Choosing to furnish your floor with vinyl flooring is not an easy decision. In fact, many people agree that vinyl flooring is a good option and the best alternative. However, others would consider vinyl flooring as an unsafe and toxic option due to several reasons such as its chemical composition. The easiest answer will be in the following paragraphs.
Vinyl Floor: Composition and Raw Materials
Let’s first take a look at the composition and raw materials of Vinyl flooring.
Polyvinyl chloride or vinyl resins, plasticizers defined as high molecular weight solvents, colors, trace stabilizers, and a carrier sheet or backing are the main elements of vinyl floor coverings. Felt or heavily packed paper composed of wood pulp and calcium carbonate might be used as the backing. Vinyl sheets or tiles with high-gloss surfaces have a final polyurethane coating put on them. Some vinyl tiles have glue applied to the back to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive. This glue is comprised of organic resins.
What is Phthalate?
So, after having a look at the composition of vinyl flooring, it could be concluded, from other research as well, that the main component is phthalate.
What is this material? In fact, Phthalates defined as a series of chemical substances. Those materials mainly used as plasticizers added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics for softening effects. Phthalates, a type of plasticizer, added to plastics or PVC (vinyl) to make them more flexible, durable, and transparent. However, phthalates considered toxic substances. In reality, phthalates can potentially disrupt the endocrine system.
The chemical composition of vinyl flooring, having phthalates as a main component considered one of the main reasons why people will think that vinyl flooring is a bad option.
On the other hand, nowadays, manufacturers now tend to utilize a reduced level of phthalates. In addition, other studies have also confirmed that at regular exposures, commercial items comprising phthalates are safe and won’t harm people.
So, to cut a long story short it could be concluded that vinyl flooring being now synthesized in a safer option and composition.
Vinyl Floor: Outcomes
Some people might also ask about the other outcomes of vinyl flooring.
Beyond any doubt, vinyl flooring might have other consequences at many levels.
It should be noted first that prolonged exposure to the substance is phthalate. Unfortunately, this may result in a variety of health troubles, particularly issues with fertility.
During the composition of vinyl flooring, the phthalate releases a quantity of VOCs further into the air. It’s for just a brief period of time after deployment because the chemicals mainly phthalate utilized in the final production chain of LVP. As a result of the materials contaminating the air, you breathe it in and it enters your body. It might eventually result in respiratory problems as a consequence. By leaving the window open for a few days to clear the room of VOCs, you can easily resolve this problem. We advise you to get LVP flooring from a reputable retailer like Home Depot that produces few volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
