Is Vinyl Tiles Harmful To Your Health?

It is obvious that vinyl flooring is becoming quite the thing for many Singaporeans. However, there are serious concerns regarding this surface material. The toxic nature of this material begins right at the time it is being manufactured through to the installation and even when being used. Even after this, vinyl tiles can still cause harm a person’s personal environment.

One way in which vinyl tiles are harmful to you is because of dioxins that they are composed of. These are carcinogenic toxins that can stay in our environment for quite some time. The dioxins are produced when chloride in the PVC is being manufactured. If anyone gets exposed to these substances, they risk contracting all manner of diseases, including cancer.

Fire retardancy
Chlorine is the main content of PVC, hence the name polyvinyl chloride, and as such, when the PVC burns, it is capable of producing hydrogen chloride gas. This can cause serious health concerns not only to occupants, but also to people who live in the surrounding environs and also the fire fighters. Also, the burning of PVC vinyl tiles can produce over 100 toxic chemicals to the environment.

PVC of which vinyl tiles are made makes it very dangerous. These building materials are can smolder and consequently give off a poisonous gas in the name of hydrogen chloride. This gas is highly poisonous and has the capability of causing damage to your respiratory system and can also cause skin burns.

Production of phthalates
Another main harm that PVC building materials, including vinyl tiles causes is production and subsequent release of to the environment of chemical softeners that are known as phthalates. Also, flooring materials made of PVC and especially vinyl tiles are increasingly being associated with causing asthma.

Children poisoning
It was also revealed that lead additives found in PVC mini-blinds are capable of causing poisoning to children. To plumbers, the toxic glues that they use for fitting PVC pipes can cause harm.

Harmful to building contractors and architects
PVC materials are also harmful to building contractors, architects and even consumers who must be wary of the health and environmental impacts of disposal and production of these materials. At the time when PVC is being produced, thousands of chemicals escape to the air. Its production also leads the release of dioxin into environment.

However, manufacturers of vinyl tiles have learnt a better way of protecting their employees from the harmful effects of these chemicals. This is by manufacturing the vinyl tiles by using the closed loop system. This reduces worker exposure to the chemicals emanating from PVC manufacture. Consequently, there have been reduced chances of cancer in workers.

Conclusion

Vinyl tiles are the perfect type of flooring if you want your house to appear stunningly beautiful. This is actually why they are so popular in Singapore today. Unbeknownst to many however, these vinyl tiles are also dangerous. They contain thousands of chemical compounds that can cause different kinds of health complications to people living in houses of which they are used, as well as those who just live in the neighborhood. Therefore, before you use vinyl tiles, you need to be very careful and ensure that you have chosen safe vinyl tiles that won’t jeopardize your health and that of the people around you.