Forbes Advisor Misleads on Vinyl Flooring

Forbes Advisor recently published a story on vinyl flooring that contains several misleading claims. We reached out to the editors but they disregarded our attempts to correct the record. We’re posted our correction request below so that readers will have all the facts.

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Samantha Allen
Home Improvement Editor
Forbes Advisor

Dear Ms. Allen, 

Your recent article in Forbes Advisor [“The Major Pros And Cons Of Vinyl Flooring,” 09/20/21] contains some inaccurate claims regarding vinyl flooring. As a representative of the Vinyl Institute, I wanted to reach out and provide you with a few important facts.

First, your piece asserts that vinyl flooring is made with “toxic chemicals.” This characterization seriously misleads readers, as it provides no context regarding the proven safety of vinyl flooring products. The statement deceives readers by irresponsibly suggesting vinyl flooring poses a health risk, when the facts indisputably show consumers are not exposed to any of the chemicals used to make these products. In the case of vinyl, the polymerization process results in an entirely inert material, exposure to which carries no human health risks.

Additionally, the piece suggests that “off-gassed” VOCs from vinyl flooring “can adversely affect health and an indoor environment.” But the author fails to provide any reliable scientific evidence supporting the claim that vinyl flooring poses any health risks to humans. The Vinyl Institute is not aware of any peer-reviewed studies performed in accordance with widely accepted scientific standards that have been published in scientific journals. 

Moreover, hundreds of vinyl flooring products are manufactured to meet the rigorous FloorScore® Standard SCS-FS-05260 for VOC emissions. And, as you may know, FloorScore is the gold standard emissions testing program for building materials.

Any implication that exposure to vinyl flooring poses a health risk is grossly misleading to readers.

Readers turn to outlets like yours for accurate, factual reporting. Unfortunately, this piece makes several irresponsible references regarding vinyl flooring. We kindly request swift action to correct these statements to ensure the public is not misled about the safety of these products.

Claims Journal Misses the Mark on PVC

Claims Journal recently published an article about chemical exposure in structure fires that made some misleading claims about PVC. When we contacted them to correct the error, they didn’t respond. We are publishing our correction request here so that readers have the facts about this important issue.

A recent piece published by Claims Journal contains a misleading claim about PVC. It asserts that “[dioxins] are formed when products containing carbon and chlorine are burned, such as plastics containing PVC.”

This statement falsely suggests that PVC is a driving source of dioxin emissions in structure fires. This is not true. Dioxin is a byproduct of nearly every burned material. Wood, prominently found in most (if not all) homes, emits a considerable number of toxins when burned, including dioxin. This was not noted in your story.

Readers of Claims Journal expect they will be given an accurate and balanced presentation of the facts. The implication that PVC is the primary source of dioxin in a structure fire fails this standard. We ask that you remove this statement from the piece so that your readers are not further misled.

GreenBiz: The construction industry's place in the new circular plastics economy

In a recent piece for GreenBiz, Matthew Kendle points out that the public conversation around plastics often conflates durable plastic products like PVC pipe with single-use plastic products such as water bottles or shopping bags. In reality, sustainability is more complicated than the media sometimes presents it, especially in the construction industry. PVC pipe has a better embodied carbon profile than alternative materials like iron and concrete. Read the whole article for more:

Plastics are not all equal

Not all plastics are bad, and consumption within the industry looks set to increase, with plastic pipes, for example, already accounting for most new pipe installations.

"Contrary to popular belief, it’s important to acknowledge that plastics in construction are often a positive thing," says Allan Sandilands, principal consultant at sustainability consultancy Resource Futures. "Many are highly durable, long lasting and permanently installed, so they’re unlikely to become marine litter."

Additionally, plastics are cost-effective, strong yet light, easily formable and easy to maintain.

[...]

From an embodied carbon perspective, plastic is far less energy intensive to produce than traditional materials such as concrete and steel, especially when recycled. It also has engineering benefits such as its high strength-to-weight ratio, durability and resistance to corrosion. Combine all those characteristics and you have an environmentally attractive proposition. 

