Purge PVC from your life

Most of us are familiar with that "new shower curtain smell" associated with the joy of replacing your old mildewy shower curtain with a new one. But many people may not realize that the smell is a telltale sign that toxic chemicals have just been offgassed into their home. One new plastic curtain can release up to 108

chemicals over a 28-day period. The culprit? PVC, which stands for polyvinyl chloride. It is one of the most

common plastics in the world -- appearing in toys, food containers, building materials including vinyl flooring and carpet padding, and more--and is also one of the most toxic. The good news is that many organizations have called for global phase-outs of PVC, and many businesses have responded by restricting PVC usage in their products. This makes it easier than ever to replace many common PVC household items with PVC-free alternatives. Purging PVC from your life will not only decrease your loved ones' exposure to dangerous chemicals, but you will be supporting better, safer products. The problem with PVC is that during its lifecycle -- from production to incineration -- PVC emits highly toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and dioxin, which have been associated with birth defects, cancer and autism. The first step in avoiding PVC is learning how to spot it. Look for "PVC" or just the letter "V" (for vinyl) or the number 3 in the recycling symbol on plastics or packaging labels which denote the presence of PVC. Because PVC is unsafe thoughout its lifecycle, there is no completely safe way to dispose of PVC, which is why it's vital that shoppers use their economic power to choose PVC-free items and call on retailers and businesses to phase out the plastic poison for good.