Vinyl Chloride Environmental Effects

What is polyvinyl chloride pvc.

Vinyl chloride environmental effects.

Liver disease results in liver tissue damage and may require a transplant. From food packaging to toys to building materials. It is in such widespread usage due to its strength and resistance to sunlight oil and chemicals weathering and fire. In the environment the highest levels of vinyl chloride are found in air around factories producing vinyl products.

Acute exposure of humans to high levels of vinyl chloride via inhalation in humans has resulted in effects on the cns such as dizziness drowsiness headaches and giddiness. Pvc is used to make pipes polyvinyl flooring and siding hoses cable coatings medical devices and plumbing and automotive parts. Vinyl chloride is an organochloride with the formula h 2 c chcl that is also called vinyl chloride monomer vcm or chloroethene this colorless compound is an important industrial chemical chiefly used to produce the polymer polyvinyl chloride pvc. Acute short term exposure to high levels of vinyl chloride in air has resulted in central nervous system effects cns such as dizziness drowsiness and headaches in humans.

Polyvinyl chloride also known as pvc or vinyl has become an intrinsic part of our lives ever since the early mid 20th century. About 13 billion kilograms are produced annually. Vinyl chloride can be formed in the environment when soil organisms break down chlorinated solvents. Polyvinyl chloride more commonly known as vinyl is very versatile and used in all sorts of products.

It is made softer and more flexible by the addition of phthalates and can contain traces of chemicals like bisphenol a bpa. Health effects of vinyl chloride. Long term vinyl chloride exposure can lead to several adverse health conditions and diseases including. Liver cancer angiosarcoma of the liver is one of the most common side effects of vinyl chloride exposure.

Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas at normal temperatures. Pvc is one of the most lucrative products of the chemical industry. It is flammable burns easily as a gas and is not stable at high temperatures. Polyvinyl chloride pvc is a solid plastic material made from vinyl chloride.

Acute effects of exposure to vinyl chloride. Vinyl chloride 75 01 4 hazard summary most vinyl chloride is used to make polyvinyl chloride pvc plastic and vinyl products. Vinyl chloride that is released by industries or formed by the breakdown of other chlorinated chemicals can enter the air and. Environmental side effect of vinyl chloride include air pollution particularly in areas near factories that make vinyl products and water supply contamination as vinyl chloride can enter the household air when the water is used for showering cooking or laundry.

1 2 vinyl chloride is reported to be slightly irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract in humans.