[...]

As economies around the world grapple with how to move to a new circular plastics economy, the construction sector is well placed to become an important part of the transition.

Continue reading at GreenBiz.com.

CBS Boston Misses the Mark on PVC Pipe

A recent I-Team segment from CBS Boston on PVC pipe missed some important context and background information. We contacted the station to give the information they had missed but, unfortunately, they didn’t respond to our effort to make sure their viewers were fully informed. Here’s what they missed:

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Cheryl Fiandaca
Chief Investigative Reporter
WBZ-TV Boston

Dear Ms. Fiandaca

On behalf of the Vinyl Institute, in response to your recent I-Team segment on PVC pipe [“Plumbers say PVC is a Long-term Hazard,” 6/7/21], I write to provide some important background information -- and context -- about piping materials and installation missing from your story.

First, I am compelled to point out the one-sided nature of the story itself. While the segment devotes ample space for critics of PVC pipe to air their complaints, just one line is provided for the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association to respond. 

Second, your I-Team story was not fact based. For instance, the piece attributes a claim to an anti-PVC activist group about the use and disposal of PVC products. Had WBZ-TV contacted the Vinyl Institute, we would have raised the fact that the vast majority of PVC that’s ever been produced is still in use today, and doesn’t require nearly the type of maintenance and repairs as other materials. Additionally, we would have noted that PVC is recyclable, and that according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), just 0.8 percent of all landfilled material is PVC. 

Third, other assertions featured in the story were not given proper context. For example, viewers were not informed that PVC resin is inert, and PVC dust produced from cutting PVC pipe is considered a nuisance dust by OSHA, and as such safely falls below OHSA’s permissible exposure limit. On the other hand, cutting, grinding, and sanding iron or copper pipe has many associated dust hazards from inhalation, including metal fume fever, iron oxide-induced benign pneumoconiosis or chronic manganese poisoning. None of these facts were included in your story.

When joining PVC pipe for indoor plumbing, cleaners and solvent cements are typically used. As is the case with many aspects of indoor construction, proper protection is recommended and indoor spaces should always be properly ventilated when work is being performed. Again, this is not specific to PVC pipe; some older iron pipe joints rely on leaded joints while joining copper pipe can expose workers to aluminum oxide, copper fumes and solder flux. Viewers were given the false view that PVC pipe is somehow uniquely flawed in this regard when many materials demand protective measures to ensure the safety of the installer. Regardless of piping material used, installers need to take worker safety precautions seriously, including wearing appropriate gloves, face masks, and eye-/ear-protection when cutting and joining piping systems. 

The story also falsely calls into question the safety of PVC with respect to the EPA’s designation of vinyl chloride monomer. PVC’s safety has been evaluated and approved for use by government agencies as well as independent certification and testing bodies for over 60 years, including the EPA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). 

NSF Standard 61 assures the quality and safety of drinking water from PVC pipe and plumbing components. This Standard, first developed by the U.S. EPA in the mid-1980s, has been a requirement for U.S. water systems and codes since 1986. And according to the National Academy of Science report “Management of Legionella in Water Systems (2020), PVC plumbing also offers greater resistance to legionella disease than either copper or iron.

Your audience should have the full picture about the advantages and disadvantages of all materials used in construction applications when your station examines these important issues. Should you revisit PVC in the future, we ask that you give us the opportunity to respond to claims about the material so that we may provide your viewers the balance and context they deserve.

BobVila.com Misleads on PVC

A recent article published by BobVila.com contained a false and misleading claim about PVC. We contacted the editors of BobVila.com to inform them of the error so that it could be corrected and readers wouldn't be further misled. Unfortunately, they didn’t respond to our request. It is disappointing when media outlets betray the trust of their readers by leaving factual errors in print after they have been brought to the attention of the editors. At Vinyl Verified, we’re committed to making sure that the public has the facts. That’s why we’re publishing the correction we sent to BobVila.com:

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Kathleen Corlett
Editor-in-Chief
BobVila.com

Dear Ms. Corlett,

It has come to our attention that a recent article published by BobVila.com [“The Best Shower Mats to Prevent Slips in the Bathroom”] contains an incorrect statement about vinyl and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The story makes the following claim:

“However, both vinyl and PVC raise the potential for health concerns, typically when people are exposed to vinyl chloride in high amounts. So, weigh the risks and benefits before purchasing a shower mat made of these materials.” 

