We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings and Implications for Recycling
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested 151 new PVC floor products sold in Switzerland and found that 16% contained hazardous chemicals above regulatory limits, including lead and a banned plasticizer called DEHP. The likely source was recycled PVC mixed into new products, showing how recycling without proper quality control can keep toxic chemicals circulating. These floor materials can release harmful additives into indoor air, creating ongoing exposure risks for people living and working in these spaces.
Hazardous chemicals in building and construction plastics can lead to health risks due to indoor exposure and may contaminate recycled materials. We systematically sampled new polyvinyl chloride floorings on the Swiss market (n = 151). We performed elemental analysis by X-ray fluorescence, targeted and suspect gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of ortho-phthalates and alternative plasticizers, and bioassay tests for cytotoxicity and oxidative stress, and endocrine, mutagenic, and genotoxic activities (for selected samples). Surprisingly, 16% of the samples contained regulated chemicals above 0.1 wt %, mainly lead and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Their presence is likely related to the use of recycled PVC in new flooring, highlighting that uncontrolled recycling can delay the phase-out of hazardous chemicals. Besides DEHP, 29% of the samples contained other ortho-phthalates (mainly diisononyl and diisodecyl phthalates, DiNP and DiDP) above 0.1 wt %, and 17% of the samples indicated a potential to cause biological effects. Considering some overlap between these groups, they together make up an additional 35% of the samples of potential concern. Moreover, both suspect screening and bioassay results indicate the presence of additional potentially hazardous substances. Overall, our study highlights the urgent need to accelerate the phase-out of hazardous substances, increase the transparency of chemical compositions in plastics to protect human and ecosystem health, and enable the transition to a safe and sustainable circular economy.
More Papers Like This
Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings: Impacts of an Industrial Transition and Recycling
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested 151 new PVC floor products on the Swiss market and found that 16% still contained regulated toxic chemicals — mostly lead and the plasticizer DEHP — likely introduced through the use of recycled PVC content. The findings reveal that poorly regulated recycling can actually perpetuate hazardous chemical exposure in homes, undermining the safety goals of circular economy efforts.
Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings: Impacts of an Industrial Transition and Recycling
AI summary Read the abstract
This study systematically analysed 151 new PVC floor coverings on the Swiss market, finding that 16% still contained regulated hazardous chemicals — mainly lead and DEHP — above legal thresholds, likely introduced via recycled PVC. A further 29% contained alternative plasticizers not yet subject to the same scrutiny but detected in bioassays for cytotoxicity and endocrine disruption. The findings reveal that recycling of PVC can inadvertently reintroduce banned chemicals into new products, posing indoor exposure and health risks, and that some replacement plasticizers may themselves warrant toxicological concern.
Microplastics generation from flooring materials under UV exposure: A comprehensive analysis of microplastics emission and chemical deformation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested how common indoor flooring materials, including carpet tiles, laminate, and PVC flooring, release microplastics when exposed to UV light from sunlight and foot traffic. All three materials generated microplastic particles, with UV exposure accelerating the release and changing the chemical structure of the plastic surfaces. This study shows that indoor environments are a significant but often overlooked source of microplastic exposure through the air people breathe at home and work.
Environmental and health hazards of chemicals in plastic polymers and products
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the environmental and health hazards of chemicals in plastic polymers and products, examining the toxicological profiles of monomers, additives, and degradation products that can leach from plastics into food, water, and the environment. The study identifies numerous plastic-associated chemicals with endocrine-disrupting, carcinogenic, or developmental toxicity potential and calls for more comprehensive safety testing of plastic formulations.
Impacts of plastic products used in daily life on the environment and human health: What is known?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed toxicity data for the most common plastics used in everyday products, finding that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the most hazardous due to its monomer and additive chemistry, that additives are generally more toxic than the plastic monomers themselves, and that benzene, phthalates, and lead stabilizers pose the greatest risks to wildlife and humans.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.