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The Alliance For A Clean Environment |
PVC
The Poison Plastic There are SAFER ALTERNATIVES WHAT IS PVC? · PVC is the most environmentally damaging plastic. · The PVC lifecycle (its production, use and disposal) results in the release of toxic, chlorine based chemicals. · These toxins are building up in water, air and the food chain. · The results: severe health problems, including cancer, immune system damage, and hormone disruption. · No one can escape contamination. · Everyone, everywhere has measurable levels of chlorinated toxins in their bodies. PVC's entire life cycle, from production through use and disposal, has a negative impact on human health and our environment. The PVC industry has been plagued by workers health and safety issues for decades. Many industries are aware of what PVC is doing to people but they are doing nothing to stop the use and production of PVC. When PVC is burned it gives off toxic hydrogen chloride gas which turns into hydrochloric acid on contact with moisture within our lungs. Building materials which contain PVC account for more than 70% of all PVC usage. The Green Building Movement is one of the fastest growing aspects of the environmental movement. The extreme potency, global nature, and disproportionate hazardous impacts of dioxin relating to production, use, and disposal of PVC have already influenced many in the building and construction industry to plan for a phase-out of PVC. The use of PVC compares unfavorably with other building materials in: air quality, embodied energy, recyclable and lifecycle toxicity impacts. · PVC flooring has significant potential to damage our health. · Research shows that phthalates leach from PVC flooring and are found in dust in homes and in wash water. · Young children are of particular concern with regard to PVC floors. · PVC flooring is a source of indoor air pollutants due to the use of the chemicals in their manufacture. · PVC has been linked with various health effects including allergic diseases. · American Public Health Association · International Association of Firefighters · Association of Post Consumer Plastic Recyclers · Greenpeace · Center For Health, Environment, and Justice · Health Building Network PVC PHASE-OUT In recent years there have been many industries and businesses that have phased out PVC to protect human health and the environment. We believe many more companies will do the same. Here is a list of companies that took a stand to protect human health and the environment: · HDR Architecture · Dupont · Nike · Sydney 2000 Olympics Village · JM and Svenska Bostder · Saab · Braun · Ikea · Lego · Mattel · Universal Health Care · Baxter and Baxter Health Care Pottstown, Pa 1. Stop making PVC in order to protect the health of people in our community and your worker, all who use PVC products, and all who will ultimately be exposed to hazardous emissions from PVC disposal. 2. Change to safer alternatives to PVC. 3. Value the HEALTH of those exposed to Occidental's Vinyl Chloride and Dioxin emissions in Pottstown - REDUCE VINYL CHLORIDE emissions during transition. 4. Value jobs of Pottstown workers. Start the transition to safer PVC alternatives NOW, before this plant is shut down because consumers refuse to buy dangerous PVC products. 1. Create awareness concerning the harmful health effects that PVC can have on us and our children. Spread the word. 2. Write to your Congressional Representative and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (Make sure you write you local and state officials) 3. Avoid buying PVC products whenever possible. 4. Talk to firefighters, architects, engineers, plumbers, doctors, and hospital workers about the dangers of PVC. Ask them to support a PVC phase-out. resources: Greenpeace at www.greenpeaceusa.org/ Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) www.healthyflooring.org
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