Time to protect earth: save life from plastic pollution
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Hossain Shahriar
Switch to PVC-free materials
Hoping to avoid litigation, many major corporations are now eliminating the use of PVC. Proctor and Gamble, Mattel, LEGOs, Little Tikes (Newell Rubbermaid),[55] Baxter[56] and several others have made this commitment.
More than 80% of the IV bags used in the U.S. are PVC plastic manufactured mainly by Baxter Healthcare Corp., Deerfield, IL, and Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL. In 1999, Baxter announced that they would develop an alternative to PVC products. Greenpeace and Health Care Without Harm, a coalition that includes hospitals, nurses' organizations and the American Public Health Associations placed a large amount of pressure on Baxter to get them to make this decision. They went so far as to own about 100,000 shares of Baxter stock.
Even the American Chemical Society believes that PVC should not be used in medical equipment. In a Chemical & Engineering News article, they stated that "[b] alancing the slight harm to the vinyl chloride industry and the availability of cost-effective alternatives against studies--albeit ambiguous--that show potentially harmful health effects to humans dictates a prudent switch to non-PVC, DEHP free alternatives."
Many municipalities across the US are banning PVC or strongly recommending that it be phased out. It is banned for use by retail food vendors in Rahway, NJ. CPVC pipe for construction is banned in Lake-in-the-Hills, IL. VC and organizing are migrating from PVC pipes into the water supply in Kansas. The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a "call to action" 'to virtually and permanently eliminate all releases of toxic, persistent and bio-accumulative chemicals into the state's environment (land, air and water) by 2025.' Berkeley and Oakland's City Council passed resolutions to reduce dioxin wherever possible. Oakland has urged health care institutions to reduce PVC use and eventually become PVC-free'. San Francisco has adopted a resolution to eliminate dioxin wherever possible. The Marin County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to eliminate dioxin emissions, promoting less-toxic, non-chlorinated, sustainable alternative products and processes, such as chlorine-free paper and PVC-free plastics, to the extent possible, and urges Marin health care institutions to reduce PVC use and eventually become PVC-free, and will send a letter to Marin-based health care institutions to encourage them to phase out the use of PVC products without sacrificing patient care or worker safety.
One of seven goals of Health Care without Harm (HCWH) is to "phase out the use of PVC plastics and persistent toxic chemicals." There are about 250 HCWH member organizations in more than 30 countries. Including many hospitals, unions, environmental organizations, and professional associations such as the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Council of the Chicago Medical Society, the Minnesota Medical Association, the California Medical Association, the American Nurses Association
Harm to Workers Exposed To PVC
There is a six-fold increase in the risk for seminoma, one type of testicular cancer, among plastic workers exposed to polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
In September 1973, the US Department of Health Education and Welfare, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) determined that air contaminants generated by the thermal cutting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging films in conjunction with the wrapping of meat are potentially toxic to some meat wrapping employees PVC meat wrap. At that time this would have had an effect on 75,000 meat-wrapping employees in the United States, according to union and industry estimates. The testing by NIOSH found hydrogen chloride (HCl) as one of the air contaminants generated by the hot wire cutting of PVC film in the meat wrapping. Other contaminants included chlorinated hydrocarbons and breakdown products of film additives.
NIOSH's predecessor the Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health began getting complaints about PVC wrap from meat wrappers in the summer of 1969, and continued coming from several cities across the nation at least until the time of the NIOSH report cited.
"Sixteen of the eighteen meat wrappers interviewed in the preliminary survey were known to have suffered ill effects from air contaminants from PVC films. Only two workers were free of any clinical symptomatology. Eight had similar case histories and admitted experiencing varying degrees of sneezing, rhinorrhea, and eye irritation. Most individuals gave a like story that the ill effects came on from one to three hours after the commencement of meat' wrapping it the morning. The workers stated that as the workday progressed the prodromal manifestations increased. in intensity. The sneezing, rhinorrhea, rind threat and eye irritation would abate in the evening hours and would be non-existent during weekends and vacations."
In 1974, the FDA was considered revoking the "prior sanction" for use of polyvinyl chloride in food packaging and ban its use for packaging alcoholic beverages because of the migration of VC. "Trade secret" considerations prevented the investigations that were needed.
A 1997 study found that while the food and water intake of VCM cannot accumulate in hazardous quantities, inhalation in workplace (heat cutting and sealing of PVC wrap) settings can accumulate VCM in the blood to form carcinogenic and mutagenic metabolites.
Ethylene dichloride
The largest single use of EDC, also known as 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-DCE, C2H2Cl2, is the production of VC used to produce PVC. EDC can also be used in the manufacture paint removers, pharmaceuticals, electronics, metal degreasers, aerosols, and urethane foam. In test animals, EDC decreased litter size, decreased fertility, disrupted estrous cycle, increased incidence of congenital cardiac lesions, increased incidence of testicular lesions, and increased embryo mortality significantly decreased antibody-forming cells of the spleen. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure of humans to EDC can induce neurotoxic, nephrotoxic, and hepatotoxic effects, as well as respiratory distress, cardiac arrhythmia, nausea, and vomiting. No information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of EDC in humans. EDC is metabolized into epoxides by enzymes, which can yield dichloroacetaldehyde (DCAld), dichloroethanol, and dichloroacetic acid. It is categorized by the EPA as a Group B2 probable human carcinogen, and by IARC as a Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans). All forms of EDC usage in agriculture, including pesticides and fumigants, are banned in 5 countries (Austria, Belize, Canada, Slovenia and the United Kingdom) and in the European Union.
