Is your city’s water safe?
The EPA's designation of vinyl chloride as a high-priority substance highlights critical concerns about the safety of PVC pipes in your water systems, so what can you do about it?
What is Vinyl Chloride?
Vinyl Chloride
Classified by the World Health Organization as a human carcinogen, vinyl chloride has long been known to be associated with severe health and environmental hazards.
EPA Review
In an important step of public health and environmental safety, the EPA has designated vinyl chloride as a high-priority substance.
Elected Officials
Elected Officials
Need to understand the possible dangers associated with their city’s water infrastructure and what they should do about it.
Make informed decisions about the health and safety of your city’s water infrastructure.
The U.S. EPA's review of vinyl chloride highlights critical and growing concerns about the safety of PVC pipes in throughout drinking water systems in the nation. Now is the time to act to ensure the health of your community and for future generations. Cities large and small and their leaders have been highly criticized for their inability to provide safe drinking water to their communities. Whether its unclean drinking water, chemical spills or the hazards of lead pipes, elected officials are in the spotlight.
What is vinyl chloride used to make?
Vinyl chloride is used primarily to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a hard plastic resin used to make a variety of plastic products, including pipes, wire and cable coatings, and packaging materials. (PVC is not a known or suspected carcinogen.)
Health Concerns
Vinyl chloride has been a health concern since 1974 when the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned its use in aerosols. Research has shown that exposure to vinyl chloride can lead to serious health concerns. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. EEPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have all classified vinyl chloride as a human carcinogen.
The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer categorizes vinyl chloride as a group 1 agent, meaning it is "carcinogenic to humans." Group 1 agents are defined as having sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and experimental animals.
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, vinyl chloride can irritate the eyes, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract. Escaping compressed gas or liquid can cause frostbite or irritation of the skin and eyes.
Chronic exposure can cause permanent liver injury and liver cancer, neurologic or behavioral symptoms, and changes to the skin and bones of the hand.
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/MMG/MMGDetails.aspx?mmgid=278&toxid=51
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/MMG/MMGDetails.aspx?mmgid=278&toxid=51
Additionally, technologies to minimize PVC microparticle emissions, especially at recycling facilities and landfills, should be implemented and improved.
The release of PVC microparticles contributes to plastic pollution and contains harmful additives. Therefore, minimizing their release would reduce emissions of these additives.
https://echa.europa.eu/
The release of PVC microparticles contributes to plastic pollution and contains harmful additives. Therefore, minimizing their release would reduce emissions of these additives.
https://echa.europa.eu/
Comprehensive Toxicology
According to the 2018 Edition of Comprehensive Toxicology, vinyl chloride is an industrial monomer predominantly used in polyvinyl chloride production. It is also present in tobacco smoke and found in numerous Superfund sites due to microbial dechlorination of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/referencework/9780081006016/comprehensive-toxicology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/referencework/9780081006016/comprehensive-toxicology
Environmental Concerns
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a draft toxicological profile for vinyl chloride, highlighting its extensive use in the plastics industry and its potential to leach into groundwater from various sources.
Risk of inhalation vinyl chloride.
Previous Restrictions
In the 1970s, the White House Council on Environmental Quality and EPA officials raised serious concerns about the health impacts of vinyl chloride, leading to the passage of the “original” TSCA in 1976. Since 1974, the EPA has taken significant steps to ban the use of vinyl chloride in various products due to its potential health and environmental risks. Vinyl chloride is banned in the following uses:
Aerosol Spray Propellants
PVC Food Packaging
Consumer Products
These bans and restrictions aim to reduce exposure to vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen, and to protect public health and the environment.
As a city leader who is responsible for the health and safety of your residents, what should you do?
First, you need to determine if your city’s water utility is using PVC pipes in its water infrastructure.
If your water utility uses PVC pipes, you must address the concern, understanding that restrictions and bans could be enforced upon the completion of the EPA’s review.
Many cities have taken a proactive stance, choosing to transition from PVC to alternative materials due to compelling research on vinyl chloride. This could serve as a model for your city’s approach.
First, you need to determine if your city’s water utility is using PVC pipes in its water infrastructure.
If your water utility uses PVC pipes, you must address the concern, understanding that restrictions and bans could be enforced upon the completion of the EPA’s review.
Many cities have taken a proactive stance, choosing to transition from PVC to alternative materials due to compelling research on vinyl chloride. This could serve as a model for your city’s approach.
Stay informed to protect your community.
By staying informed about the U.S. EPA's review of vinyl chloride, you can better understand the potential risks associated with this chemical. Your proactive engagement in this issue can help ensure the well-being of your constituents and the environment.
Stay Informed
For updates on the ongoing EPA review of vinyl chloride, its impact on water utilities and what you can do to ensure safe drinking water in your community, subscribe to our mailing list.
Need more information?
DIPRA’s regional engineers are here to provide support and resources for making informed decisions and ensuring safe drinking water for your communities.
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