What’s So Toxic About Plastic?

The Toxicity of Plastics and their Role in the Lives of Children

Introduction to Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Plastic polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is commonly known as “vinyl.” While all plastics pose serious toxic threats, few people realize that:

• PVC is the most environmentally damaging plastic.
  
  
• PVC is a very common plastic. On the global scale, it is one of the biggest contributors to the flood of toxic substances that can cause severe problems for human health and the environment.
  
  
• Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen.
  
  
• PVC is an environmental poison throughout its life cycle because of its unique high chlorine content and chemical additives.
  
  
• PVC plastic is not safe for children because it contains additives that are not bound to the plastic and can leach out into food and onto our skin.
  
  
• When PVC burns (such as vinyl siding burning in a house fire), it releases hydrogen chloride gas which poses a direct threat to fire fighters. