Phthalates in PVC flooring materials can be absorbed by children's bodies, a new study shows.
These chemicals -- which are suspected to cause asthma, allergies and other chronic diseases in children -- can be ingested with food, by breathing and through the skin, according to the researchers at Karlstad University in Sweden.
Phthalates are softening agents found in construction materials and in many consumer products, including toys, cleaning solvents and packaging. PVC flooring contains phthalates, and research has shown that flooring is a significant source of indoor dust in homes.
In this study, researchers analyzed urine samples from 83 children, aged 2 months to 6 months, and found that levels of certain phthalates (MBzP, which is related to BBzP) were higher in babies that had PVC flooring in their bedrooms.