Other Toxicants with Similar Actions
EDC Metabolites
One of the metabolites of EDC, dichloroacetic acid, is also one of the metabolites of trichloroethylene (TCE). Because of the pervasiveness of TCE in the environment, most people are likely to have some exposure via one or more of the following pathways: ingestion of drinking water, inhalation of ambient air, or ingestion of food. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a survey of various industries from 1981 to 1983 and estimated that approximately 401,000 U.S. employees in 23,225 plants are potentially exposed to TCE. Relatively little information is available in regard to environmental levels and exposure. Background exposure to related compounds may influence the effect of small incremental exposures of TCE. Releases of TCE into the environment occur during its manufacture, use, and disposal. The major use of TCE is as a degreaser for metal cleaning operations. It is also used in paint stripper, adhesive solvent, ingredient in paints and varnishes, in the manufacture of organic chemicals, silk screening, taxidermy, electronic cleaning, wood stains, varnishes, finishes, lubricants, adhesives, typewriter correction fluids, paint removers, and cleaners. More data are needed on the levels of TCE in private wells, indoor air, soil, food, blood across all ages, and mother's milk.
Vinyldene chloride (VDC)
VDC is used to make Saran-type (Johnson Wax, Racine, Wisconsin) plastics and as a degreasing agent. It has contaminated groundwater in many areas, and is ranked 11th among the hazardous chlorinated organic compounds found in US drinking water. 50% of the US population obtains their drinking water from a groundwater source. The major method of drinking water disinfection in the United States is by chlorination. Monochloroacetic acid (MCA) is formed as a result of chlorination of drinking water for disinfection and can be present at concentrations of approximately 1 µg/l. Coexposure of humans to these chemicals is possible. VDC and MCA are both hepatotoxic and interact with each other. VDC causes centrilobular necrosis of the liver and the elevation of serum enzymes, indicating hepatocellular damage. In animal studies of VDC that included MCA, there was a significant increase in VDC hepatotoxicity. Fasting and other conditions can enhance the injury caused by VDC, putting the poor at greater risk.
The write is journalist and ecologist. This is the last part of a two-part article
— NewsNetwork
Switch to PVC-free materials
Hoping to avoid litigation, many major corporations are now eliminating the use of PVC. Proctor and Gamble, Mattel, LEGOs, Little Tikes (Newell Rubbermaid),[55] Baxter[56] and several others have made this commitment.
More than 80% of the IV bags used in the U.S. are PVC plastic manufactured mainly by Baxter Healthcare Corp., Deerfield, IL, and Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL. In 1999, Baxter announced that they would develop an alternative to PVC products. Greenpeace and Health Care Without Harm, a coalition that includes hospitals, nurses' organizations and the American Public Health Associations placed a large amount of pressure on Baxter to get them to make this decision. They went so far as to own about 100,000 shares of Baxter stock.
Even the American Chemical Society believes that PVC should not be used in medical equipment. In a Chemical & Engineering News article, they stated that "[b] alancing the slight harm to the vinyl chloride industry and the availability of cost-effective alternatives against studies--albeit ambiguous--that show potentially harmful health effects to humans dictates a prudent switch to non-PVC, DEHP free alternatives."
Many municipalities across the US are banning PVC or strongly recommending that it be phased out. It is banned for use by retail food vendors in Rahway, NJ. CPVC pipe for construction is banned in Lake-in-the-Hills, IL. VC and organizing are migrating from PVC pipes into the water supply in Kansas. The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a "call to action" 'to virtually and permanently eliminate all releases of toxic, persistent and bio-accumulative chemicals into the state's environment (land, air and water) by 2025.' Berkeley and Oakland's City Council passed resolutions to reduce dioxin wherever possible. Oakland has urged health care institutions to reduce PVC use and eventually become PVC-free'. San Francisco has adopted a resolution to eliminate dioxin wherever possible. The Marin County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to eliminate dioxin emissions, promoting less-toxic, non-chlorinated, sustainable alternative products and processes, such as chlorine-free paper and PVC-free plastics, to the extent possible, and urges Marin health care institutions to reduce PVC use and eventually become PVC-free, and will send a letter to Marin-based health care institutions to encourage them to phase out the use of PVC products without sacrificing patient care or worker safety.
