Researchers and government agencies warn that vinyl bean bags cause various forms of cancer. Memory foam is also known to cause cancer. These products must carry warning labels when sold in California. We recently completed a meta-analytic research project. The study shows that vinyl bean bags pose significant health risks to children and adults. The research reveals increased rates of cancer and congenital disabilities in people who spend time around vinyl bean bags. The same risks are also present in memory foam. Officials in California require all manufacturers and distributors of vinyl bean bags to affix Proposition 65 warning labels to all products.
Vinyl Causes Significant Health Risks
Several medical studies conducted within the past decade determine that vinyl fabric may pose several serious health risks. The first problem with vinyl is that it off-gasses vinyl chloride. Vinyl chloride is a colourless gas associated with numerous illnesses. Also, long-term medical conditions and terminal diseases. When people inhale vinyl chloride, they may experience the following side effects:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Eye irritation
- Respiratory tract irritation
Vinyl Is A Group A Human Carcinogen
Vinyl bean bags contain vinyl chloride. When exposure to vinyl chloride increases over time, the risk of developing a severe medical condition also increases. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified this compound as a Group A human carcinogen. A few of the conditions caused by vinyl chloride exposure are as follows:
- Disruption of the central and peripheral nervous systems
- Kidney failure
- Liver disease
- Bone and joint deterioration
- Decreased male fertility
- Increased risk of congenital disabilities
- Higher risk of miscarriage
- Brain, lung and liver cancer
Vinyl Bean Bags Contain Other Deadly Chemicals
Textile-grade vinyl is treated with other chemicals to maximise its flexibility and elasticity. One of these chemicals diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) is a plasticiser. DiNP prevents the vinyl fabric from cracking. It does so by increasing its suppleness. Medical researchers have determined that excessive exposure to this compound may cause several types of cancer. These include liver cancer, bone cancer, blood cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer and uterine cancer. In December 2013, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) concluded that DiNP is unsafe. DiNP meets all of the conditions for inclusion in the list of substances covered by Proposition 65. Also referred to as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. This list now includes more than one-thousand compounds. Products that contain them must display a health-warning label that reads as follows: “WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.” All substances on the list cause cancer, congenital disabilities or reproductive problems in at least one out of every 100,000 people. Consumers are warned to avoid bean bags that contain memory foam. Many cheap bean bags are full memory foam chunks, rather than virgin EPS beads. Unlike EPS beads, memory foam off-gasses several different chemicals that are harmful to human health. These gasses include:
- Acetone gas is toxic when inhaled.
- Dimethylformamide damages internal organs.
- Methylbenzene may cause damage to the central nervous system.
- Vinylidene chloride is a respiratory irritant with links to cancer.
About Bean Bags R Us
We offer high-quality bean bags that aren't available in other stores. We provide excellent customer service and superior quality products. Our products meet the highest standards of fabrics, comfort, practicality and aesthetic design. Our bean bag covers use durable, high-quality cotton or polyester fabrics. Our company doesn't handle inferior vinyl bean bags, nor do we sell them. We use virgin EPS bean bag beads to fill bean bags. And we do not support the use of memory foam in its products.
Would You Buy A Bean Bag Displaying This Label?
