Is PVC Wallpaper Toxic?

I recently came across an article online where I read that PVC.org states that vinyl, commonly known as polyvinyl chloride, is a thermoplastic consisting of 43% carbon and 57% chlorine. It was then that I started wondering is PVC wallpaper toxic. I had PVC wallpaper on the walls of my house, so I was really concerned. So, I did some digging and came to know that PVC wallpaper is now the third most used plastic in the world and is used to make a very wide variety of consumer goods, including bags, bottles, toys, art, flooring, and sporting goods, to mention a few. Additionally, you should use non-toxic glue while hanging wallpaper, preferably one that doesn't include fungicides.

Is PVC wallpaper safe?

No, it is not. It is commonly recognised that the majority of plastics harm the environment. PVC has one of the worst, though. Dioxins, one of the most noticeable compounds in PVC, are particularly harmful to human health. To put things in perspective, dioxins are some of the strongest cancer-causing substances that have ever been discovered by humans.

PVC production involves a number of chemical processes. Chemical byproducts from every chemical reaction are released into the air, land, and groundwater. PVC manufacture not only endangers the environment but so does its decomposition.

Can you recycle PVC?

Theoretically, PVC can be recycled. However, because the chemicals it contains can and frequently do contaminate otherwise reusable plastics, the majority of recycling facilities do not accept PVC. As a result, it's critical to choose carefully and if feasible, refrain from using items that contain PVC. Products without PVC are safer for the environment and, as a result, simpler to get rid of.

Due to the chemical makeup of PVC, burning is not a viable disposal option. Too many dangerous chemicals are released into the atmosphere when PVC is burned. So, if you are unable to burn it or recycle it, bringing it to a landfill is your only other choice. Although it would seem like a smart idea to dispose of PVC in a landfill, it is not. Lead, mercury, chlorine, and other toxic compounds that are present in PVC continue to leach into the environment once it starts to break down in a landfill.

Wallpaper made of vinyl deteriorates with time and must be changed. This is due to the plasticizer escaping into the air, which causes the wallpaper to become rigid, yellow, and harden.

How will the used vinyl fabric be discarded? When PVC is burned, toxic substances are released into the atmosphere. To minimise the discharge of dangerous compounds, a high-performance incinerator with a fast combustion rate is required. If it can't be burned, it will be buried, but the chemicals will leach into the soil and contaminate the area.

I hope I was able to tell you is PVC wallpaper toxic or not.