Mar . 25, 2024 10:02 Back to list
Vinyl chloride is the basic building block for making polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a widely-used plastic that harms health and the environment during production, use, and disposal. [1, 2] Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen associated with liver cancer, brain and lung cancers, and cancers of the blood, and can be found in air, water, and soil.[3] Despite the well-documented harms from vinyl chloride, companies continue to produce the chemical and use it to make PVC pipes, packaging materials, cars, children’s toys, and building materials like wall and floor coverings.
Vinyl chloride has been detected in environmental samples including air, water, and soil, but the main way people are exposed to vinyl chloride is by breathing contaminated air. Manufacturers of vinyl chloride and PVC release vinyl chloride into air and wastewater, putting people at risk of exposure to this harmful chemical through a variety of different ways.[3]
From production to disposal, vinyl chloride threatens health and contaminates the environment. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have all identified vinyl chloride as a known human carcinogen.[7] Billions of pounds of vinyl chloride are produced in the U.S. each year, with approximately 99% used to produce PVC and its copolymers.[8, 9] Many vinyl chloride facilities are located in communities with more residents who are people of color and/or lower-income, resulting in disproportionate exposure to vinyl chloride emissions.[10] Breakdown of vinyl chloride can lead to the formation of formaldehyde, and burning it such as in an incinerator generates dioxins.[3, 10]
Health effects of vinyl chloride:
Impacts of vinyl chloride on vulnerable populations:
There are more than 10 vinyl chloride facilities in the United States; since 2016 these manufacturers have produced a total of 10-20 billion pounds of vinyl chloride per year.[8, 14] Toxic-Free Future’s PVC Poison Plastic report found that five chemical corporations contribute more than 97% of vinyl chloride releases to the air in the United States: Westlake Chemical, Formosa Plastics, Occidental Chemical, Shintech, and Orbia (Mexichem). These companies manufacture chemicals for PVC plastic building materials and consumer products, and along with Ineos in Europe and several other companies in China, they are the biggest producers of vinyl chloride globally.
Since nearly all vinyl chloride is produced for manufacture of PVC, the best way to reduce vinyl chloride exposure is to move away from PVC products. Government agencies and companies should enact policies to end the use of PVC wherever safer alternatives are available. Vinyl chloride is currently regulated in several ways, however stronger protections, such as a safety standard set by the EPA, is urgently needed to protect people. The EPA has set a drinking water standard for vinyl chloride, while Congress has identified vinyl chloride as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act which is regulated by the EPA. The Food and Drug Administration also limits the amount of vinyl chloride in food-contact plastics, since vinyl chloride can be emitted.
Companies shouldn’t sell products with dangerous chemicals—especially as scientists continue to learn more about the “silent epidemic” caused by the cumulative impact of all the toxic chemicals we are regularly exposed to. And our state and federal governments shouldn’t allow chemicals on the market until they’re proven safe.