LVT and phthalate potential health issues

1. PHTHALATE ON HEALTH AND
CHILDREN'S METABOLISM
The Right Choice of Flooring such as today’s highly popular revisited vinyl, the Luxury Vinyl
Tile/Planks can help mitigate the worries and offer a better hard-surface solution than others with
potential health related issues. The LVT can also mimic the softer category in cosmetics and
functional elements. While many underplay the health issues the dangerous are more than
apparent in chemistry and still a large percentile do not comply to plasticizers deemed “not ideal”.
Mahesh Subramanian
Consultant, MS chemical Engineering/Material science/Chemistry and PhD candidate
For LVT the best choice of Hard Surfaces

2. THE FLOORING MARKET- A COMPLEX
MAZE AND NOT SO GREEN
• The flooring market is a multibillion dollar surface covering industry and all floor coverings due to immense challenges,
faces its issues highlighted by competing arts to gain market-grounds.
• The issues revolve around health and dust primarily with soft and hard-surfaces and Vinyl (as many kinds) faces questions
and these can be allergy, formaldehyde, phthalates, the Chlorine, the Fluorine, the Isocyanates, and other incineration
events leading to heavy metals/organic waste in manufacturing as catalyst. The wall coverings and boards are also party to
unfriendly ingredients. All are well documented and still in existence.
• The coldness of tiles from ceramic and porcelain and marble and equivalents faces a different appeal and lower impact
resistance and need to protect from water and dirt still.
• There is noise and flame retardant issues in all surfacing
• There is the issues on how the floorings beginnings from polymer making with respect to Heavy metal used in catalyst to
make and to cure, to fibers for boards/panels and wood harvesting events creating the “green” effect story.
• Can we recycle is a major discussion and if yes can it be used in same product and guarantee performance? Most claim and
use other materials and create a negative appeal and danger.
• How do we clean and how much do we spend to clean?
• What is the predicted longitivity?
• Then there is the hybrid elements such as the engineered floors and Wood Plastic composite and softer materials -tiles look
alike and right fully justified. The cosmetics and feel may be different but can serve the environment aspects to a greater
extent.
• Most importantly comes the cost and support warranty acknowledgement and always the battle of homegrown and
imports.
Need to continually strive to make flooring a safer product for use
and we all try and some more closer

3. Related building products graph - depiction of all materials –
Available in various search engines
The polymers, ceramics and others have increased 25% over the metals growth (stagnant) from 2005 to 2015
Increasing emphasis lies in non petroleum based products for polymers and use of nano technologies and
improved carbon foot print, and in metals the use of light weight metals and transition metals have shown
growth in energy savings and solid state battery technologies with hybrid mix of “Other” fibers

4. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS LVT AND POLYMERS
AND ITS IMPACT AND VIRTUES OVER OTHER MATERIALS
• Where does 30million tonnes of PVC go? Construction is the biggest in pipes. It is the largest
consuming polymer and only poly-olefins of all categories such as LDPE, HDPE, PP to name a few
mirrors PVC. The PVC was claimed to be slowing down but LVT category and a sense to address issues
of plasticizers and recycling at approximately 1 billion ton has helped improve dynamics of polymer
acceptance. The average consumption is 35billion sq.ft at 3.5mm thickness. In many regions of world
the use of resilient is still to grow to 2% level of flooring and is potentially a good prospect indicating
how much potential exists and right chemicals used.
The demand of PVC will grow higher in high population
countries as GNP reaches $500/year @ 14%

5. WHERE DOES NON PVC CONSUMPTION STAND? IT IS PROPOSED IN
MANY CASES AND FOSSIL FUEL HAS HELPED MORE IN USA FOR
THERMOPLASTIC POLY-OLEFINS LATELY
Packaging has helped Asian countries in PET
Not included are bioplastics but most plastics of bio derived face big dimensional problems and temperature of
use issues due to crystalline morphology mixed, and certain olefins are lower density polymers and not
completely a resilient category in practice theoretically but as extender. This effort will continue and needs to be
encouraged as morphology of polymers can be altered. There is a big cost factor of supply demand. So the events
of “safe” LVT and application still supersede the other polymers that some proponents of companies of alternative
polymers still continue to invest in PVC methodologies for a good reason. The new plasticizers are more expensive
than PVC many folds and have to be used for good practices and consumers educated on chemicals which can be
harmful.

