Polyvinyl Chloride - PVC
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a plastic that was first created in 1872, expanded the use of vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. Polyvinyl chloride is, in the simplest terms, a polymerized form of vinyl chloride. In its pure form, polyvinyl chloride is not very useful, since it is stiff and inflexible. PVC became considerably more useful when Waldo Semon, a chemist for the B. F. Goodrich Company, inadvertently "plasticized" it, making it flexible and versatile. Plasticized PVC, manufacturers discovered, could be used for a variety of purposes. The substance, also commonly referred to as vinyl, is used today for floor tile, car upholstery, food packaging, and more. Pure, non-plasticized PVC is used to make drainpipes, window frames, and a variety of other building materials.
Rising demand for PVC products has led to increased use of polyvinyl chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is currently the second-most highly produced plastic in the US; it is second only to polyethylene, a plastic used to make such products as grocery bags, plastic bottle caps, and children's toys. Polyvinyl chloride's increased popularity is problematic because PVC products are notoriously difficult to recycle and are thus often incinerated or buried in landfills. When PVC is burned, it releases dioxin and other gases. When it is buried, it releases chemicals into the soil. As time goes on, more and more people are coming into contact with PVC, from employees working in PVC manufacturing plants to citizens who breathe air that has been polluted during the manufacture or disposal of PVC.
The safety of PVC came under scrutiny in the 1980s. In addition to raising concerns about the manufacture and disposal of PVC, some groups voiced concerns that additives used in the plastic could "leak" into food, water, and the air. Worries rose over teething rings and children's toys made using the material. In the medical community, there is still disagreement as to whether PVC should be used in medical materials. The combined risks of vinyl chloride pollution, dioxin release, and additive "leaking" have motivated many to avoid using PVC products. To find out if a specific product contains PVC, look for the number "3" in the recycling image, or the acronym PVC just below it.
PVC Products
Every day consumers purchase and use PVC products containing vinyl chloride. In fact, over 25 million tons of PVC are produced throughout the world each year. Trace amounts of vinyl chloride gas escape from packaging materials, floor tiles, and other PVC products. When PVC products are disposed, they continue to damage the environment by leaking chemicals into the soil. The following are some commonly used PVC products:
- Vinyl siding
- Carpet
- Car upholstery
- Plastic piping
- Three-ring binders
- Medical gloves
- Thermal blankets
- Garden hose
- Inflatable pools
- Raincoats
- Bottle caps
- Venetian blinds
- Shower curtains
- Telephone cables
If you are interested in reducing the amount of PVC products to which you are exposed, take some time to research alternatives. For more information on product options, visit the PVC Alternatives Database, sponsored by Greenpeace. |
