# Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) turning into dioxin after being heated

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/volatile-organic-compounds-vocs-turning-into-dioxin-after-being-heated/809547>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 25, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/volatile-organic-compounds-vocs-turning-into-dioxin-after-being-heated/809547 "2018-02-25T14:54:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/volatile-organic-compounds-vocs-turning-into-dioxin-after-being-heated/809547/1 "2018-02-25T14:54:05Z")

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Thread title says it all…wonder if VOCs (like the noxious-smelling vapors coming from a new shower curtain or newly-unpackaged household appliance) turn into dioxins if you let the objects sit in a room that also has, say, an HVAC furnace heater (and the heater draws air from inside the room and heats them up and sends the hot air back into the room to warm the room air?)

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**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/volatile-organic-compounds-vocs-turning-into-dioxin-after-being-heated/809547/2 "2018-02-25T15:43:59Z")

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Not sure about dioxins since they need a very high temp, but thalates from PVC shower curtains are bad enough. More manufacturers have switched away from PVC shower curtains :

> **[That 'new shower curtain smell'? It's toxic, study says](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-13-me-showercurtain13-story.html)**
>
> High concentrations of chemicals linked to serious health problems are found in the vinyl sheets.