These toxic additives can leach out or evaporate into the air over time, posing unnecessary dangers to children. Though it is an affordable choice for home interior decorations. Use Eco-friendly and PVC-free Yoga Mats to Avoid Phthalates and Other Toxic Chemicals, Plastic-free and BPA-free Feeding Gear for Babies and Kids, The Best Potties for Early Potty Training, Gluten-free German Pancakes (just as good as the wheat version! Usually clear in color, the vast majority of … The result: severe health problems, including cancer, immune system damage, and hormone disruption. Polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PETE or PET. Proposals for transition planning have already been developed by labor and environmental organizations. Copyright © var creditsyear = new Date();document.write(creditsyear.getFullYear()); Polyvinyl chloride secures pieces of pipe quickly in a process called solvent welding. The EPA has also concluded that the levels of dioxin currently found in most adults and children are already high enough to present significant health threats to the American public. Nearby communities, farms, and fishing areas suffer the consequences. Chemicals in plastic which give them their rigidity or flexibility (flame retardants, bisphenols, phthalates and other harmful chemicals) are oily poisons that repel water and stick to petroleum-based objects like plastic debris. Eco-novice | Powered by Blogger, Design by Anders Noren | Blogger Theme by NewBloggerThemes.com, Would you like more ideas and tips about Going Green Gradually? A buildup of VOCs in the household (sometimes called sick building syndrome) can result in … Dioxins are a group of toxic chemicals that share a similar chemical structure and induce harm through a similar mechanism. Discharged pollutants impact nearby drinking water supplies and on-site incinerators spread dioxin and other hazardous compounds into the air. PVC can be replaced with safer materials in virtually all cases. There is compelling evidence that it is now possible -- and crucial -- to implement a rapid transition to safer materials. First the primer is applied and then the cement to join the pipes. Increasing scientific evidence suggests that many of these chemicals are disrupting the hormone systems of wildlife, leading to birth defects, infertility, reproductive difficulties and developmental problems in offspring. Examples of potential human exposure are as numerous as the PVC products themselves. Not to mention that most of us would simply reheat the food in the same container, be it plastic, rather than put it on a plate. This is because melted PVC can give off a corrosive toxic gas. Even at low concentrations, PBTs can be insidious in the environment due to their ability to biomagnify up the food web, leading to toxic effects at higher trophic levels even though ambient conce… Some communities, however, are hit far harder than others. In its production, it releases dioxins, phthalates, vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, lead, cadmium and other toxic chemicals. Some of these chemicals are defined as priority pollutants, which are regulated by governmental agencies because of their toxicity or persistence in organisms and food webs. It, too, can impart a plastic taste to water that goes away with time, but since it isn’t glued together, there are fewer toxic solvents used in installing it. Most common plastics pose serious threats to human health and the environment. In addition, when PVC-products are accidentally mixed with non-chlorine plastics, they contaminate the entire recycling process. PVC—polyvinyl chloride, or vinyl—is found in a range of products, from children's toys to building materials to food packaging. PVC is the most environmentally damaging plastic. According to fire experts, it is not unusual for people caught in building fires to be killed by toxic PVC fumes before the flames actually reach them. Thousands of accidental fires in buildings containing PVC result in releases of dioxin in ash and soot, contaminating both the environment and the affected building. PVC is the most environmentally damaging plastic. In addition to that, most stores package foods in plastic bags. This is a classic case of environmental racism. Is there such a thing as phthalate-free PVC? While all plastics pose serious threats to human health and the environment, few consumers realize that PVC is the single most environmentally damaging of all plastics. With a melting point of about 176 degrees Fahrenheit, PVC pipes may bend as the material approaches this temperature. Many PVC additives, including phthalates and heavy metals such as lead, slowly leach out of PVC plastics over time when placed in a landfill (many of which are unlined), eventually contaminating ground and surface water. We talked to the PVC Guru to get all the answers every parent should know. The product of the polymerization process is unmodified PVC. Here are … Accordingly, shops need to be equipped with sufficient ventilation systems. These chemicals are used as a stabilizer in PVC. BMW, Herliltz, IKEA, Opel, Sony-Europe and Volkswagen have all announced policies to eliminate PVC uses. In those cases where traditional materials cannot be used as a replacement, even chlorine-free plastics are preferable to PVC. 3. ), How to Turn Your Bread Loaf Recipe into a Roll Recipe: 100% Whole Wheat Honey Rolls, Toxic Teflon: 10 Ways to Minimize Your Family's Exposure, Question: How Do You Compost? Any hand contact with the chair could potentially leave undesirable substances on the hands though. Write to: The Honorable ___________________United States House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20515, The Honorable ___________________United States SenateWashington, DC 20510Carol Browner, EPA AdministratorU.S. Read my full disclosure policy, Household Cleaners and Personal Products I Use, the most toxic plastic for children’s health and the environment, PVC, Bad News Come in Threes, the Poison Plastic, Health Hazards & the Looming Waste Crisis, Smart Plastics Guide: Healthier Food Uses of Plastics for Parents and Children, Choosing Arts & Crafts Materials that Are Safe for Kids. The burning of PVC is responsible for 80 % of dioxin air pollution. In addition, PVC plastic requires toxic additives, including heavy metals such as lead, endocrine-disrupting phthalates , and toxic flame retardants , in order to be made into stable and usable consumer products. My guess is, unless your child is sucking on the furniture, the immediate harm to individuals is small. No other plastic contains or releases as many dangerous chemicals. Due to the chemical structure of organochlorines, humans and animals are unable to efficiently expel them from their bodies. Demand PVC-free alternatives. PVC contaminates humans and the environment throughout its lifecycle during its production, use and disposal. Large companies such as Proctor and Gamble, Mattel, and the Body Shop have phased out PVC packaging. PVC production is the largest and fastest-growing use of chlorine -- accounting for nearly 40 percent of all chlorine used in the United States. Spread the message. Many vinyl facilities are located in poor communities with little political clout. 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