PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, aka vinyl, is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. It is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle. Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which may pose irreversible life-long health threats. When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.

The Smell of PVC

PVC is useless without the addition of a whole host of toxic additives, which can make the PVC product itself harmful to consumers. These chemicals can evaporate or leach out, posing risks to consumers, and in particular to children. New car smell? That’s the smell of poisonous chemicals off-gassing from the PVC. One of the most common toxic additives is DEHP, a phthalate that is a suspected carcinogen and reproductive toxicant readily found in numerous PVC products. Children can be exposed to phthalates by chewing on vinyl toys. The European Parliament voted in July, 2005 to permanently ban the use of certain toxic phthalates in toys.

Environmental Injustice

PVC plants are disproportionately located in low-income communities and communities of color, making the production of PVC a major environmental justice concern. Communities surrounding vinyl chloride facilities suffer from groundwater and air pollution. Workers at PVC plants may face life-long health risks from exposure to cancer-causing vinyl chloride and other hazardous chemicals used to make PVC. These health risks include angiosarcoma of the liver, lung cancer, brain cancer, lymphomas, leukemia, and liver cirrhosis.

Hazardous to Firefighters and Building Occupants

When heated in a building fire, PVC releases toxic hydrogen chloride gas, forming deadly hydrochloric acid when inhaled by firefighters and building occupants. Firefighters face harmful occupational exposures when battling fires laden with PVC building materials and consumer products. Building occupants may be killed from inhaling toxic PVC fumes before they are able to escape.
A Contaminant to Recycling

PVC cannot be effectively recycled due to the many different toxic additives used to soften or stabilize PVC, which can contaminate the recycling batch. Most consumers do not know that a 3 in the recycle symbol indicates that the plastic is made of PVC, and therefore recycle those products, inadvertently rendering thousands of potentially recycled containers useless. In fact just one PVC bottle can contaminate a recycling load of 100,000 PET bottles. Recycling of PVC is negligible, with estimates ranging from 0.1% to 3% of post-consumer PVC waste being recycled.

Safer, Healthier Alternatives are Readily Available

The good news is that safer, cost-effective, alternatives to PVC are readily available for virtually every use. From safer plastics, to bio-based materials, there is a growing market replacing hazardous PVC products. You can help build consumer demand for safer, healthier products by avoiding the purchase of PVC. One way to be sure if the packaging of a product is made from PVC is to look for the number “3” inside or the letter “V” underneath the universal recycling symbol. In addition, soft flexible plastic products that are made with PVC often have a distinct odor. If you suspect that a product is made of PVC, contact the product manufacturer and ask them directly about the materials used in the product or packaging and your concerns about PVC.

The following is a by no means exhaustive list of the products that may contain PVC:

Apparel
Aprons
Bags
Backpacks (PVC coating for waterproofing)
Bibs
Boots
Nappy covers
Lingerie
Luggage
Raincoats
Skirts
Shoes
T-shirts with PVC prints (shiny)
Watchbands

Automotive
Auto-related product containers
Car seats for children
Dashboards
Door panels
Traffic cones
Underbody coating
Upholstery
Wire coating

Household Items
Cleaning product containers
Clothes racks (covers metal to prevent rusting)
Chequebook covers
Imitation leather furniture
Mattress covers
Pet care product containers
Photo album sheets
Prams and pushchairs
Self-adhesive labels and stickers
Shelving
Shower curtains
Textiles
Toys
Waterbeds

Kitchen Items
Appliance casings
Drinks containers
Dish drying racks (covers metal to prevent rusting)
Dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer racks
Drinking straws
Food containers
Food wrap
Plastic utensils
Tablecloths

Medical Supplies
Bed liners
Blood bags
Catheters
Colostomy bags
Gloves
Mattress covers
Tubing

Office Supplies
Binders
Mobile phones
Clipboards
Computer keyboards
Computer monitor housing
Floppy disks
Mouse pads
Paper clips
Tape

Personal Care Items (packaging)
Aloe Vera Gel
Baby oil
Face Wash
Hair gel
Liquid soap
Lotion
Massage oil
Mouthwash
Shampoo
Suntan lotion



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