Tip o’ the Day: Go PVC Free
We find it incredible that something so poisonous in every stage of its life cycle is a material that is still advertised by name. Vinyl, also known as PVC, is dubbed by one group as the "poison plastic."
Yet searching for vinyl & PVC, we find websites ready to sell items for your children, pets and home. So what's the story on this plastic that is used in toys, shower curtains, cars, and construction?
This is a material you don't want to be involved with. It is extremely dangerous to the people that work in the factories that create the substance and products. It is dangerous to the communities where those plants are located. It off-gases in your home or car, giving you that oh-so-toxic 'new car smell'. Finally, in the trash, it is a big problem - it can not be burned or recycled without contaminating its surroundings.
There are two great ways to learn more about PVC. The good news is, both involve watching TV! First, visit PVCfree.org and watch Sam Suds and the case of the poison plastic. It's a fun but educational video on what PVC is and how to find it in your home. Sam Suds gives us a good clue on how to find PVC in the house. If you find a number 3 on the bottom of your plastic container or item - it's PVC.
To learn more about PVC and it's entire problematic life cycle, borrow or purchase Blue Vinyl. It is a documentary that will really open your eyes.
Rebecca says: Before I knew about vinyl, I purchased an inflatable basketball hoop and ball for some kids in my family to use in the pool. I still cringe when I remember one of the babies putting the ball to her mouth. The toys are so cheap and yet so toxic…I wish the price tag accounted for all of the damage it will cause in its lifetime.
My House Is Your House (Blue Vinyl Consumer Site)
February 6th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I researched water pipes a while back, and according to the info I read when I visited Sydney Water, unplasticized PVC has the least impact on water quality of any practical pipe material. It's also very brittle, so it's not suitable for every circumstance.
Perhaps we need to be clearer whether we're criticizing PVC or the additives, esp plasticizers, which can leach into the water…?
By the by… there's a tendency among some green people to demonize anything containing chlorine… but chlorine and its compounds have saved many, many lives, through disinfection of water supplies and their use in pharmaceuticals. I don't know enough to comment authoritatively on the safety of PVC specifically, though the Wikipedia article on it was quite interesting: Polyvinyl chloride
February 8th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Chris Water Guy, I just received a response that addresses your comment from Mike @ CHEJ:
The environmental health concerns associated with PVC pipes is largely in the production and disposal phase. However there are some toxic concerns associated with use. pipes may leach organotins, known to be toxic at relatively low levels of exposure, into water supplies.
Organotins used in vinyl can suppress the immune systems, cause birth defects, damage the liver, bile duct, and pancreas, and may pose hazards to the aquatic organisms when released into the environment. These effects are not likely to occur from short-term use however we do not know what repeated exposure to these chemicals over the long term may be. Further, the mono- and di-butyl tin compounds used in PVC are contaminated with tributyl tin (TBT), a potent endocrine-disrupting compound that has caused major damage to marine wildlife populations.
The good news is that safer alternatives to PVC piping exists. For example, HDPE plastic piping is a safer alternative with fewer health and environmental impacts. There is a report that addresses this on our website at http://www.besafenet.com/pvc/safe.htm
February 9th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Thanks Rebecca, and Mike.
I'm no expert on plastics but I am able to make a couple more comments:
Re the production and disposal phases - if there are problems here, I'd guess that what is needed is a serious improvement in the processes and pollution control, in particular isolating the process materials from workers and the environment.
The plasticizers responsible for the "new car smell" (referred to at the link provided) are not found in unplasticized PVC water pipes.
Re organotins: Low-toxicity organotins (mono- and/or di-butyl tin) are used as heat-stabilizers. As you say, it seems likely that there's be some toxic tri-butyl tin as a by-product, but I'd be speculating to say how much, and how much of that would leach into the water supply; it's a concern and the simplest way to minimize the danger is to not use it if there are practical alternatives. However, are organotins used in unplasticized PVC pipes? (I'd guess that they're not, as water pipes are not a high-temperature application.)
Thus it's not clear what the advantage is of using the more expensive HDPE, for water pipes. HDPE has its own advantages and disadvantages, but if I remember correctly, it is more likely to add a taste to the water. And the added cost, always a negative, is particularly undesirable for the poor communities that I'm most concerned about.
Re safety in fires (discussed at the About PVC page at the end of the article): PVC is fire-retardant, owing to the chlorine. As I understand it - its safety in this respect is one of the reasons for its use on electrical cable. It will burn if there's another fuel source, but will stop if the flame is removed. The HCl (anhydrous hydrochloric acid) which is released tends to break down on contact with surfaces, but certainly it's still a problem better not to have it produced at all, and also not to have dioxins. The alternative is LSZH, or "low smoke zero halogen" cable. "Typically used in poorly ventilated areas, low smoke zero halogen is becoming very popular where the protection of people and equipment from toxic and corrosive gasses is critical." (Wikipedia.) However, being made from polypropylene, LSZH is presumably not flame retardant. The point being that there may be alternatives, but it's not as if it's just a dangerous plastic with no advantages.
It seems clear from all that there are certain applications - electrical wiring where there is a danger of a fire being started, and water pipes - where PVC should not be ruled out, especially if the manufacturing and disposal processes are carried out with proper care.
Chris