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Photograph of - damaged vinyl siding Health Effects of Vinyl Chloride Gases, Smells,Odors
US EPA / ATSDR information, part 1

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about hazards of vinyl chloride gases, smells, and odors, or about vinyl siding and other vinyl products used on buildings

Vinyl chloride or PVC Health hazards in or at buildings or from building products: this article discusses possible health effects of exposure to vinyl-chloride (PVC - polyvinyl chloride) and hPVC and gives references to more scholarly information sources.

To improve clarity and provide public information we include here information from several US government sources including the US EPA and the US ATSDR, Department of health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic substances and Disease Registry

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Possible Hazards Associated with Vinyl Building Products, Production, Odors in Normal Use, or During Demolition, Disposal, Combustion in Fires

Vinyl siding with stains or moisture indicators (C) Daniel FriedmanArticle Contents

Plastic odors and the detection & source-diagnosis of many common odor sources observed some installations of vinyl exterior building siding or in other plastic or vinyl building products such as windows and trim are discussed

at VINYL SIDING or WINDOW PLASTIC ODORS.

Level of Health Hazard from PVC Building Products in Residential Use

The argument about the actual level of health hazard from vinyl product odors (plastic smells) in normal residential use (such as odors from vinyl siding or windows) is ongoing.

Clearly the chief health concerns most sources cite for PVC building products such as vinyl siding appear to be health risks to the workers during production (dioxin, the most powerful carcinogenic substance known), and health risks later (HCL and dioxin) if the material is burned - say as waste or in a house fire.

Dioxin is almost certainly released at harmful levels in those cases.

...

Vinyl Chloride Health Hazard Information - US ATSDR

Synonyms for vinyl chloride include chloroethene, chloroethylene, 1-chloroethylene, ethylene monochloride, monochloroethylene, monovinyl chloride, MVC, VC, VCM, and vinyl chloride monomer. The following is quoted from the US ATSDR.

  • Persons exposed only to vinyl chloride gas pose no risk of secondary contamination.

    [but] Persons whose clothing or skin is contaminated with pressurized liquid vinyl chloride can secondarily contaminate rescuers by direct contact or through off-gassing of vapor.
  • At all ambient temperatures, vinyl chloride is an extremely flammable and potentially explosive gas

    that is heavier than air. It has a mild, sweet odor, but odor is not an adequate warning of hazardous concentrations.
  • Inhalation is the major route of vinyl chloride exposure;

    absorption is rapid and nearly complete. Gastrointestinal absorption is unlikely as vinyl chloride is a gas at room temperature. Dermal absorption is negligible.

Inhalation is the primary route of exposure, and vinyl chloride is readily absorbed from the lungs. Its odor threshold is too high to provide an adequate warning of hazardous concentrations. The odor of vinyl chloride becomes detectable at around 3,000 ppm and the OSHA PEL is 1 ppm (8-hour TWA).

Therefore, workers can be overexposed to vinyl chloride without being aware of its presence. A 5-minute exposure to airborne concentrations of 8,000 ppm can cause dizziness.

As airborne levels increase to 20,000 ppm, effects can include drowsiness, loss of coordination, visual and auditory abnormalities, disorientation, nausea, headache, and burning or tingling of the extremities.

Exposure to higher concentrations of vinyl chloride for longer durations can cause death, presumably due to central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory depression.

The gas is heavier than air and can cause asphyxiation in poorly ventilated or enclosed spaces.

Children exposed to the same levels of vinyl chloride as adults may receive a larger dose because they have greater lung surface area:body weight ratios and increased minute volumes:weight ratios.

In addition, they may be exposed to higher levels than adults in the same location because of their short stature and the higher levels of vinyl chloride found nearer to the ground.

Reader Question: What are the health risks of vinyl siding

I bought a home two years ago that was built in the 1920's. The siding was redone, maybe 10- 15 years ago.

I've always wanted to replace the [vinyl] siding [on my home] because I was aware that there may be health risks associated to the material.

I would like to know if there really are risks to inhabitants, especially children, and what those risks are.

If it is recommended to remove the siding, what is the best way to dispose of the material? - S.V.Z.

Reply: Is Installed vinyl siding on homes a health hazard?

S.V.:

The principal health risks associated with vinyl siding are those that can occur during the manufacturing process and thus the hazards were or could be to workers in the siding manufacturing facilities.

Once having been installed on a home, risks to building occupants from vinyl siding or other vinyl products would occur only if the material is burned, as there could be toxic offgassing from the material in a fire.