One of seven goals of Health Care without Harm (HCWH) is to "phase out the use of PVC plastics and persistent toxic chemicals." There are about 250 HCWH member organizations in more than 30 countries. Including many hospitals, unions, environmental organizations, and professional associations such as the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Council of the Chicago Medical Society, the Minnesota Medical Association, the California Medical Association, the American Nurses Association
Harm to Workers Exposed To PVC
There is a six-fold increase in the risk for seminoma, one type of testicular cancer, among plastic workers exposed to polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
In September 1973, the US Department of Health Education and Welfare, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) determined that air contaminants generated by the thermal cutting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging films in conjunction with the wrapping of meat are potentially toxic to some meat wrapping employees PVC meat wrap. At that time this would have had an effect on 75,000 meat-wrapping employees in the United States, according to union and industry estimates. The testing by NIOSH found hydrogen chloride (HCl) as one of the air contaminants generated by the hot wire cutting of PVC film in the meat wrapping. Other contaminants included chlorinated hydrocarbons and breakdown products of film additives.
NIOSH's predecessor the Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health began getting complaints about PVC wrap from meat wrappers in the summer of 1969, and continued coming from several cities across the nation at least until the time of the NIOSH report cited.
"Sixteen of the eighteen meat wrappers interviewed in the preliminary survey were known to have suffered ill effects from air contaminants from PVC films. Only two workers were free of any clinical symptomatology. Eight had similar case histories and admitted experiencing varying degrees of sneezing, rhinorrhea, and eye irritation. Most individuals gave a like story that the ill effects came on from one to three hours after the commencement of meat' wrapping it the morning. The workers stated that as the workday progressed the prodromal manifestations increased. in intensity. The sneezing, rhinorrhea, rind threat and eye irritation would abate in the evening hours and would be non-existent during weekends and vacations."
In 1974, the FDA was considered revoking the "prior sanction" for use of polyvinyl chloride in food packaging and ban its use for packaging alcoholic beverages because of the migration of VC. "Trade secret" considerations prevented the investigations that were needed.
A 1997 study found that while the food and water intake of VCM cannot accumulate in hazardous quantities, inhalation in workplace (heat cutting and sealing of PVC wrap) settings can accumulate VCM in the blood to form carcinogenic and mutagenic metabolites.
Ethylene dichloride
The largest single use of EDC, also known as 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-DCE, C2H2Cl2, is the production of VC used to produce PVC. EDC can also be used in the manufacture paint removers, pharmaceuticals, electronics, metal degreasers, aerosols, and urethane foam. In test animals, EDC decreased litter size, decreased fertility, disrupted estrous cycle, increased incidence of congenital cardiac lesions, increased incidence of testicular lesions, and increased embryo mortality significantly decreased antibody-forming cells of the spleen. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure of humans to EDC can induce neurotoxic, nephrotoxic, and hepatotoxic effects, as well as respiratory distress, cardiac arrhythmia, nausea, and vomiting. No information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of EDC in humans. EDC is metabolized into epoxides by enzymes, which can yield dichloroacetaldehyde (DCAld), dichloroethanol, and dichloroacetic acid. It is categorized by the EPA as a Group B2 probable human carcinogen, and by IARC as a Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans). All forms of EDC usage in agriculture, including pesticides and fumigants, are banned in 5 countries (Austria, Belize, Canada, Slovenia and the United Kingdom) and in the European Union.
Other Toxicants with Similar Actions
EDC Metabolites
One of the metabolites of EDC, dichloroacetic acid, is also one of the metabolites of trichloroethylene (TCE). Because of the pervasiveness of TCE in the environment, most people are likely to have some exposure via one or more of the following pathways: ingestion of drinking water, inhalation of ambient air, or ingestion of food. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a survey of various industries from 1981 to 1983 and estimated that approximately 401,000 U.S. employees in 23,225 plants are potentially exposed to TCE. Relatively little information is available in regard to environmental levels and exposure. Background exposure to related compounds may influence the effect of small incremental exposures of TCE. Releases of TCE into the environment occur during its manufacture, use, and disposal. The major use of TCE is as a degreaser for metal cleaning operations. It is also used in paint stripper, adhesive solvent, ingredient in paints and varnishes, in the manufacture of organic chemicals, silk screening, taxidermy, electronic cleaning, wood stains, varnishes, finishes, lubricants, adhesives, typewriter correction fluids, paint removers, and cleaners. More data are needed on the levels of TCE in private wells, indoor air, soil, food, blood across all ages, and mother's milk.
Vinyldene chloride (VDC)
VDC is used to make Saran-type (Johnson Wax, Racine, Wisconsin) plastics and as a degreasing agent. It has contaminated groundwater in many areas, and is ranked 11th among the hazardous chlorinated organic compounds found in US drinking water. 50% of the US population obtains their drinking water from a groundwater source. The major method of drinking water disinfection in the United States is by chlorination. Monochloroacetic acid (MCA) is formed as a result of chlorination of drinking water for disinfection and can be present at concentrations of approximately 1 µg/l. Coexposure of humans to these chemicals is possible. VDC and MCA are both hepatotoxic and interact with each other. VDC causes centrilobular necrosis of the liver and the elevation of serum enzymes, indicating hepatocellular damage. In animal studies of VDC that included MCA, there was a significant increase in VDC hepatotoxicity. Fasting and other conditions can enhance the injury caused by VDC, putting the poor at greater risk.
The write is journalist and ecologist. This is the last part of a two-part article
— NewsNetwork