The newest composites are all made from PVC to: get a class “A” fire rating, a longer service life, and have higher scratch resistance. PVC is the antithesis of a green product. The manufacture, use, and disposal of PVC poses substantial and unique environmental and human health hazards. PVC requires heavy metal additives and toxic stabilizers, which are not encapsulated by plastic. These toxic chemicals are “off-gassed” through the life of the product. PVC does not burn, it smolders, releasing hydrogen chloride gas. Hydrogen chloride becomes hydrochloric acid when it comes in contact with water. Exposure to one PVC fire can irreparably damage your lungs.
Very few of the chemicals contained in PVC have been studied, The few that have been tested are the most carcinogenic chemicals known to science.
Many large are phasing out PVC because of it’s dangers. A list can be found Here: http://www.besafenet.com/pvc/companypolicies.htm
PVC Links
Center for Health, Environment and Justice: PVC: The Poison Plastic -- The Campaign for Safe, Healthy Consumer Products
Clean Production Action: PVC Information
Health Care Without Harm: Medical use of PVC and DEHP
Grassroots Recycling Network: What’s so bad about PVC recycling?
Healthy Building Network: PVC Plastic
Children's Health Environmental Coalition: PVC: The Most Toxic Plastic
Ecology Center: Plastic Film Can Leach Additives
Consumers Union: Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Plastic Wraps
Greenpeace: Toxics Page / PVC Campaign
Mindfully.org: PVC page
Mindfully.org: phthalates page
Healthy Building Network: Sorting out the Vinyls – When is “Vinyl” not PVC?
Databases of Alternatives to PVC
Healthy Building Network: PVC-Free Alternatives This list focuses on providers in the U.S., but shows that there is a wide array of non-PVC materials (including flooring).
PVCInformation.org: PVC Products and non-PVC alternatives
Health Care Without Harm: PVC-Free Alternatives A list of PVC-free and/or DEHP-free alternatives for medical equipment.
Reports
PVC, Bad News Comes In Threes: The Poison Plastic, Health Hazards & The Looming Waste Crisis
Greenpeace Reports on PVC, Dioxin and Incineration
PVC-Free Future: A Review of Restrictions and PVC free Policies Worldwide (June 2003)
Chlorine, Combustion and Dioxins: Does Reducing Chlorine in Wastes Decrease Dioxin Formation in Waste Incinerators?
What’s wrong with PVC?
Taking back our stolen future -- Hormone disruption and PVC plastic
Institute for Local Self-Reliance: Toxic Plasicizers and biochemical alternatives
Danish EPA: Phthalates and organic tin compounds in PVC products
Videos
Sam Suds and the Case of PVC, the Poison Plastic (short flash cartoon video)
Blue Vinyl - A toxic odyssey for the whole family. (movie documentary/comedy on the PVC industry and vinyl siding) |
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