Finally, we have received a few building odor complaints that were traced to offgassing from vinyl and other plastic products, particularly when exposed to heat and sunlight, such as odd chemical smells that we have traced not to vinyl siding products, but to certain window screen materials and to some vinyl window sashes and frames in retrofit windows.

See PLASTIC ODORS-SCREENS, SIDING for details.

Otherwise, the answer to your question is no. There is no health justification for removing installed vinyl siding from a building.

Should Vinyl Siding be a Removed?

No. We do not recommend removal of the vinyl siding on on your home unless it is badly damaged.

Some early vinyl siding products have been found to be easily cracked or broken, and others to fade in color.

Siding that is damaged may leak wind-driven rain into building walls and should therefore be repaired or replaced.

Faded vinyl siding is only a cosmetic issue.

Reader Question: is PVC off-gassing from replacement windows harmful?

I have been ordered by my condo association to remove my old windows and install new ones. I have asthma. are these PVC windows harmful to breathe?

- Anonymous (by private email to editor) 2016/03/14

Reply: Possible Effects of PCV or other Plastic Off-Gassing

The off-gassing of PVC or other plastic window frames, sashes, or even screens varies considerably by product as well as by building conditions such as sun-exposure, heat sources, fresh-air makeup, and other indoor air quality hazards that may or may not be present.

There is research discussing potentially harmful effects of gases emanated from some PVC products and it seems likely that there will be PVC off-gassing at more considerable levels at manufacturing facilities.

See this VINYL CHLORIDE PVC DIOXIN HCL OFFGAS HAZARD RESEARCH on the toxicity of PVC off-gassing products.

Bottom line: there could be problems for an asthmatic person from PVC off-gassing but we can't say in advance what the risks will be in the case you cite as we don't know what's to be installed nor the other building conditions that have an effect on offgassing hazards.

Reader follow-up: IH Professional says there is no PVC product off-gassing

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. your scientific support vis-a-vis the papers seems most impressive even though I've yet to examine them in detail.
I seem to be getting more confused as I go along in this troublesome sojourn.

An industrial hygienist for whom i have the utmost respect whom i consulted with before your correspondence told me not to worry about the windows.

He said they make the PVC windows by polymerizing vc gas and the final PVC frames have fully chemically reacted to strong covalent molecular bonds which cannot any further off gas.

He said even if you drilled a hole into it it wouldn't off gas anymore. the only way it would is if you held a torch to over 212 degrees and melted it.

But Ii spoke today with a certified house preservation specialist who told me he has pictures of PVC windows sagging in the full sun after a certain period of time and ultimately coming apart. so I'm getting two very conflicting viewpoints from two very respected professionals.

I also must consider a deadline fine that could be imposed on me by the dictatorial condo association. actually my deadline was Dec 1, they gave us only 3 months to get this done which I think is ridiculous!

The home preservation guy is totally sympathetic to my plight. I'm into preserving old things anyway! having once been an old car enthusiast and regardless of my asthmatic condition would much prefer to leave "the old stuff" alone.

Remember, aside from any potential PVC toxic hazard I have to concern myself with the all but assured presence of lead paint layering since this unit was built in 1962. I'm just dreading the removal of the windows fearing what might kick up so I'd like to prevent it at all costs.

And talk about costs i have two units which have been priced out at $9000.00.

I just scrolled down to look at my original message to you and see it was very brief. When i first moved into my unit the windows had been painted shut so Ii took a knife and scored the paint with a damp towel around it to trap the dust.

But the stupid painter actually painted the side of the frame on that thin metal strip so every time I roll the window up and down I'm abrading the dried paint and making some more airborne.

How would you recommend I deal with this ? Take the stop and sashes out and remove the metal strip or just put a chemical paint remover on it?

The home preservation guy knows how to take windows out but said its a lot of work. But if I do the stripper I have to deal with the fumes and any residue of the chemical left on the metal strip

Reply: Really? More research cites off-gassing from PVC products

Your IH expert's opinion is very interesting. I certainly can't argue with a certified professional who is on-site at your property, but I'd sure like to see the supporting research for the assertion that PVC window products do not have any off-gassing concerns.

The details in your report sound as if the hygienist knows the manufacture of PVC windows, yet his/her opinion does not seem to match field reports nor independent research on PVC hazards. There are research papers on PVC off-gassing for various PVC and EPVC products including windows, siding, trim, and flooring.