6. VARIOUS POLYMERS AND WHY PVC STANDS-OUT AS BEST CHOICE, AND
WARP IS NOT IDEAL FOR OLEFINIC POLYMERS DESPITE PROCESSING WAYS
FOR LVT CORE AND TRUE RESILIENCY/ A TRUE NON-PVC IS YET TO ARRIVE
MATCHING ALL FEATURES OF TRUE-FLOAT AND USE WITHOUT GLASS-FIBER
Polymer Expansion % - DS dimensional stability Comment
PVC 0.25 Virgin PVC and extrude to press directly
and calendaring
PVC fillers <0.005 75% CaCO3- ideal/needs plasticizer at
30%+
PVC with fillers and glass fiber-non woven
mesh
<0.08 Processing to interleave and GF not
necessary
PLA 0.5+ Great story but is not feasible as was tried
and floor buckled in a week!
HDPE 0.6 Stiffness is great for flatness but expansion
not ideal
LLDPE 0.35+ A great solution but lower temperature at
80C of melt for control of process
LLDPE with fillers 0.35 80% boiler ash and or coated CaCO3 else
expansion will take place, but water
absorption at 0.2% can effect DS
LLDPE with fillers and Glass fiber 0.22 Improved but temperature limitation can
increase crystallinity to 35%
LLDPE/C-Olefins with fillers and Glass fiber
temperature >130C and fast cooling at 15F
press plate and appropriate film chemistry
0.10 to 0.25 Adds to cost with chillers and anisotropic
with press either oil based or AIR pressure-
floating and not to exceed 20bar/ flow
issues as prefer >30bar. Extrusion like PVC
not easy when in melt, but when cooled
offers 2X impact and tensile strength over
PVC but a right choice plasticizer can help
PVC like premium LVT in AUTO show
rooms!
The non PVC films include PP or PE or PET or PC for décor side film on top and has issues on DS at 0.35%
PETG/Acrylic and other wood/synthetic polymers
/Fibers are also used for flooring. What is
now important as always to use right fillers (need for
modulus/stiffness/cost), which are not harmful to
respiratory/lung and ovarian cancers. Natural is better
but morphology of filler shape is critical.

7. PLASTICIZER USE IS NECESSARY TO MAKE PVC FLEXIBLE AND THERE ARE THE GOOD AND THE
SUSPECTED BAD ONES WHICH HAS BEEN USED IN PLENTY OVER THE YEARS THAT WILL LINGER FOR
2000 YEARS WITH HALF LIFE ON SIMILAR TERMS
The use in cosmetic fragrances/soaps/cleaners not included.
50% of phthalates produced is consumed in building and interior
products. DEHP/DIDP/DINP/BBP are common plasticizers used and
suggestively been asked to be removed from formulations at 60%
extensions, despite some typical backlashes as has approached
maximum possible exposure limits and statistically proven at 2 to 3X
levels than recommended in urine analysis in stricken patients from
reproductive to cancerous cases. They are classified as pollutants,
linked to Asthma, Autism cases as they break down with slow
hydrolysis, breast cancer and breast milk inducing more than 3X
levels in Kids/Babies as is a measure of Kilogram. It is easily soluble
in fat. Obesity is the biggest problem in many countries and a link?
2miilion pounds produced in US alone, and equates 25% of
extension and 20,000 ppm when leached out every year! DEHP in
exposure measurements is suggestively to be more than PCB/DDT!
While the requirement set is <20ppm exposure. All samplings have
shown some levels of phthalates and is a concern at 0.2ppm in urine
and as high as 40ppm. Above 20ppb is a reproductive issue.

