Vinyl Institute Refutes Beyond Plastics’ Irresponsible Rhetoric on Vinyl Chloride

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 26, 2023 – Today, the Vinyl Institute released the following statement and information in response to Beyond Plastics’ anticipated petition requesting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ban vinyl chloride monomer:

 “This week’s petition by Beyond Plastics seeking to ban vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is a publicity stunt that irresponsibly ignores decades of credible science that shows VCM is safely and responsibly manufactured in the United States. Regrettably, Beyond Plastics has chosen to use the tragic events of East Palestine to advance deceptive and disproven claims about our industry that only serve to mislead the public. We invite those covering this week’s event to contact our organization for comment to ensure the facts regarding VCM and PVC are included.”

– Ned Monroe, President and CEO, Vinyl Institute

 

Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is an intermediary chemical in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is made into products that are an important part of our everyday lives, including PVC pipes that deliver clean drinking water, vinyl windows, siding for energy-efficient homes, and lifesaving medical products like IV blood bags.

The facts tell a very different story than the agenda-driven narrative promoted by Beyond Plastics:

Safety is the number one priority of the vinyl industry. U.S. manufacturers of PVC and VCM adhere to some of the most stringent safety and environmental regulations in the chemical industry. All safety protocols, procedures, and training programs are conducted in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In fact, in November 2022, Assistant Secretary for OSHA, Douglas Parker, sent VI members this letter commending the industry on our safety performance record.

For more than three decades, the U.S. vinyl resin industry has decreased ambient emissions by almost 90 percent[1] to air and water (according to EPA Toxic Release Inventory reports) for vinyl chloride; during the same time, production volume has doubled. Additionally, the industry’s workplace illness and injury rate is just one-third of the overall chemical industry incident rate, and one-fifth of the general manufacturing industry[2].

These statistics reaffirm the safety of PVC manufacturing facilities and neighboring communities. They illustrate that communities surrounding PVC facilities are protected from harmful VCM exposure levels. Further, no known industrial cases of the rare cancer caused by high levels of long-term VCM exposure have occurred in workers employed in the industry since control measures were put in place in the 1970s. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “new cases of hepatic angiosarcoma in vinyl chloride polymerization workers have been virtually eliminated.[3]”

PVC products adhere to government regulations and widely accepted safety standards. For example, PVC pipe used in water infrastructure adheres to a nationally recognized standard (NSF/ANSI/61), developed at the EPA’s request[4], to ensure drinking water system components are made from safe, high-quality materials. This standard ensures the delivery of clean drinking water to the public. Further addressing the safety of PVC, the National Cancer Institute has clarified the material is neither a known, nor even a “suspected,” carcinogen[5].

PVC pipe also has the lowest break rate when compared with other piping materials[6]. It has a service life of more than 100 years[7]. Contrary to metallic pipe, PVC pipe is not susceptible to corrosion; less energy is required to pump water through PVC piping throughout its service life. Unlike iron pipe, PVC pipes are not susceptible to tuberculation which can harbor life-threatening diseases, such as E. coli and Legionella, and are less carbon-intensive compared to similar pipes made from other materials[8].

PVC saves lives. It’s used in medical devices, such as IV blood bags that preserve our nation’s blood supply, and in personal protective equipment (PPE), relied upon by healthcare providers on the front line. It’s used in kink-resistant tubing, essential in monitoring fluid movement to ensure a consistent flow of fluid or oxygen to patients. PVC’s strength and versatility are why PVC is often specified for these applications. PVC’s medical applications also adhere to U.S. Pharmacopeia guidelines, which are science-based standards governing the quality of many health care products used worldwide to treat sick patients and save lives.

PVC alternatives are often unproven and cannot deliver the same strength, durability, and usefulness, as PVC.  As evidence, bags made from other materials can hinder a hospital’s ability to preserve blood for extended periods[9], raising uncertainty about its availability when it’s needed most.

The vinyl industry’s commitment to sustainability is indisputable. Billions of pounds of PVC have been recycled annually in the U.S. and Canada. This amount includes 958 million pounds of pre-consumer PVC materials and 142 million pounds of post-consumer PVC materials in 2019[10]. The Vinyl Institute has also established the Vinyl Sustainability Council, a collaborative platform for companies, organizations, and other stakeholders to advance the U.S. vinyl industry’s contribution to sustainable development. Thus far, VI has published three sustainability reports documenting our transparent progress.

 

Endnotes:

[1] U.S. EPA Toxic Inventory Release Data Emissions to Air and Water

[2] Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and case types, 2020 (bls.gov)

[3] Centers for Disease Control MMWR Angiosarcoma of the Liver Among Polyvinyl Chloride Workers – Kentucky https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/lmrk103.htm

[4] NSF/ANSI 61-2022: Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects https://blog.ansi.org/nsf-ansi-61-2022-drinking-water-system-components/

[5] National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/vinyl-chloride#:~:text=Which%20cancers%20are%20associated%20with,cancers%2C%20lymphoma%2C%20and%20leukemia.

[6] Folkman, S. (April 2012): “Water Main Break Rates in the USA and Canada: A Comprehensive Study.” p 6 https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1169&context=mae_facpub

[7] Utah State University College of Engineering, PVC Pipe Longevity Report: Affordability and the 100+ year Benchmark Standard https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/mae_facpub/170/

[8] Sustainable Solutions Corporation (April 2017): “Lifecycle Sustainability of PVC Water Pipe and Sewer Pipe and Comparative Sustainability Analysis of Pipe Materials.” p 14-16

[9] Carmen, R. (Jan. 1993): The Selection of Plastic Materials for Blood Bags, Transfusion Medicine Reviews, Vol. VII, No. 1

[10]  Tarnell Company Recyclers Survey (Amounts Sold) (2019)