The suggestion that “vinyl and PVC raise the potential for health concerns” is false. The story links to a National Cancer Institute webpage on vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), which is not the same as PVC. This misleads readers by incorrectly conflating vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) with PVC. To ensure readers are not further misled, we request that this statement be removed immediately. 

woman&home Magazine Misleads on PVC Yoga Mats

A recent article from Woman & Home Magazine made a series of inaccurate claims about PVC yoga mats. We reached out to the editors at Woman & Home Magazine to inform them of their mistakes but they ignored us. We have a responsibility to make sure the consumers have the facts. So we are publishing the correction we sent to Woman & Home Magazine:

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Ms. Lauren Hughes
Senior Content Editor
Woman & Home Magazine

Dear Ms. Hughes,

It has come to our attention that your article [“How to pick the right yoga mat for you, whatever your budget and ability” published October 10, 2020]  contains several factual errors.

The story contains the following quote from Jamie Kent of Yoga Download:

“The main material to try to avoid when purchasing a yoga mat is PVC, which stands for polyvinyl chloride. Many everyday yoga mats are made from PVC, which is a toxic plastic. PVC has been classified as a human carcinogen and is harmful to the planet. This material does not break down easily and its toxins can be bioaccumulative, meaning tiny pieces build up in our bodies.” 

Ms. Kent’s claim that PVC is classified as “a carcinogen” is categorically false. PVC has never received any such classification by any other authoritative source. In the story, no source is provided for this claim. To ensure readers have the facts, we request that this statement be removed immediately. 

Additionally, she is wrong to claim that PVC is ‘a toxic plastic.’ PVC is an inert material that has never been demonstrated to pose any human health risks as a result of exposure to PVC yoga mats. Her claim is misleading to readers and should either be corrected or removed.

It’s also worth noting that many of the alternative materials referenced in the have serious health and environmental downsides that are not acknowledged in the piece. For example, cork contains large amounts of methylene chloride, a highly toxic extractable, which has been described as a probable human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency. And rubber can take 50-80 years to decompose naturally. 

These errors and oversights are made even more egregious by the fact that Woman & Home did not seek or publish a comment from anyone with an opposing view. Woman & Home purports to be “impartial, thorough and accurate,” to “speak to credible experts,” and to “verify all stories being published.” This is why we find it disappointing that neither the Vinyl Institute nor any other vinyl industry organization was offered an opportunity to offer a comment about PVC in connection with this story.

Nevertheless, we would like to offer the following comment for inclusion in the piece so that readers have both sides of the story: 

PVC is an inert material that has been rigorously studied for decades. It has been used safely in consumer and commercial products for more than 50 years. PVC yoga mats are durable, safe, easy to clean, and affordable for users. It’s no wonder PVC yoga mats are widely considered to be one of the most resilient and innovative options available on the market today.

We look forward to your reply.

Andrew Whelton’s Plastic Pipe Study Fails the Grade

Any valid scientific study must, first and foremost, represent real world conditions within a controlled study environment to generate meaningful, accurate and reliable results. 

We’ve touched on this topic before. But a quick look at a study by Andrew Whelton, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental and Ecological Engineering, shows he failed to meet this basic standard. The study claims to assess the impacts on water quality from damaged plastic pipe after the wildfires from Northern California. Whether Whelton’s long-standing bias against plastic influenced his methodology and conclusions is unclear. What is clear is that his flawed findings collapse under scientific scrutiny. This was in fact confirmed to have occurred by the Paradise Town Manager who said they found contamination in both metal and plastic piping after the fire.

