8 November 2007

PVC factories are target

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is a cheap, durable form of plastic good for building materials such as pipes, as well as consumer products such as toys, electronics, and shower curtains.

The Wall Street Journal reported packaging made of PVC includes the soft plastic zipper bags that hold sheets and the hard plastic containers for small electronics.

PVC is vinyl chloride, which the Environmental Protection Agency has classified as a human carcinogen.

People encounter the chemical through discharge of gases from factories, groundwater, and occupational exposure, the agency said.

A concern with vinyl products is they may contain lead, which can pose a problem if the plastic deteriorates or if children put the products in their mouths.

Earlier this year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers that old and peeling, vinyl baby bibs could expose children to unsafe levels of lead.

Phthalates, chemicals often added to PVC to increase flexibility, may cause reproductive development problems in males.

The European Union and California have banned the sale of toys containing phthalates. The California ban will go into effect in 2009.