What even is PVC?

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a plastic used in an exhausting list of products like water pipes, toys, tape, artificial Christmas trees, plastic wrap, drinking straws, food packaging, medication packaging, IV bags and tubes, credit cards, shower curtains, clear shoe heels, and synthetic patent leather, to name a few. This is all fine and well, except that vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen.

The Environmental Protection Agency sums up the human effects of vinyl chloride exposure as follows, “Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of vinyl chloride in air has resulted in central nervous system effects (CNS), such as dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches in humans. Chronic (long-term) exposure to vinyl chloride through inhalation and oral exposure in humans has resulted in liver damage. Cancer is a major concern from exposure to vinyl chloride via inhalation, as vinyl chloride exposure has been shown to increase the risk of a rare form of liver cancer in humans.”

When PVC biodegrades it releases toxins into the air, soil, and water table, which carry into fish, wildlife, and humans.

One hopes that some genius will come up with alternatives to PVC so we aren’t running our drinking water, and life saving medicine, through toxic tubes so much longer.