I went through all this a few years ago–I first tried a hemp shower curtain because I read that cotton would mildew or mold too easily in a damp environment like the shower. Hemp was supposed to be mildew resistant, but unfortunately after about a year or so my hemp shower curtain had such bad mold spots that they started to eat through the fabric and I had holes. At least it can be composted–but at $90+ for the “Hom” brand curtain at the time, I did not want to be buying one of these each year!

Finally I settled on getting a used nylon one from National Furniture Liquidators (http://nationalfurniture.net/); they resell the used hotel furniture and supplies like sheets and shower curtains when the fancy hotels redecorate. I bought a half dozen for $12, which is quite economical; however, I did go into the store to do this as they are local to me. Maybe you could call them and ask if you can buy a bundle over the phone. A half dozen isn’t all that much anyway–I gave a couple to friends and kept the rest for future use just in case. I also use one on my bed as a mattress protector under my wool protectors (got a toddler sleeping here who’s not quite done potty-learning yet).

Nylon is quite inert and I have never smelled any sort of chemical smell, maybe because it’s used, but I seem to remember that my mom bought a nylon shower curtain at Target once and it did not smell like anything.

Good luck!

Barrie

Every year, we’re learning more and more about the dangers of different plastics used in consumer products. For instance, as you may be aware, this past year there’s been a lot of attention to bisphenol A, a chemical used to manufacture plastic polycarbonate baby bottles.

We did not “endorse” EVA or PEVA in our report for this very reason.

From the research we’ve seen, EVA and PEVA are preferable to PVC because:
1) They pose fewer lifecycle hazards, in terms of the chemicals used to manufacture them;
2) They are not chlorinated plastics, and therefore are not significant sources of dioxin during production and disposal (as PVC is);
3) We’re not aware of any harmful chemical additives (such as phthalates, organotins, etc.) used to manufacture this plastic.

EVA and PEVA are not perfect though – they’re still petrochemical based plastics – and we need to move away from the toxic petrochemical economy and move towards more sustainably produced products that are safe for workers, communities, consumers, and most importantly infants and children.

It’s clear further research is needed into EVA and PEVA products to determine their safety. Unfortunately, chemicals are not required for safety testing before they’re put on the market. The EPA lacks the regulatory authority to protect us from dangerous chemicals in our home. That’s why they haven’t even been able to ban asbestos, which has a disease named after it!

I’d love to learn more about the brand/design of the curtain of concern. Could you e-mail that to me at mike@chej.org ?

In relation to “what do I do now” – the safest bet would be to look for a curtain made out of cloth such as cotton – organic cotton is preferable since the production of cotton typically involves lots of pesticides.

Best,
Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator
Center for Health, Environment and Justice

Mike Schade
PVC Campaign Coordinator
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ)
9 Murray St. 3rd Fl.
NY, NY 10007
Phone: 212.964.3680
Fax: 212.349.1366
mike@chej.org
http://www.besafenet.com/pvc
http://www.chej.org

Mentoring a movement, empowering people, preventing harm.
Love Canal…30 years later, the journey continues.

In response to Joyce, PEVA is naturally soft and flexible, as opposed to PVC which needs additives to attain these properties. So if you believe the small quantities of phthalates and other softeners that can leach out are likely to cause damage, PEVA may be less likely to leach those chemicals.

I must add…..I tried Bed, Bath and Beyond first and found only PVC liners.

Thanks for posting safe alternatives.