Or perhaps s/he knows the properties of a specific PVC window product to be used at your building.

And there is no question that in actual real-life practice there have been odors traced to plastic building products including window frames, screens, and siding. We've had that confirmed by in-field inspection and even very simple testing such as

the SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE described here at InspectApedia.com

It is reasonable to speculate that variations in manufacturing process, ingredients, and methods, even within a single individual product or product line, may have on occasion produced very problematic, off-gassing products.

And then there's Chinese drywall (not PVC of course), and other offshore products whose manufacture is less well understood and sometimes problematic.

I agree that NOT ALL PVC products produce problematic offgassing, and off-gassing from newer PVC-containing products indeed has, at least in some cases, been much better controlled or reduced, possibly in some cases eliminated.

Still, in addition to field reports from consumers and professionals, I have personally worked on cases where there were significant offgassing / odor complaints traced to PVC products, for example at a Florida sun-porch built almost entirely of PVC materials.

There have also been field reports of odor complaints traced to sun-heated plastic window screens, window frames, and vinyl siding.

I add that "sagging PVC" building components such as window frames and also plastic trim on exterior doors painted dark and exposed to heat from sunlight, particularly where a storm door is installed have certainly occurred on many buildings.

We cannot state, however, the relationship between sagging plastic components damaged by heat and their off-gassing properties.

One condition (sagging of vinyl siding or trim or buckling vinyl window components) does not necessarily confirm the level of possible PVC health concerns (offgassing rate, level, or life).

Keep in mind that no one can accurately or even usefully assert what off-gassing may occur (or not) from new products planned for use at your home and that are unnamed, uninstalled, and unresearched.

Such an assessment would be so speculative as to be so unreliable as to be useless.

See details at VINYL SIDING or WINDOW PLASTIC ODORS.

Regarding your concern for lead paint hazards, if there is lead paint that is to be or has been disturbed by any means there may be serious lead hazards at your building, depending on the location and amount of that material.

You are correct that moving a lead-painted window sash up and down in its frame can alone produce lead dust hazards that settle on a window sill or other nearby surfaces. If this is a hazard for you it is perhaps a hazard for other owners/occupants of condos in your building and surely should be addressed by your association with the benefit of expert help.

See LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE

See LEAD PAINT REMOVAL ALTERNATIVES

See PVC & VINYL OFFGASSING RESEARCH

...

Disposal of PVC Building Products

How Should I Dispose of Vinyl Siding Scrap or Waste Material?

When we have had to dispose of vinyl siding during construction products we have taken the material to public waste disposal sites that accept construction debris.

We have seen cases of builders who disposed of vinyl siding scraps by burying them on the building site.

Not only is this prohibited in many communities, but burying a material that will not biodegrade is a poor practice that does not respect future property owners nor the environment.

Disposal of plastic building products by burial means those products are likely to remain intact for a very very long time.

Disposal by burning is likely to be dangerous, releasing dangerous levels of dioxin and HCL. For disposal of vinyl products a different process, thermal depolymerization, has been developed to convert the plastic into fuel and minerals, but it's not widely used.

...

Plastic or PVC Odor Complaints

At some buildings occupants complain (to us by email) of odors and outgassing that is on occasion traced to vinyl siding, vinyl window products, building trim, or window screens.

We suspect that suspect that the chemistry of gases may be different for each plastic-containing material. In vinyl siding or vinyl windows or trim the building material used would be uPVC or Rigid PVC.

See PLASTIC ODORS-SCREENS, SIDING

We have not found a reliable source documenting the chemistry of such odors, but some sources cite possible outgassing of dioxin and HCL (probably at very low levels), and one unsubstantiated source (no authoritative citations) claimed formaldehyde outgassing (doubtful).

Prudent avoidance may be in order from even these odors, especially for people at particular health risk, such as asthmatics or infants and the elderly. -References or Citations

Most home inspectors do not provide environmental and odor diagnosis. But if your question is tracking down the odor source, any building occupant might be able to handle this perfectly well yourself following the odor patch test process we describe

at SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE.

Before blaming building siding or windows on an odor, be sure you've properly tracked down the odor source. Also

see ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE

The vinyl building products industry argues that the levels of dioxin and HCL (hydrochloric acid) from their products are not significant. - cited in detail at page bottomReferences or Citations

 

...

