Toxicity Vinyl Flooring

Ehn found the heavy metal cadmium recently in vinyl floors probably recycled ones they say.

Toxicity vinyl flooring.

It s important to avoid recycled vinyl. From manufacture through installation and use and even after it s life cycle is over vinyl has the potential to cause harm to both the broad and your environment in many ways. In april 2015 a study was released about vinyl flooring and toxic phthalates. Antimicrobials can be used usually in the underlayment.

Moreover almost all 89 percent of vinyl flooring samples tested contained organic tin based stabilizers. Why is vinyl flooring hazardous. Toxic metals in vinyl flooring. Fifty eight percent of vinyl flooring tiles tested contain phthalate plasticizers which are hazardous and are subject to a pending ban in the european union.

Vinyl flooring toxic fumes. Most vinyl tile flooring samples tested contained one or more hazardous chemicals. I have seen various types including silver. Flooring samples sold by five major home improvement stores were tested and of the 65 vinyl flooring tiles tested 58 contained phthalates.

Vinyl tile flooring is constructed of new or recycled polyvinyl chloride or pvc that is known to be one of the most environmentally hazardous consumer materials that are produced for flooring. Organotins a form of tin can be used in the top layer. What is the concern about phthalates. Linoleum flooring is a safer alternative to vinyl flooring and manufacturers have started offering phthalate free flooring that doesn t contain the potentially dangerous chemicals identified by.

100 synthetic material which is not necessarily bad but the the chemicals used in this flooring are also toxic. A recent study found that most vinyl flooring made from reprocessed plastic contained toxic phthalates lead cadmium brominated flame retardants and other toxic chemicals. Greenbuildingsupply interestingly the material safety data sheets on all of the vinyl flooring i found say that it is either relatively non toxic except for in case of thermal. Some lvt manufacturers are committed to reducing the amount of pvc and phthalates but many companies have not eliminated them.

While vinyl flooring continues to grow in popularity there are several serious environmental concerns about this resilient surface material. Vinyl flooring can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Unfortunately vinyl planks are not great choice i personally wouldn t use them at all.