Vinyl Flooring Health Issues

Researchers say vinyl flooring and sofas with flame retardants can present a health risk to children.

Vinyl flooring health issues.

But they re believed to be toxic and have been linked to a laundry list of ailments. These are toxic substances and they have been linked to reproductive and respiratory health problems in people who have prolonged exposure. To avoid these types problems it s a great idea to ask your manufacturer about the health impact of their flooring. Homeowners can avoid problems with vinyl flooring by following the manufacturer s recommendations for cleaning and caring for the floor.

Made in glue down tiles and planks as well as floating versions popularity of this flooring have been sweeping the us and the globe. Vinyl and linoleum are sometimes used interchangeably but they are very different types of flooring. There is a new trend away from laminates towards a flooring called luxury vinyl tile flooring lvt. 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.

Share on pinterest experts say linoleum is a safer alternative than vinyl flooring. Linoleum flooring is made from all natural and biodegradable materials including linseed oil cork. This characteristic is achieved by the addition of phthalates to the material mix when the pvc is being manufactured. Linoleum is still around but i believe only three companies still make what we would have.

Formaldehyde levels were excessive and caused health issues and. Vinyl and linoleum flooring. Most vinyl tile flooring samples tested contained one or more hazardous chemicals. Vinyl flooring is an economical choice for many homeowners.

Vinyl hit in the early to mid 20th century and it overtook linoleum for a few main reasons one is that vinyl was fire retardant. The flooring material holds up well with regular maintenance and care but problems can occur with the material due to improper installation or care. Moreover almost all 89 percent of vinyl flooring samples tested contained organic tin based stabilizers. Socioeconomic issues and environmental toxins are very important in our country today from a health standpoint.

Scratches were impossible to remove. Some vinyl is hard but most flooring vinyl is relatively soft and yielding. Phthalates are used to soften plastic and vinyl and make them more flexible. It s commonly assumed that using recycled content in your luxury vinyl flooring is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than using 100 virgin vinyl.

It was easier to maintain and also had more versatility of design then not as much now but the big one was obviously the price especially in the post war housing boom.