Are blackout curtains toxic?

[sarah00001]

Hi, I bought some blackout curtains from Dunelm Mill about 3 weeks ago. I noticed a strange musty smell coming from the lining which has faded slightly but is still there. Anyway, there are a few websites that say that blackout lining is toxic and contain endocrine disruptors.

The curtains are made entirely from polyester but the lining has a thermal coating which I presume is what is apparently toxic.

Does anyone know if there is any truth in it? My baby is due next Tuesday and will be sleeping in the same room as me and I'm thinking that maybe I should put my old curtains back up again.

Thank you

Sarah

[TheoriginalLEM]

I assume this would be due to BPAs. I think there is some evidence that high levels of BPAs or Phlalates can contribute to fertility issues on males (apologies if i dont have this right). The problem is that we are exposed to these things in more things than we realise. Plastic drinking bottles are one of the worse culprits. We have just thrown away all of dd's drinking bottles and replaced them with one that is phlalate and BPA free.

In all honesty the risk to your baby is most likely negligible but i would be inclined to do a bit more research.

[WinterOfOurDiscountTents15]

Endocrine disruptors from the lining of your blinds? You need to step away from Google. Unless you are going to actually feed the curtains to the baby, and even then you'd need to feed them a lot of them, this is not something you have to worry about. It's tinfoil hat territory.

[TheoriginalLEM]

not necessarily! I have heard of several cats that died as a result of the formaldehyde used in certain carpet backings!

Im off to google now. I have a science background so can sniff out the bullshit.

[TheoriginalLEM]

here is a link about blackout curtains.

i think it is very much a question of where does one draw the line? It looks like there are nasty chemicals in lots of things, which there are. Did you know cotton wool has a legal exposure limit due to its fibres? None of us are about to stop using it because the legal exposure limit is quite high.

So do we trust that these products fall within safe limits? The issue for me is that some countries have higher limits than others.

You can buy blackout curtains without PBDE's (from the article) if it makes you feel better.

I think if we start worrying about thse things we would be chucking everything out!

[WinterOfOurDiscountTents15]

GaiamLife? Really? If you're trying to sniff out the bullshit you might want to start with better sources. Like, way better.

First of all, what chemicals are you concerned are in the material?
Once you have established what is there, by what mechanism do you think the chemical is going to be absorbed into the body?
If you can establish that there are in fact certain chemicals and how they are going to be absorbed, what proof is there of any harm to humans? What is it? What levels, what chances?

All you have a vague notion from green living websites lacking in any scientific data.

[TinyMonkey]

Sarah, I recognise your name from your many previous threads regarding similar worries about various household items. I hope you are talking to someone regarding your anxiety and that it's proving helpful.

We have Dunelm Mill blackout curtains in our baby daughter's room and she is fine. It wouldn't even occur to me to be something to worry about tbh. Please try to stop googling.

[GuybrushThreepwoodMP]

We have the same curtains I think. Not occurred to me to worry about the safety, but my god they stink! It's nasty.

[TakesTwoToTango]

We have new, cheap blackout curtains too that smell. I ventilate the room before going to bed and sleep with the windows open. I think that's a perfectly adequate compromise.

[Number3cometome]

sarah00001

Hi Sarah, haven't read through this thread because as soon as I saw your name I knew what this would be about.

I think now is certainly the time to speak to your GP about your anxieties - you have posted many times about worries that you have, and although I know you are near the end of your pregnancy I do deeply worry that you may be suffering from something that needs to be dealt with now.

Your worries are not going to disappear when baby is born and I am concerned they may only get worse and you may not enjoy the first few weeks with your baby if you are worrying.

Please please seek some help now my lovely x

[ArwenAesSedai]

Dear Sarah,
I saw the various posts implying that you were worrying too much and I just wanted to say:

1. I worried about it too (that’s how I found this thread when I googled PFOA + fumes)
   
2. I did find that the brand new blackout curtains I purchased for my child’s nursery released a horrible smell and gave me raging headaches
   
3. You are right to worry about PFOAs as this study proves:
   

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/31/pfas-toxic-forever-chemicals-air-breathing
I hope this helps