHEJ report is wrong:  “Phthalates are used to make shower curtains flexible and durable. For CHEJ to suggest that phthalates are linked to serious health problems grossly misinforms the public about the true nature of phthalates. There is no reliable evidence that any phthalates have ever caused any harm to any human in their fifty-year history of use." 

As consumers, I'm sure your immediate response is to believe the non-profit group apparently dedicated to finding out what ails us versus an organization sponsored by the chemical industry.    As professionals, likely several of you have had to deal with a PR nightmare like this within your own industry or company, which lends a totally different perspective.  When evaluating this from a professional viewpoint we're forced to weigh more details and ask more questions, like Who is behind the CHEJ? and What do objective chemists have to say - could the CHEJ have it wrong?

But since I'm not in the chemicals industry, I'm going out to get a nylon shower curtain...

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