Jan.07.2010
11:14 pm
by scribblekat
Is your yoga mat green or ghastly?
The low-tech nature of yoga makes it a green and natural way to stay fit. Or is it?
The problem is that the main ingredient of yoga mats is full of environmental toxins, particularly PVC (polyvinyl chloride), possibly the most toxic plastic and a known cancer risk.
When yoga mats are made, other toxins such as dioxins are released into the atmosphere. Toxic plasticizers are used to make the mats soft and sticky. Other chemicals may also make it into the toxic mix, like lead, cadmium, and phthalates. Many studies have shown that phthalates disrupt the endocrine system, so you really want to avoid them whenever possible, but especially when you’re pregnant.
This chemical stew leaches out or off-gases when you’re using the mat. But it doesn’t end there. PVC is difficult to recycle, so once the mats are thrown away, they end up in landfills and seep into the groundwater.
Several green advocacy organizations, including the Plastics Recycling Coalition, Health Care Without Harm, Greenpeace, the Center for Environmental Health, and Green Sangha, are fighting to phase out PVC or at least minimize its use.
So what’s a pregnant person to do?
A few alternatives to the standard sticky mat do exist, but most people find them less sticky. Some are too slippery, others have a strange aroma of rubber. Other so-called green mats still contain PVC for stickiness, although they did ditch some of the chemical additives. Whatever you decide, shop wisely and think green.
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