Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Hi.

I downloaded an operating manual of the Hoover Mach 3 from US web site and also the Vax Mach 3 UK www.vax.co.uk.  The operating manual for the Hoover states in the warning SECTION that "This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity.  Wash hands after handling"  I have looked at the Vax brochure and there is no mention of this.  Obviously this product will also have this,  why is it not mentioned in the Vax manual?  It seems strange.  Is there a difference in laws that it has to be mentioned in the Californian state but in UK it doesn't matter?

I wonder how many other manufacturers have  this 'danger' to their products.

Hi bucks03,

First problem here is that the area of danger is not established. If you're really concerned, I'd suggest calling 330-499-9499 (Hoover customer service) to establish exactly what the warning refers to.

Having worked in the printing industry, I wonder if this wasn't an error on someone's part. Nonetheless, rather than guess I'd want to know from the horse's mouth exactly what the warning is referring to.

Best,

Venson

bucks03 wrote:
It seems that everything is a health hazard in CA.  This may include bending over to retreive your car keys if you drop them.

Venson,  I am in the UK so this does not concern me.  It isn't a printing error as all the manuals say this near enough for the entire range of the Hoover models,  Here in UK we have these as VAX machines which do not mention the 'dangers' in their literature.

The statement probably refers to carcinogenic compounds (compounds that cause cancer), and phthalates (soften plastics, but affect reproductivity).

I think polyvinylchloride (pvc) is classed as a suspect plastic, in that it has been linked to the creation of dioxins in the environment, but it is still the best plastic for insulating power leads.

Thanks trilobite.

Venson

Trilobite.  Thanks for the detailed response.  So I guess then that most electrical appliances will have this effect.  I wonder if my Dyson DC04 has this!  Oh well.    I did read in a newspaper article that a guy was complaining as according to him a German magazine, Stiftung Warentest did a specimin test on Dysons yellow parts and they found very high levels of Cadmium which is a bit like PVC to cause cancer.  Not sure if this was true and if it still applies as Dyson no longer put bright yellow in theis current machines (exception of the DC14 Origin which has a bright yellow cyclone top).   My DC04 I got in 2002 contains a lot of bright yellow parts.  Good machine though.

Trilobite wrote:
Hi,

I'd in thought in this case that persons most in need of the exercise of caution would probably be those that do frequent repair work. However, PCV in general, along with plasticizers to keep some forms of it supple, is a substance that we are constatnly exposed to.  My cynical side has the feeling that only cursory discussion regarding the issue will ever be broached by manufacturers.  It just wouldn't be good for business.

Maybe, in another twenty to thirty years, there'll come some big CNN expose full of statistics relating to illness and death of the multitudes felled by exposure.  And then will come the lawsuits -- which will at least be good for the lawyers involved.

I am attaching a URL that leads to a site that claiming that there are alternative materials for anyone who wants to further investigate.

http://www.besafenet.com/pvc/about.htm

Best,

Venson

Many of you boys are giving Red-TTI a "pass."  Well, I'm glad some in high places keep an eye on the [at times] abuses of big business and [at times] attempts to protect its people.  United States Government v. TTI makes for a nice read.

DIB

DysonInventsBig wrote:
DIB,

This is not about TTI.  Again, I feel vacuum cleaners as sources of exposure may not rank high on the list.  Nonetheless, there are any number of chemical toxin sources we come into contact wwith daily.  PVC has been with us so long that most of us don't think when we get a whiff of a freshly hung shower curtain or a new plastic toy for a kid that we're breathing in toxins or that that little whiff is significant.

Nonetheless, this has all to do with big business and government sanctioning the use of questionable substances without clarifying the level of possible danger..  Corporate industry has always lent a "helping hand" to persons in government and/or government establishment.  That kind of "friendliness" leads to all sorts of deal making.  How do you think the big oil company's keep going and and the alternative energy camp is still somewhat slow going.  How did the term global warming get sweetened to climate change?  The big kids with money will sooner catch the ear of power than the schleps who merely consume.

That in mind Bucks03, what is the UK's policy on the matter.  Is it possible that you're being sold machines with exactly the same components as ours but the warning is not required by your government?

Venson

Hi Venson.

I don't think by law that it is required for manufacturers to mention this as if it was true about the Dyson containing very high levels of Cadmium in the yellow plastic parts and the Vax Mach range not mentioning a warning but Hoover Mach does.

The smell of PVC I remeber the older Dysons used to smell realy strong,  my DC04 which I have changed the hose 5 times on used to be made from PVC then Dyson changed to Polyurethane which doesn't smell like the PVC did and funnily enough the hose hasn't broken since the change.

It seems though that we are continuously exposed to dangers.  My old Indesit  front loader from 1996 used to have asbestos pads to keep the drum tub from bouncing around too much but in turn this used to cause a build up of black dust on the floor when the machine ever had to be pulled out,  no dangers were ever put in the manual.