BE HEALTHY: Say No to Vinyl Plastic Products

Target, the nation's fifth largest retailer announced that their stores are phasing out sales of products containing polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC) or just plain vinyl in 2008. They join Wal-Mart, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, and Apple in doing the same--eliminating or reducing PVC in products and packaging. Testing has found lead and phthalates (reproductive toxins) and when incinerated, PVC is a major source of dioxin in the atmosphere.

Besides toys, lunchboxes, backpacks, and bibs, PVC is a material used to make vinyl shower curtains, which experts say can contaminate air quality for up to 30 days. One safer alternative is to buy shower curtain liners made from ethylene vinyl acetate. An even better alternative is to buy a shower curtain made from 100% cotton or hemp. Water beads right off so you can eliminate the liner altogether.