8. THE OTHER POLLUTANTS WHICH
ARE ON WATCH LIST
What is obvious is like phthalates the cleaners
are more dangerous and cleaning of the surfaces need
more attention too and may leach out more ingredients too!
Not mentioned are formaldehyde which acidic cleaners can
diffuse. This is where unlike other surfaces, as LVT with right
coating requires little effort to clean and is a closed surface. It
is an ideal case for commercial/ Hospitals/ Hotels/ Food
courts/ Malls. It is estimated the cost of savings with ease of
cleaning and time and simple cleaner formulas one can save
15c/sq.ft maximum that in 15 years or less of commercial use
will pay the premium LVT floor for itself!

9. Different plasticizer in the PVC world and for a layman all appears same but the constriction
of extended chain groups and molecular weight and strain places an important role in
hindrance. This does not mean we stop testing in defense but need to be aware of
environmental causes and means to provide safe floors. The DOTP (and others) are recommended.
Why would not all use it? It is the question of meeting cost expectations and failure to check
recycled PVC and in essence to satisfy one cause they forget other basic fundamental.

10. THE LEACHING OF PLASTICIZER!
Different tests are recommend from GC to head space and FTIR
(portable) for analysis
DINCH is safer as can see and DOTP
follows same category and is used in LVT commonly
Many floorings in LVT categoryopenly depict the types used.

11. HOW IS THE WORLD MOVING TO
REPLACING PHTHALATES?
Green in the bar graph of replacing DEHP and
premium LVT has adopted this in 2008 during its
conception
The addition of particles – dust aids increased emission

12. AUTISM AND EFFECTS - CHOICE BY PREMIUM LVT
FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT
The DEHP and hydrolysis and effected cells and Healthy cells clearly Shows
the extracts from samples are 3X and is a clear Indication of why
phthalates used in many tiles from Vinyl needs to be taken out.
This is a factor and is dear to many in its design on a personal
level to make it clean and use natural fillers and address facts.

13. FLOORING MARKET GRAPHICS
sales in Billions
The resilient will grow double digit and will take over softer and other hard
surface areas as is more versatile and provides a better balance of properties.
The investments will continue for next 5 years to drive the sales globally and
likely Will see more greener events. Soft coverings will also see greener
polymer from PET to PP to Nylon, but the vibrant aspects of hard surface is
unique and will not change the trend of flatness in soft Materials of carpet.
The hybrids will hold a new category.
Green resources will cost more and recycling is important but damaging too
and need research and investment.

14. THE TREND IN PHTHALATE
The flooring tiles were sampled from five national flooring retailers:
Ace Hardware, build.com, Lowe's, Lumber Liquidators, and
Menards. Samples were acquired from retailers in seven different
states.
Highlights of Findings from Flooring Study:
Most Vinyl tile flooring samples tested contained one or more
hazardous chemicals. Fifty eight percent of vinyl flooring tiles tested
contain phthalate plasticizers, which are hazardous and are subject to
a pending ban in the European Union. Moreover, almost all (89
percent) of vinyl flooring samples tested contained organic tin-based
stabilizers. Over half of the samples tested contained multiple
plasticizers.
Home Depot has made a commitment to phase out phthalates by the
end of 2015, and others yet to propose a firm statement
Some retailers, manufacturers and brands are better than others.
 The poorest performing retailers: Lumber Liquidators and Ace
Hardware, had phthalates in 100 of the flooring samples tested.
 Lowe’s (48 percent), Menards (23 percent) and build.com (25
percent) also had products tested which contained phthalates.
 premium LVT is free of such heavy metals and phthalates from
day one.
Even Europe is slower in adopting

15. RECYCLE CONTENT IN PVC
AND EFFORTS
The recycling efforts is at <10% and increasingly proposed
But given the presence of other phthalates the danger
persists. There needs to be a greater classification of content.
Manufactures using specially formulated virgin PVC and long term
specific Recycling ways will be from the known product replaced will
have better control. This will be true of all flooring eventually to
monitor and only carpet is getting
closer at specific grades as softness and cosmetics do matter.
PVC withstands flame but when burnt
can cause dioxins and other polymers
support flame more and has issues of
catalyst in making, from heavy metals too,
so regardless of push from groups
appropriate chemicals and recycling will
play a role in disposal. This is a must
Requirement when one researches product.

