A doctor has taken to social media to reveal why you should throw away your plastic shower curtain, claiming it could increase the risk of certain cancers.
Dr. Scott Noorda, a functional medicine doctor in Utah, recently uploaded a video to Instagram claiming that plastic curtains can release harmful chemicals that have been linked to immune system damage, fertility problems and other serious diseases.
Dr. Noorda, 41, recommends replacing curtains made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), one of the most widely produced synthetic plastics in the world. It is used in construction, food packaging, wiring and clothing such as rain boots.
He told NeedToKnowUK: ‘Most people use their plastic shower curtain every day without any idea that this can not only cause headaches and irritation, but potentially contribute to major problems such as infertility and an increased risk of cancer.’
Dr. Scott Noorda, a functional medicine doctor in Utah, recently uploaded a video to Instagram claiming that plastic curtains can release harmful chemicals that have been linked to immune system damage, fertility problems and other serious diseases.
Dr. Noorda instead urged viewers to “buy a fabric shower curtain and throw away the plastic as soon as possible.”
PVC is one of the most used microplastics in the world. It is used in window frames, drain pipes, paint, food containers and clothing such as rain boots. PVC itself is not a carcinogen or a cancer-causing material, but its components have been linked to certain cancers.
PVC contains the colorless gas vinyl chloride, a combustion material in tobacco smoke. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), vinyl chloride has been linked to an increased risk of liver, brain and lung cancer, as well as lymphoma and leukemia.
According to NCI, exposure to vinyl chloride has been specifically linked to hepatic angiosarcoma, a rare cancer that develops in the lining of blood and lymphatic vessels. Although it can occur anywhere, it is most common in the skin, breast, liver and spleen.
Symptoms of this liver cancer include abdominal pain, weight loss, distension or swelling of the stomach, jaundice and fatigue.
Only one in one million people in the US will be diagnosed with angiosarcoma, and most patients are over the age of 70. According to federal data, only three percent of patients with hepatic angiosarcoma will live longer than two years.
The NCI estimates that more than 41,000 Americans will be diagnosed with liver cancer this year, and more than 29,000 will die. The five-year survival rate is only 22 percent.
Dr. Noorda also said PVC can harm immune, reproductive and hormonal health. And these chemicals are becoming increasingly common.
For example, an Australian study published in June found that the average person inhales the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of microplastics every week.
And a study published earlier this summer in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that microplastics such as PVC were found in blood samples and heart tissue from patients who had undergone surgery.
Exposure to such chemicals can cause symptoms in humans such as headaches, nausea, loss of coordination and irritation in the ears, nose or throat.
Dr. Noorda suggested abandoning the plastic curtain and looking for alternatives without PVC. ‘Look for a fabric curtain that is made from a natural machine-washable material, such as cotton or linen,” he said.
‘Avoid curtains made with PVC or other harmful chemicals. Consider a glass shower door as a more permanent and durable option.”
“People need to know that common, everyday objects can reduce their quality of life.”
“It’s especially tragic when it’s so cheap and easy to change.”