Instagram doctor reveals the common bathroom item that can cause cancer and why

A doctor has revealed on social media why you should get rid of your plastic shower curtain, claiming it could raise the risk of certain cancers. 

Dr Scott Noorda, a functional medicine physician in Utah, recently uploaded a reel to Instagram claiming that plastic curtains could release harmful chemicals, which have been linked to immune system damage, fertility issues, and other serious illnesses. 

Dr Noorda, 41, recommends swapping out curtains made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), one of the most widely produced synthetic plastics in the world. It is used in construction, food packaging, wiring, and clothing like rain boots. 

He told NeedToKnowUK: ‘Most people use their plastic shower curtain every single day without any idea that it could be causing not only things like headaches, and irritation, but also potentially contributing to major issues like infertility and an increased risk of cancer.’

Dr Scott Noorda, a functional medicine physician in Utah, recently uploaded a reel to Instagram claiming that plastic curtains could release harmful chemicals, which have been linked to immune system damage, fertility issues, and other serious illnesses

Dr Noorda instead urged viewers to ‘Get a fabric shower curtain and ditch the plastic one ASAP.’

PVC is one of the most commonly used microplastics in the world. It is utilized in window frames, drainage pipes, paint, food containers, and clothing like rain boots. PVC itself is not a carcinogen, or a material that causes cancer, but its components have been linked to certain cancers.

PVC contains the colorless gas vinyl chloride, which is a combustion material in tobacco smoke. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), vinyl chloride has been associated with an increased risk of liver, brain, and lung cancers, as well as lymphoma and leukemia. 

In particular, exposure to vinyl chloride has been linked to hepatic angiosarcoma, a rare cancer that develops in the inner lining of blood and lymph vessels, according to NCI. Though it can occur anywhere, it is most common in the skin, breast, liver, and spleen. 

Symptoms of this cancer in the liver include abdominal pain, weight loss, distention or swelling in the stomach, jaundice, and fatigue.  

Only one of one million people in the US will be diagnosed with angiosarcoma, and most patients are over 70 years old. Only three percent of patients with liver angiosarcoma will live past two years, according to federal data. 

The NCI estimates more than 41,000 Americans will be diagnosed with liver cancer this year, and more than 29,000 will die. The survival rate after five years is just 22 percent.

Dr Noorda also said that PVC can damage immune, reproductive, and hormonal health. And these chemicals are increasingly prevalent. 

An Australian study published in June, for example, found that the average person inhales the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of microplastics every week.  

And a study published earlier this summer in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that microplastics like PVC were found in blood samples and heart tissues of patients who had surgery. 

Exposure to such chemicals could leave people with symptoms such as headaches, nausea, loss of coordination and irritation in the ears, nose or throat.

Dr Noorda suggested ditching the plastic curtain and looking for alternatives without PVC. ‘Look for a fabric curtain that is made from a natural machine-washable material, such as cotton or linen,’ he said. 

‘Avoid curtains that are made with PVC or other harmful chemicals. Consider a glass shower door as a more permanent and sustainable option.’

‘People need to know that common, everyday items could be decreasing their quality of life.’

‘It’s especially tragic when it’s such an inexpensive and easy thing to change.’