Higher levels of the potentially harmful plastic chemicals known
as phthalates have been detected in the bodies of children from
homes with PVC flooring. Phthalates are a group of chemicals
widely used in the production of common consumer goods such as
toys, cleaning solvents and packaging. The substances are
suspected to cause several chronic health conditions such as
asthma and allergies especially in children. Some phthalates are
categorized among endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which
can cause significant harm to human and other species health by
interfering with the body’s hormone systems. Researchers from
Karlstad University in Sweden have found that children can
ingest these softening agents with food but also by breathing
and through the skin. They took urine samples from 83 randomly
selected children between the ages of two and six months and
measured the prevalence of four types of phthalates. The results
revealed that the levels of certain phthalates were higher in
babies that had PVC floorin