Vinyl Chloride Health Effects

Polyvinyl chloride pvc is a solid plastic material made from vinyl chloride.
Vinyl chloride health effects. What is polyvinyl chloride pvc. Liver cancer angiosarcoma of the liver is one of the most common side effects of vinyl chloride exposure. Chloroethene chloroethylene ethylene monochloride monochloroethene monochloroethylene vc vcm vinyl chloride monomer vcm colorless gas or liquid below 7 f with a pleasant odor at high concentrations. Vinyl chloride finds its major application in the production of pvc.
It is volatile so the primary exposure is via inhalation as against food or water with occupational hazards being highest. It is used in the manufacture of numerous products in building and construction automotive industry electrical wire insulation and cables piping industrial and household equipment medical supplies and is depended upon heavily by the rubber paper and glass industries. Learn about vinyl chloride which can raise the risk of a rare form of liver cancer as well as brain and lung cancers and leukemia and lymphoma. Us epa information on health effects of exposure to vinyl chloride us atsdr information on health hazards of exposure to pvc vinyl chloride dioxin hcl hazards from pvc or hpvc product production manufacturing outgassing and especially from burning disposal of vinyl building products exposure limits exposure effects of vinyl chloride medical.
Health effects of vinyl chloride. Prior to 1974 workers were commonly exposed to 1 000 ppm vinyl chloride. It is made softer and more flexible by the addition of phthalates and can contain traces of chemicals like bisphenol a bpa. Pvc vinyl chloride exposure hazards.
Vinyl chloride is a highly dangerous chemical used to make numerous plastic materials. Long term vinyl chloride exposure can lead to several adverse health conditions and diseases including. Liver disease results in liver tissue damage and may require a transplant. It is flammable burns easily as a gas and is not stable at high temperatures.
Vinyl chloride is a colorless organic gas with a sweet odor. It is also known as chloroethene chloroethylene ethylene monochloride or monochloroethylene. This article discusses possible health effects of exposure to vinyl chloride pvc polyvinyl chloride and hpvc and gives references to more scholarly information sources. Although the industries that use this chemical have known about the harmful effects of vinyl chloride for decades it has only recently been identified as a known carcinogen.
Vinyl chloride or pvc health hazards in or at buildings or from building products. Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas at normal temperatures. Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.