16. VIRTUES OF NEW PLASTICIZERS
The industry is moving from phthalates and
one can see its demand and most LVT manufacturers uses
DOTP and similar chemistries
and its use is split in all categories depicted in pie
charts and is a big effort to accomplish free of
Phthalate eventually, unless a ruling much in lines
of formaldehyde comes to force, despite testing
and relation to human health factors proven.

17. GIVEN THE ISSUES WITH PHTHALATE –
SELECTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS?
The molecular weight and steric angles play a role with molecular weight aiding resiliency, no VOC and
the appropriate choice of plasticizer will aid with fillers other features of anti germ, FR improvement and
Acoustic, COF, stability and ease of loose lay – factors few LVT is designed to promote and patented.
Safer plasticizer have been
around for 40 years!

18. LVT-VIRTUES AND HEALTH AND WHY HOSPITALS!
Anti germs and bacteria
free and additional events
can be offered but a closed
A film with right coating, there
is a built-in feature.
Not all LVT passes all these
Tests in ASTM and is
GREENGUARD Certified too.
Some have FR and
Acoustical ways
surpassing typically
Other floors! Taber and wear
is conducted by many
ways. One can get
LEED points too. Baby bottle
Safe chemistry is to be at
our thoughts all the time.
Tests suggest you save 25% in effort

19. WHY LVT? AND WHY PREMIUM LVT?
• The infections in hospitals kills 37000 patients in EU and cleaning will play a role and LVT
comes to the fore in stopping bacteria and ease of cleaning!
• The LVT optimizes cleaning, no need for harmful ingredients in solution-pays for itself
• No damage when heavy items dropped and if floating like Premium LVT you can selectively
replace plank or Tile.
• Resistant to most chemical attacks unlike other floors. Premium LVT can clean up permanent
markers/can use mild bleach/ can stop a bullet too in some cases!
• It can stop a flame for reasonable time and will not smell or smoke or drip like phthalate ones!
• Can be explored as wall coverings and ceilings with special films and is clean
• Creates an open and dynamic vibrant environment due to color and texture schemes
• Can be cut and marked for signs
• No fade in UV light
• Furniture and other equipment cannot damage corners
• Check Vinyl Plus a member of Green Industry Platform – UNIDO/UNIEP
• The resiliency of décor films helps to contour the cosmetics to all textures and offers good COF
at >0.6 to aid non-slipping. The sandwich of layers offers many possibilities of antiskid backs
• Most Premium LVT is the highest in class for stability and has no Glass Fiber and is a big point
to note as flatness and flexibility are not compromised!

20. TESTING FOR PHTHALATES AND
HEAVY METALS
• Heavy metals can be analyzed by XDRF and or acid digestion to ICP or EDS or XPS
• The organic plasticizer can be analyzed with FTIR after extraction
• The PVC can be analyzed with Flame or pyrolysis and FTIR of Vapor condensed
• The head space analysis and GC can be useful for many ways to test real events of particulates and
outgassing,as the oily plasticizer is not easy to detect. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/about/index.html
• In Humans the urine analysis is a good show tell as fatty elements can absorb and others not.
ICP-inductive coupled plasma/XDRF-X-ray Fluorescence/EDS-energy dispersive spectroscopy
FTIR-Fourier Transform Infra Red and other tests can be DSC (differential scanning calorimetry)and
GC-Gas Chromatography – info: call manufactures of LVT

