subject: Toxicity Of Vinyl Tiles [print this page] Vinyl floor tiles have become very popular because they are inexpensive, easy to install and very durable. Over 14 BILLION Tons of vinyl tiles are produced each year in North America alone. While they may be a good deal for the consumer they are terrible for the environment and our health. Because of the chemicals that are used to make the it is a health and environmental disaster on a very large scale.
The manufacturing of vinyl tiles creates by-products that are extremely hazardous to your health and very dangerous to the environment. The most common by-products are dioxin, vinyl chloride and ethylene dichloride. These compounds are extremely toxic and can cause a wide range of health problems including cancer, birth defects, neurological damage, developmental problems in children, neurological damage, endometriosis plus damage to the reproductive and immune systems. As in all manufacturing a percentage of the by-products will end up in the environment from the manufacturing process itself or after it is disposed of in land fills. Also used in these products are "stabilizers" such as lead, cadmium and phthalate plasticizers.These toxins are released into the home and the environment by leaching, flaking, or outgassing. They are associated with increased risks of asthma, lead poisoning and cancer, and are most damaging to infants and young children. Another hazard comes if there is a fire and the tiles are burned. They will release these chemicals into the atmosphere and spread them over a wide area, potentially harming others in the community. Vinyl tiles are the biggest producer of dioxin in the country.
It is incredible to me that products like this are allowed into our homes and work places with how toxic and dangerous they are. Also less than 1% of Vinyl tiles are recycled, which leaves hundreds of billions of tons of the tiles to be tossed into land fills.