Research on PVC Polyvinyl chloride Offgassing Hazards & Medical Effects

  • David, Raymond N., & Gerhard Gans, Summary of Mammalian Toxicology and Health Effects of Phthalate Esters

    Excerpt:

    Long-term hazards from short-term exposures are either minimal or reversible because many long-term effects are observed only following continuous exposure.

    Long-term effects such as liver cancer only occur in laboratory animals following life-time or near life-time exposure to doses of <100mg kg–1 d–1 of high-MW esters. Cancer is thought to occur through a mechanism that involves biochemical changes in the liver cells of rats and mice.

    These biochemical changes are not seen in primates. As a result, scientists do not regard humans to be at risk of cancer from exposure to phthalate esters.
  • Deese, D. E., and R. E. Joyner. "Vinyl acetate: a study of chronic human exposure." American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 30, no. 5 (1969): 449-457.
  • Karstadt, Myra. "PVC: health implications and production trends."Environmental health perspectives 17 (1976): 107
    Abstract:

    Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is a complex plastic system. Individual components of the PVC system, including residual vinyl chloride monomer (RVCM) and certain additives, may pose risks of harm to human health.

    There have been significant reductions in the RVCM content of PVC resin since 1974, reducing the cancer risk of workers in PVC fabrication plants and consumers of PVC products.

    A "no-effect" level for vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)-induced carcinogenesis has not been found to date; therefore, the significance of human exposure to low levels of RVCM remains to be determined.

    Exposure to PVC dust may cause pulmonary dysfunctions. Pulmonary and other possible health effects of PVC dust require further study. The PVC plastics system should be characterized as to interactions among its various components and as to interactions of the components and the PVC system as a whole with biological systems.
  • Rossi, Mark, and Ted Schettler. "PVC & healthcare." In Setting Healthcare’s Environmental Agenda: Papers and Proceedings from the October 16, 2000 Conference in San Francisco, California, USA. 2000.
  • Lamb, Cathy S. Exposure to chemical additives from polyvinyl chloride polymer extrusion processing. No. PB-90-151770/XAB. Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (USA), 1989.
  • Meng, Tingzhu Teresa. "Volatile organic compounds of polyethylene vinyl acetate plastic are toxic to living organisms." The Journal of toxicological sciences 39, no. 5 (2014): 795-802.
    Abstract:

    Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic products readily evaporate; as a result, hazardous gases enter the ecosystem, and cause cancer in humans and other animals.

    Polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) plastic has recently become a popular alternative to PVC since it is chlorine-free. In order to determine whether PEVA is harmful to humans, this research employed the freshwater oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus as a model to compare their oxygen intakes while they were exposed to the original stock solutions of PEVA, PVC or distilled water at a different length of time for one day, four days or eight days.

    During the exposure periods, the oxygen intakes in both PEVA and PVC groups were much higher than in the distilled water group, indicating that VOCs in both PEVA and PVC were toxins that stressed L. variegatus.

    Furthermore, none of the worms fully recovered during the24-hr recovery period. Additionally, the L. variegatus did not clump together tightly after four or eight days’ exposure to either of the two types of plastic solutions, which meant that both PEVA and PVC negatively affected the social behaviors of these blackworms.

    The LD50 tests also supported the observations above.

    For the first time, our results have shown that PEVA plastic has adverse effects on living organisms, and therefore it is not a safe alternative to PVC.

    Further studies should identify specific compounds causing the adverse effects, and determine whether toxic effect occurs in more complex organisms, especially humans.
  • Ruzickova, Karolina, Madeleine Cobbing, Mark Rossi, and Thomas Belazzi. "Preventing harm from phthalates, Avoiding PVC in hospitals." Health Care Without Harm (2004).
  • US EPA VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH HAZARDS [PDF] U.S. EPA,

    Excerpt: Most vinyl chloride is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and vinyl products.

    Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of vinyl chloride in air has resulted in central nervous system effects (CNS), such as dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches in humans.

    Chronic (long-term) exposure to vinyl chloride through inhalation and oral exposure in humans has resulted in liver damage.

    Cancer is a major concern from exposure to vinyl chloride via inhalation, as vinyl chloride exposure has been shown to increase the risk of a rare form of liver cancer in humans.

    EPA has classified vinyl chloride as a Group A, human carcinogen.
  • Warren, Helen, and James Edward Huff. "Health effects of vinyl chloride monomer: an annotated literature collection." Environ Health Perspect 11 (1975): 251-319.
  • Wilken, Jason A., Leah Graziano, Elena Vaouli, Karl Markiewicz, Robert Helverson, Kimberly Brinker, Alice M. Shumate, and Mary Anne Duncan. "Exposures and symptoms among workers after an offsite train derailment and vinyl chloride release." American journal of disaster medicine 10, no. 2 (2015): 153.

