The modern goods industry is simply obsessed with environmentally friendly products that do not emit toxic substances and do not harm the human body. And, indeed, this trend cannot but rejoice.

Canadian scientists and environmentalists emphasize that it is worth considering one very important aspect of the manufacture of plastic windows. Polyvinyl chloride itself is a powder that is mixed and diluted with other completely harmless chemicals. Thus, a mixture of polyvinyl chloride in a diluted state is inactive, that is, it is not capable of harming the microclimate or the human body. In this review, we will consider other conjectures and denials about the harmfulness of PVC windows.

Hypothesis 1 – Plastic Emits Harmful Substances

Indeed, polyvinyl chloride (the basis of a plastic window) contains chlorine, ethylene, phthalic compounds, and other chemicals that are in a bound state. But they can be released into the environment only under the influence of very high temperatures (over 225 °C), which occurs during active ignition.

The lead in the profiles has been replaced with zinc and calcium salts. This did not worsen the quality of the profiles but increased their environmental friendliness.

Therefore, the arguments about the dangers of PVC are many times exaggerated and taken out of context. In fact, this concern applies only to those profiles that are made in non-certified industries from second-rate raw materials. Therefore, it is important to choose windows from reliable manufacturers, and this problem can be avoided.

To eliminate the possibility of acquiring toxic low-quality windows, and such products are usually cheap, unattractive and of incomprehensible origin, you should follow some simple rules:

• Ask the distributor (manufacturer) for certificates of conformity and quality for profiles, double-glazed windows, fittings. Also, find out if he has documents confirming the safety of his products in the form of a conclusion of a sanitary and epidemiological examination;
• Choose a manufacturer that does not use toxic additives in the production of PVC.

Hypothesis 2 – There Is No Natural Ventilation in Plastic Windows

In closed, airtight, properly installed PVC windows, there really is no natural air circulation between the room and the street. The design was developed for this purpose initially. All well-known manufacturers in the memo for the consumer first of all indicate the need to regularly ventilate the room.

How to fix it? To do this, high-quality products provide the function of ventilation or micro-ventilation. Also, a popular solution is supply ventilation valves (installed in the frame), as well as profiles with an air channel.

Hypothesis 3 – Harmful Light from Plastic Windows

There is an opinion that due to the passage through several glasses with given characteristics, light rays change their configuration and can harm a person.

Sunlight is made up of rays of different wavelengths. The most dangerous for humans are ultraviolet rays. They provoke the formation of melanin and can cause burns on the body and retina of the eyes, but are subject to a long stay in the summer under the scorching sun. Living in a southern climate with the constantly active sun without the use of sunscreen can also provoke melanoma, a skin cancer, over time.

For glazing plastic windows, ordinary glass and improved (tinted, energy-efficient) glass are used. None of the types distort the light coming from the street, on the contrary, some coatings specifically do not let the ultraviolet spectrum of rays through.

Summing Up

Having studied all the above speculations, a single line can be traced — everything that is attributed to the “terrible features” of PVC windows is fiction. When properly maintained, PVC windows are quite harmless. For maximum confidence in the quality of products, it is enough to choose a reliable and trusted manufacturer with certified products.