![]() ![]() Ideally, your nursery decals will be made by a company that clearly demonstrates their abhorrence of VOCs. When you’re shopping for eco-friendly, non-toxic nursery wall decals, check the product details carefully. Eco-friendly, non-toxic nursery wall decal alternatives Significant exposure can cause severe damage to the liver, kidneys, eyes, and respiratory tract. Epichlorohydrin is acutely toxic to humans. This was primarily through exposure to a chemical called epichlorohydrin, which is listed in California’s Proposition 65 as a reproductive toxicant (causing infertility in men) and carcinogen, as well as a mutagen. ![]() They found that while the glue did decrease formaldehyde exposure, it also posed occupational health and safety risks for those working with the glue. This report details a study carried out by the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) that looked at soy-based glue used in composite wood. See Also: The 4 Best Air Filters for the NurseryĪ report from the Global Health and Safety Initiative demonstrates how soy-based glues aren’t always eco-friendly and non-toxic. ![]() This means that the same problems persist but companies ‘greenwash’ their products as using soy-based glues that are formaldehyde-free. Unfortunately, soy proteins may simply be used as extenders in isocyanate-based adhesives or other adhesives that contain toxic chemicals. VOC-free soy-based glues are preferable to formaldehyde-based glues and formaldehyde-free glues and resins that contain other VOCs. Even soy-based adhesives can contain VOCs such as acetone. That’s because formaldehyde is a common ingredient in decal adhesives and alternatives to formaldehyde can include toxic isocyanates like Methylene-Diphenyl-Diisocyanate. Nursery decal adhesivesĮven when a company claims its nursery wall decals are eco-friendly, PVC-free, and phthalate-free, they can still be toxic. You’ll also want to check the adhesives and inks used to make nursery decals. For nursery wall decals, choose recycled polyester peelable and reusable decals free from PVC and phthalates. So, what’s the alternative? In short, ditch the PVC and go for products made without synthetic vinyl. I discuss phthalates in greater depth in my post on toys for newborns. Not all phthalates are banned though, and many just haven’t been tested to determine safety. Some phthalates are banned for use in children’s products sold in the US. Babies are also more vulnerable to the effects of phthalates, given their rapid growth and development. Adult bodies can metabolize and eliminate some phthalates, but babies are less capable of doing this. Phthalates and their metabolites are biologically active once absorbed. Babies can absorb phthalates through their skin or inhale phthalates from the air. These include crib mattress covers, waterproof crib mattress pads, teething guard rails, decals, and baby toys. Phthalates are a family of industrial chemicals found in many products commonly found in the nursery. These phthalates are not bound to the vinyl, so they can leach out and off-gas easily, especially in hot, humid conditions. Phthalates may make up around 30-40% of the weight of a PVC decal. PVC is also a hard plastic, meaning that manufacturers of wall decals typically use chemical plasticizers such as phthalates to make it flexible. A kg of PVC also requires 11.6 kg of air, which becomes greenhouse gases and other gases. Why is VC a problem? Research shows that it affects mitochondrial respiratory function (meaning it makes it harder for your cells to produce energy) and exacerbates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, among other things.Īccording to , every kilogram of PVC requires roughly 17 kg of abiotic materials, mostly petrochemicals, to produce, and uses around 680 liters of water in its manufacture. Environmental exposure to VC is common, and one recent study found that newborn infants already have adult exposure levels to VC and other VOCs. ![]() More than 27 million metric tons of VC is produced worldwide every year. One of the chemicals used to create PVC, vinyl chloride (VC), is a volatile organic compound (VOC). ![]()
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