PVC shower curtain in pregnancy

[sarah00001]

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post but here goes... I am almost 16 weeks pregnant and we have a PVC shower curtain. I have read that they apparently contain about 100 toxic chemicals including Phthalates and even that they may cause birth defects. This has scared me so much. Surely if they were that dangerous they'd be banned? Does anyone know if this is something I should be worried about or whether it's just scaremongering? Thank you, Sarah

[SoonToBeSix]

Don't worry about it, it's just scaremongering.

[specialsubject]

oh no, not the toxic chemicals....run away.

unless you set it on fire and breathe the fumes, or eat it, there is no problem. Even eating it probably won't harm you.

do watch out for the dihydrogen monoxide in the shower though - that is the chemical that causes the most fatalities.

[Schoolaroundthecorner]

Believe me I know plenty about being an anxious person & pregnancy but if you were to let it get on top of you youd never eat anything or step outside your door. Just follow the sensible guidelines given to every pregnant woman about the precautions to take and try not to panic about the rest.

[Gautami]

special that's mean

[specialsubject]

hopefully taken in the spirit in which it was meant.

seriously, it PISSES ME OFF that this kind of idiocy is spread about, (not you, OP, but what you are reading) and it is no doubt an issue for those with anxiety.

Phthalates (there's a spelling challenge...) may present a low but possible risk if ingested, which is why they have indeed been banned as a precaution in the EU for children's toys, bottles etc since 1999.

so don't let the kid chew the shower curtain for hours, and don't buy baby products from outside the EU.