Vinyl chloride is a synthetic, highly flammable and potentially explosive gas that is used almost exclusively to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. It is acutely toxic and a known human carcinogen, and has harmed workers and communities for decades.

Vinyl chloride has been in the news a lot over the past year because it is the chemical that was spilled and intentionally burned in the aftermath of the February 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Less well known is the extent to which vinyl chloride is regularly emitted into the air and water, both during the course of normal operations at manufacturing and processing plants throughout the United States, and through unplanned air releases, leaks, and accidents – including hundreds of injuries and multiple fatalities. Vinyl chloride has contaminated air, soil, and groundwater in many communities, forcing people to either move, or suffer in place.

In the United States, ethane gas is derived from crude oil and natural gas–much of which is hydrofracked. The ethane is then steam cracked under high temperature and pressure to produce ethylene gas, which is used in turn to make plastics and other chemicals. Ethylene and chlorine – both of which are toxic and environmentally harmful in and of themselves – are combined with a catalyst to make ethylene dichloride (EDC), another highly toxic chemical. The EDC is then cracked to produce vinyl chloride, a gas at room temperature. Click here to see a flow chart of the manufacturing process.

Vinyl chloride is primarily manufactured at 12 facilities owned by five companies in Texas, Louisiana, and Kentucky. It is used primarily to make PVC plastic at 14 plants in those same three states, and in Mississippi, Illinois, and New Jersey. CLICK HERE TO VIEW A MAP.

While some vinyl chloride is used in certain wet applications such as adhesives and coatings, the vast majority of it is polymerized (the process of combining single molecules into a larger chain-like molecule) to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. PVC is used to make pipes for drinking water, irrigation, and sewage; building and construction products including siding, windows and flooring, electrical cable; product packaging; furniture and car parts; toys for children and pets; medical devices; clothing and footwear; and many other consumer goods.

Vinyl chloride can have both acute and chronic effects on the human body, depending on the type and level of exposure. Plant workers breathing in high levels of vinyl chloride may experience dizziness, headaches, and other effects on the central nervous system. The chemical can also irritate the eyes and respiratory tract, and can inhibit blood clotting. There is broad scientific consensus that chronic exposure to vinyl chloride results in liver damage and an increased risk of angiosarcoma and other liver cancers. Studies suggest that chronic exposures can damage the kidneys, central and peripheral nervous systems, joints, and skin; can increase the risk of cancers of the breast, brain, and lung, as well as lymphoma and leukemia. There is no level of exposure to vinyl chloride that is considered completely safe.

Health impacts are not limited to those who work at manufacturing sites. Air and water contaminated with vinyl chloride also impacts fenceline communities – those who live near vinyl chloride or PVC plants – as well as those who live along transportation routes.

Finally, the general population can be exposed to residual (unpolymerized) vinyl chloride present in PVC pipes that deliver drinking water, and in consumer products including toys and clothing. More study is needed by EPA to thoroughly evaluate these potential exposure pathways.

When vinyl chloride burns, for example in planned waste incineration, combustion byproducts are produced. The most toxic of these include phosgene, hydrogen chloride, and uncombusted vinyl chloride monomer. Dioxins are also created and released when vinyl chloride burns in an uncontrolled setting, such as in East Palestine, Ohio; Paulsboro, New Jersey; and Illiopolis, Illinois.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to ban vinyl chloride under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). In December 2023, the U.S. EPA named vinyl chloride as one of the five chemicals that is a candidate for high-priority designation. There are two 90-day comment periods during this “prioritization” process. Once EPA formally designates vinyl chloride as high priority – which will likely happen by December 23, 2024 – it will begin to conduct a multi-year, cradle-to-grave risk evaluation process, which will include at least one comment period. If EPA finds that vinyl chloride presents “unreasonable risk,” it will start a multi-year “risk management” process, which will also include at least one comment period. During the risk management process, EPA can decide to ban vinyl chloride. During any of the upcoming comment periods, you can submit a comment and tell the U.S. EPA why they should ban vinyl chloride.

The Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) is a federal law that provides EPA with broad authority to regulate chemicals across their lifecycle, from manufacturing through disposal. The law requires EPA to ensure that any chemical in commerce does not present “unreasonable risk” in connection with the circumstances under which that chemical substance is intended, known, or reasonably foreseen to be manufactured, processed, distributed in commerce, used, or disposed of including foreseeable but unplanned events like the weekly releases of vinyl chloride from accidents, leaks and spills. EPA must also determine whether the chemical presents unreasonable risk to any “potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation,” such as infants, children, pregnant women, workers, or the elderly. EPA’s risk evaluation must take into account aggregate and cumulative risks from all pathways of exposure, using all reasonably available information (which includes information that EPA can reasonably gather and generate).

The TSCA process takes place over a period of roughly six years. It begins with a 12-month prioritization period to determine if vinyl chloride will receive a “high priority” designation. Once a high-priority designation is determined, a comprehensive two-three-year risk evaluation will be conducted followed by a two-three-year risk management rule-making process.

Fenceline communities have both greater exposure and greater susceptibility to harm from vinyl chloride than the general population, as do children and people living along transportation routes and near waste disposal sites.

Almost two thirds of the people living within a three-mile radius of vinyl chloride and PVC plants are people of color, compared to 41% nationwide. Residents of these areas earn an average of $23,747 per capita: 37% below the national average of $37,638. Twenty-seven percent are children, compared to the national average of 22%.

Drinking water contamination and toxic air pollution have forced a large proportion of the residents of at least four Louisiana fenceline communities to relocate; other EJ communities remain at serious risk.

Sources: https://toxicfreefuture.org/research/pvc-poison-plastic/pvc-plastic-and-environmental-justice/

This is the easy part! Your help is imperative to get a ban on toxic vinyl chloride. Here are some options for you.

1. Urge the EPA Administrator to ban vinyl chloride as quickly as possible under TSCA.

2. Ask your members of Congress to support the banning of vinyl chloride.

3. Educate yourself and spread the word. Check out our vinyl chloride fact sheet and share it with your closest friends or consider tabling at an event at your local library, school, or community center.

4. Raise awareness in your community by hosting a free screening of the award-winning documentary film, Blue Vinyl. Learn how to host a screening.