A U.S. environmental non-profit organization warned last week that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shower curtains might be dangerous for our health as they shed 108 poisonous chemicals into the air after being unpacked.

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice analyzed five house-brand curtains and liners (Wal-Mart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, K-Mart and Sears) and found that the PVC shower curtains contained at least seven substances (methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene, ethylbenzene, acetophenone phenol, xylene and cumene) that are considered hazardous air pollutants. These chemicals are very dangerous for the environment and for people’s health, as well.

The “new shower curtain smell” might be a threat for lungs, central nervous system, liver and kidneys, leading to serious conditions, sometimes cancers, the CHEJ said in its report.

However, some scientists do not agree with this report, saying that while the curtain may indeed release toxic fumes for the first week or so after being unpacked, the very limited exposure that characterizes normal usage of the product cannot really harm anyone. People could avoid exposure to these fumes by airing the curtains for about a week bringing, this way, fume levels to acceptable levels even for long-term exposure.

Not even the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which was asked by the CHEJ to ban PVC shower curtains, agreed with the results of the analysis, calling them “phantasmagorical” and “ridiculous.”

However, “ridiculous” they might be, PVC shower curtains should be eliminated from homes and should be replaced with safer alternatives, the CHEJ’s science director, Stephen Lester wrote in a statement.

It appears that the same idea is shared by major retailer IKEA, which, for the last 11 years has dropped selling PVC shower curtains in favor of the more environmental friendly ethylene vinyl acetate ones.

People should also know that they could stay away from any danger by simply checking the shower curtains’ labels, which inform whether they’re made of PVC or not.