Research on "Offgassing from PVC Windows"

  • VINYL SIDING or WINDOW PLASTIC ODORS [Web Article] and more research citations
  • Lollini, Roberto, Italo Meroni, Marzia Sedino, M. Ghellere, and A. Oppio. "Energy-Environment Retrofit of an Existing Building: From Zero towards Best Practice Environmental Sustainability Level." In World Conference on Sustainable Buildings SB08. 2008.

    [Specifically mentions off-gassing of PVC frames such as window frame]
  • Rossi, Mark, and Ted Schettler. "PVC & healthcare." In Setting Healthcare’s Environmental Agenda: Papers and Proceedings from the October 16, 2000 Conference in San Francisco, California, USA. 2000.
  • Thornton, Joe. "Environmental impacts of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) building materials." [PDF] briefing paper for the Healthy Building Network, http://www. healthybuilding. net/pvc/ThorntonPVCSummary. html (2002)
  • HOME, DOE ZERO ENERGY READY. "The Adaptation Home Geneva, IL." Harvard

    Excerpt: "Weiss also works with a third-party laboratory to do air quality testing. They run 24-hour tests to see if things are off gassing at different times of day because of sunlight. He has been air quality testing for four years and has noticed a big difference in products with more VOC-free products available."
  • VINYL, HAZARDOUS ADDITIVES IN, and HOME FURNISHINGS. "Mary-Elizabeth Harmon, PhD Greenpeace USA Greenpeace www. greenpeaceusa.org May 2001." (2001).

...


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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2019-05-20 by (mod) - VOCs & offgassing from old vinyl flooring?

Christine

Volatile organics are off-gassed from some flooring adhesives, but on a floor that's 20 years old that would be very unusual.

That's why I suspected that there could have been a spill or some other damage to the floor to cause it to emit odors. Or of course - as we have not even seen a photo of your particular floor - it could be an unusual flooring product that offgasses continually - as do some building products that have been oxidized such as from exposure to an overdose of ozone during a deodorizing effort.

I'm sorry but with millions of chemicals in our environment I can't say from text what the chemical composition is of the odor you are experiencing.

If the smell is strong / irritating / a respiratory irritant / a health worry / it may make sense to either remove the floor or to experiment with sealants on its surface. I've used epoxy paint, for example, to seal old vinyl-asbestos floor surfaces. (Paints too off-gas until cured).

On 2019-05-20 by christine

Thank you for your feedback.
I have been able to locate exactly the smell and it is the floor.
If it is the adhesive mastic (or glue - it is intense yellow), if it is in decomposition, what type of chemical could that be?
The floor is in the kitchen and there is may be 60 sq feet.

thank you.
crhistine

On 2019-05-19 by (mod) -

Christine

If you used a procedure similar to our smell patch test kit SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Smell_Patch_Test.php
then the identification of the vinyl flooring itself (or much less likely the adhesive mastic below the floor) as an odor source is quite credible.

While it's common for new vinyl flooring to off-gas an odor it's not common for that problem to be present twenty years later.

More-likely there was a spill or leak that has affected the flooring or the sub-floor below. In my opinion it's worth some more-careful inspection and investigation of the floor construction and surrounding walls both from outside and from below as well as from indoors to see if there has been a leak or spill, mold contamination, etc.

In the worst case you'll need to demolish, remove, and replace those materials.

Beyond suggesting further visual inspection by an expert, from a text message alone one can't hazard a guess at what the "burnt smell" might be.

On 2019-05-09 by christine bérubé

Good evening. I rent a home and there is a bad chemical odor on the first floor (does not extend to the second floor, nor the basement). I have gone through an elimination process and the culprit is the floor (outgas). The flooring is vinyl sheet, installed in early 1990. Underneath there is a very yellow glue and below plywood. Even with air circulation many hours a day, cleaning, it is constantly there.

I am worry about what substance we are breathing and it is very unpleasant. Please note that some adults say they do not smell it or lightly; majority describe as chemical - burnt.

Could you please tell me if you have ideas of what it could be and what I could do.
Thank you so much.
christine

On 2017-11-22 - by (mod) -

Judith,

Thank you for the invite portent report on your own experience with off-gassing from Vinyl and Plastic Products. The Information will doubtless be of help to other readers.

