Why Are Vinyl Floorings Popular?
Vinyl Floorings mainly come in plank, tile and sheet forms and are customisable to match interiors and furniture. With their appearances of classic designs of granite, marble and stone patterns, vinyl floorings are attractive in various interiors. They have noise and shock cushioning properties to reduce the impact on the ears and foot soles. While they gain popularity with these features among flooring contractors and users, research on traditional vinyl floorings reveals that they contain toxins. Here are three main chemical compounds of traditional vinyl flooring and why long-term exposure to them can harm our health.
Phthalates (Phthalate Esters)
Phthalates are chemical plasticisers to soften the rigidity of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in vinyl floorings and make them more flexible. Vinyl floorings are of engineered PVC composition, which requires chemical compounds such as phthalates to maintain their durability and flexibility. Two common phthalate types are diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), typically found in building construction, interior manufacturing, and household products. DEHP and DINP contain carcinogens, which are agents that induce genetic changes in body cells and may cause cancerous tumours. Phthalates also contain toxins that harm the endocrine ecosystem of body glands that balance hormones and reduce toxicity. In prolonged exposure, phthalates harm the respiratory system as it causes airway inflammation and consequently trigger breathing difficulty. In addition, there are other risks in behavioural, neurological and reproductive issues. A journal article, “Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health”, reported that phthalates exposure causes a higher risk for children in their developmental years.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Vinyl Floorings contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are compounds with a high concentration of carbon and lead and have a low boiling point. The low boiling point exerts high vapour pressures, which causes their fluid molecules to evaporate readily into a vapour or gaseous state. This chemical characteristic is known as high volatility. VOCs emit via “off-gassing”, where material production traps organic chemicals in solid and liquid forms, then gradually releases them in aerosol particles or gases. In addition, the adhesive for glueing down traditional vinyl flooring reacts with the planks and emits VOCs via the “off-gassing” process. VOCs emit into the air during flooring production and after installation and pollute the surrounding air. VOCs such as formaldehyde are adversaries to health as they cause frequent headaches, queasiness and breathing complications. Further complications include irritation in the eyes, nostrils, throats, lungs and nervous system. Industrial workers with high exposure to formaldehyde are vulnerable to contracting leukaemia and nose and throat cancers, as reported in a Consumer Reports article.
Antimicrobial Agents
Vinyl floorings may have antimicrobial agents such as biocides and fungicides to prevent or slow down the growth of bacteria, fungi and other pathogenic microorganisms. However, there are adverse side or counter effects. Common antimicrobial agents may include ammonia, benzothiazole and nanosilver. They can cause eye infections, dermatitis (skin irritation) and respiratory inflammation. Those with lung allergies and asthma have a higher risk of exposure to antimicrobial agents. Nevertheless, antimicrobial agents are still essential in reducing harmful microorganisms. Hence, flooring manufacturers take strict measures to ensure antimicrobial agents are within safe levels and limit their usage for consumer health.
Invest In Resilient Vinyl Flooring
Flooring takes up a vast interior space, and thus long-term exposure can cause detrimental health effects. As modern vinyl floorings evolve in production, they become safer for health and the environment while keeping the familiar features of their traditional counterparts intact. You can start investing in resilient vinyl floorings that have low toxins for the safe health of your loved ones. We hope you learn something helpful in this blog post and welcome you to explore our blog and Premium Resilient Flooring (PRF) page.
