Despite the health and environmental concerns raised about vinyl siding some proponents of vinyl siding such as those at the vinyl siding institute a trade association believe the dangers are exaggerated and that vinyl siding is a good option for homeowners.
Is vinyl siding bad to your health.
Unfortunately many people install it with a foam backing which then ends up trapping the moisture behind the siding where it has no place to go.
Occasional exposure generally isn t a big deal for a healthy individual but chronic occupational is.
According to the chej the entire lifespan of the pvc material is harmful.
Low maintenance is a tempting argument for the busy parent or hard working family and can sound like a dream.
Unlike pine board or cedar this durable material will not rot or flake.
It s just common sense that breathing dust of any kind isn t good for you.
The vinyl siding institute asserts that vinyl siding may prevent fires due to its fire retardant properties.
In fact the technical and environmental objections to vinyl siding are mistaken.
Installing vinyl siding is enticing especially the prospect of never having to paint your home.
However if your house catches fire the siding will release high levels of lethal chemical vapors.
And it s not just fire that makes it hazardous.
People working in or living near a vinyl manufacturing plant are exposed to the most health dangers and are at the greatest risk for cancer neurological damage birth defects and lung and kidney disease.
It can also enter through your skin and in some cases you could breathe lead into your lungs.
Studies are inconclusive as to whether applying vinyl siding to homes causes health problems for residents.
As vinyl siding ages it continues to release low levels of the same harmful chemicals that were produced during the manufacturing process.
Actually burning vinyl siding isn t the only hazard associated with pvc.
Because the chemicals used in vinyl siding manufacturing can be hazardous to your health.
The industry has the science and extensive testing to prove it the product is not flammable it s not toxic the manufacturing does not impact the environment any more than wood siding and a lot less than competitors like masonry and fiber cement.
You can get lead in your body if you drink liquid that contains lead such as water that has passed through lead pipes.
Vinyl is most dangerous when being manufactured and during disposal.
The production of pvc requires a series of chemical reactions.
Vinyl siding is itself water resistant and when it s installed without backing it can act as a natural rainscreen allowing water to drain out from behind it.
Vinyl siding can be hazardous to your health the occupational safety and health administration osha mandates exposure limits for workers in vinyl siding plants for a reason.