I suspect that even in products made by reputable and well-known Brands sometimes there are off-gassing problems that may be due to inconsistency in product manufacture or product sourcing,, including offshore suppliers.

On 2017-11-22 by judith decker - cats vomiting after exposure to vinyl off-gassing

Several words in the comment below were changed by my computer's spell check. Obviously the cats were profusely vomiting and they recovered after three days.

We had our porch screens and vinyl windows replaced recently. Our Maine Coon cats hang out and sleep on the porch overnight.

The day after the installation, both cats were vomiting professing and convulsing. We removed them from the room and opened the windows to let the vinyl off gas for a week.

The cars recovered after several days and getting rehydrated by our vet. It was a terrible experience.

On 2016-07-15 - by (mod) -

Sounds possible to me, Laila, particularly if the doors are exposed to direct sunlight; Some vinyl offgassing drops significantly as newly-installed plastic/vinyl materials are exposed to sun and fresh air; not all products however.

On 2016-07-14 by Laila Platt Rummelhoff

There's a strong vinyl smell from the frame around my new patio doors. I think it may be the cause of my feeling nauseous and dizzy.

Question: effects of inhaling odors from PVC piping and cement

(June 3, 2011) Michelleluree said:

My father was a self employed plumber when I was growing up. His work van was the vehicle of choice when we needed to get all 4 kids to one place.

Many hours where spent inhaling effects of PVC piping and cement not to mention lead piping and soder wire, other adhesives,solvents and metal and rubber products. What chronic effects could this have on children? thank you

Reply:

Michelle

There could be neurological effects from inhaling piping cement. I'm not sure if they would show up as a chronic complaint however.

That's a question to ask a physician who specializes in environmental medicine, starting with your own GP, pediatrician, or allergist.

My OPINION (as I am not a physician) however, is that inhaling the MVOCs from solvents and glues might contribute to asthma if not other problems.

The principal constituents in PVC solvents and cement include Tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexane, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene, acetone, hexane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, methyl-iso-butyl ketone (MIBK)

You can search online for the MSDS for any of those chemicals to see what individual warnings are provided but I'm afraid that it is more difficult to estimate the effects when there is exposure to those chemicals or gases in a mix.

In any case the actual health hazards, short or long term, depend very much on both the level and frequency of exposure and on individual health and genetic variation.

A reference you might want to check is:

Summary of Mammalian Toxicology and Health Effects of Phthalate Esters, Raymond M. David and Gerhard Gans from which I quote below:

Long-term hazards from short-term exposures are either minimal or reversible because many long-term effects are observed only following continuous exposure. Long-term effects such as liver cancer only occur in laboratory animals following life-time or near life-time exposure to doses of <100mg kg–1 d–1 of high-MW esters.

Cancer is thought to occur through a mechanism that involves biochemical changes in the liver cells of rats and mice. These biochemical changes are not seen in primates. As a result, scientists do not regard humans to be at risk of cancer from exposure to phthalate esters.

Question: curtains smell like tar

(Oct 20, 2012) Anonymous said:
I purchased a house a month ago. I hung new curtains and noticed that they started smelling like tar. I thought the smell came from the curtains so I took those back and purchased new ones (from a different store, brand).

They are starting to smell like tar also. I'm not sure what the picture window is made from but was wondering if that could be the sourse of the odor and if there is anything I could do other than replacing it to get rid of the smell. The window has white slats between the glass if that makes a difference.

Reply:

Tar is a bituminous product, not a vinyl or plastic product. I'd start by asking for help from others with a good sense of smell, to confirm the nature of and the source of the odor.

Comment:

(Jan 22, 2013) mary b said:
i like what you said

Question: odor from vinyl blinds after washing them

(Nov 21, 2014) ann said:
I have vinyl blinds in my sewing room. I've had them for years and noticed no smell. Yesterday, I spent all day wiping them down with some mild soap and water to clean them. They look like new, except the fact that as I was cleaning them, I noticed an odor in the room.

I didn't think anything of it at first, but now, the next day, I'm noticing that the odor is still there and it seems to be stronger. Why would these blinds smell after I've cleaned them. I know it's not the soap I used, because it is not a soapy smell. It smells like plastic? Should I worry?

Reply:

Unless you used a cleaner that contained a plastic solvent I'd think the problem was more likely due to heating or some other effect on the vinyl.


...

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