21. PHTHALATE AND TECHNICAL DETAILS
• MEP phthalate has been linked to breast cancer in Mexico study and a 4 fold increase, or 68% increase in breast
cancer. 434 women and 221 healthy ones in sampling. Many possible theories proposed but all agreed to a linkage.
• Children products banned from 2009 in US for imported ones especially.
• Healthystuff.org publishes the facts
• 1/3rd of product definitely contains unhealthy plasticizers and a dangerous trend as 90% have measureable trends in US.
• It has been proven phthalates reduces the efficiency of chemo treatments making it a worse scenario potentially
• Many states have issued events that phthalates needs to be disclosed on types.
• Phthalates are used in nail, shampoo and fragrance too and serious concern
• It has been reported that phthalates causes breast enlargement in pre-puberty women and has links to breast cancer prognosis at
increased levels.
• Used in car-care, toys , plastic containers, shower curtains and insecticides
• Intravenous, plasma storage bags have increased dosage also.
• Certain countries such as Lebanon and UAE have most cases related to breast cancer and chemical scrutiny has been advice to such
chemical groups removal. Pediatric cancer rate of 9.2% a increase over the years are noted.
• There will be 70% increase in cases in cancer cases for 40-55 years of age in breast cancer predominantly in women and many in
middle-east.
• Phthalate are endocrine disruptors and interrupts many other hormonal events which is published in medical journals all over.

22. IN SHORT
The best way is early detection and educational programs and laws which can ban potential dangerous chemicals well proven to cause
health problems in modern day communicating ways. As producers we need to be conscious of the resources we use in market and be
proactive as most chemical use and events will see a push back from groups and lobbies and in many cases it is about cost of product
and survival. Manufactures of LVT has a personal agenda to carry on the health factor events and provide superior performance and
worry free products from select manufactures, a step ahead of the rules and make it aware to consumers what is ideal. Technology and
investment comes with a price and a cheaper product in LVT is invariably not compliant.

23. LIVING IN A BUBBLE?
Why live in a bubble and you can neither have aerosol
or be dry as formaldehyde and phthalate can work
against each other?!
Living Free of worries and use of certified LVT, as need not be
concerned with formaldehyde or phthalate and live healthy with
best warranty in class and if floated free as the best in class to lay it
on floor, with the lowering of carbon foot print is ideal! Researching
quickly one can easily see a few and FreeFit (referenced with site)
for example is vociferous and has many features in a LVT and
mentions chemistry and interaction as their way to promoting a
greener, VOC free, best in FR and flexible floating product. There
are other flooring companies to name a few, such as Tarkett, IVC
and Shaw are using friendlier plasticizers too but the events of
promotion still needs to be a prime event and not just complying.
Thank you to many friends in
The flooring industry for their
input and to get the message
out as clean air has no short cuts.
Let’s strive to make it greener and
a old art has the best chance to
acceptance satisfying all properties

24. REFERENCES
Environmental impacts of polyvinyl chloride building materials – Joe
PLASTIC AND BREAST CANCER TREATMENT BY BERKSON
New Study Finds Toxic Chemicals Widespread in Flooring Sold by Top Retailers World’s Largest Home Improvement Retailer, Home Depot, Commits to Phase Out of Phthalates in Flooring by
End of 2015 Tony Iallonardo, 202-503-8581,tonyIallonardo@saferchemicals.org Jeff Gearhart, Ecology Center, 734-369-9276,jeffg@ecocenter.org
Phthalates exposure may double breast cancer risk ... or not Mar 19, 2010 López-Carrillo, L, RU Hernández-Ramírez, AM Calafat, L Torres-Sánchez, M Galván-Portillo, LL Needham, R Ruiz-Ramos and ME Cebrián. 2010.
Exposure to phthalates and breast cancer risk in northern Mexico. Environmental Health Perspectives. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.0901091. Synopsis by Jonathan Chevrier, Ph.D. and Kathleen M. McCarty, Sc.D.
Cancer cases increasing at alarming rate: Zawya Lebanon:Abu Faour
www.healthybuilding.net/uploads/files/environmental-
impacts-of-polyvinyl-chloride-building-materials.pdf
U.S. law requires less formaldehyde in wood products- USA Today/2010-july-signed by Obama
http://freefitfloors.com/
http://www.agilent.com
/cs/library/applications/
5991-3649EN.pdf