Good scientists are like detectives – they let the facts lead the way. They don’t guide an investigation toward a predetermined outcome. They don’t create fictional laboratory scenarios that would never represent reality to condition the answers they seek. They aren’t driven by the level of news coverage they may generate for their work, the promotion they may receive from special interests, or the needless public fear their flawed research may spark. Above all, a good scientist will seek knowledge and adhere to the process of learning, rather than blindly defending results, especially if they are flawed.

Here are some of the reasons why Whelton’s study conclusions, originally published in The Conversation and reprinted by the Associated Press, Fast Company and other outlets, cannot be supported: 

• Whelton never tested an actual intact segment of plastic pipe for his research on … plastic pipe:  He cut tiny fragments from each pipe and used them as the source material for his research. This does not accurately reflect how an actual plastic pipe would respond to a real fire. Without relying on an engineering analysis on how a pipe behaves in the simulated conditions he selected, Whelton promotes the work as being representative of just that.

• Whelton then heated the fragments to an unrealistic extreme temperature that would likely compromise the structural integrity of the pipe itself. But he couldn’t account for this since he was using tiny pipe fragments, so his research doesn’t replicate how a plastic pipe would actually respond under such unrealistic laboratory conditions. Instead he selects “mass loss” as the first point at which degradation is detected, but a pipe is certain to cease holding its shape, much less holding water under pressure, at far lower temperatures.

• Whelton then took the remaining remnants and manipulated them to increase their studied surface area, which artificially skewed the leachate results. 

“If the concern is about safe water delivery,” the Vinyl Institute wrote, “then the test should reflect meaningful conditions where water is still being delivered. … If similar logic were applied to ductile iron piping, the researchers would have taken a piece of ductile iron pipe and submerged it in an acid bath to simulate the effects of acidic soil. This would of course lead to the pipe dissolving and leaching heavy metals such as chromium.  The same exaggerated approach to making broad claims would have led to a statement that “exposing ductile iron pipe to typical soil conditions can generate detectable heavy metals that remains in the pipe and ultimately leaches into the water.” 

Other organizations have challenged Whelton’s research. The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) points out that “The study done by Dr. Whelton and his group fails to present any practical, meaningful evidence of the effect of fire or heat on safe water delivery. “ 

PPI’s David Fink also stated: “There is no evidence that the heating or burning of plastic pipe is responsible for the contamination of the water system[s in Northern California].” But rather, “[a]s water is used for firefighting or it runs out, it creates a negative pressure that allows contaminants to be drawn back in. Backflow is the technical term, and it can occur regardless of the piping material.”

The town manager of Paradise, California has explained that their examination showed that plastic pipes were not the cause of benzene contamination and even pointed out that the town is replacing damaged plastic pipe with new plastic pipe.

The PVC Pipe Association recently published a report pointing out that “the primary source of benzene in forest fires is from the combustion of wood. Burning homes and other structures are secondary sources. And that “[t]he most likely source of benzene in municipal water systems after a wildfire is not from burning or melting water mains but from outside contaminants entering the system via damaged service lines. . . As water in the system is used to fight the fire, suction draws in contaminants.” And finally that “Santa Rosa and Paradise have confirmed that PVC water transmission and distribution mains were unaffected by the forest fires that impacted their communities. This fact alone makes it impossible for PVC pipe to have been a source of benzene contamination in these localities.”

These critiques call into question the methods used by Whelton and the real-world applicability of his findings. But these facts haven’t stopped the iron pipe industry from promoting Whelton’s flawed study. The large iron pipe manufacturers and their activist “consultants” have seized on it to promote their own products despite the fact that the most likely cause of benzene contamination – backflow drawing contaminants from wood combustion into the system through damaged service lines – is just as likely to happen with their products. 

The press is also to blame for reinforcing the use of crude methods by giving them far more credence than they deserve. The Associated Press reflexively published Whelton’s study, which originally appeared in a publication called The Conversation, without doing any homework of its own to assess or evaluate its scientific integrity.  Fast Company and Yahoo News did too. These outlets failed their readers and have fueled public fear by giving this study attention it simply doesn’t deserve.

MORE: The Facts About PVC Pipe and Wildfires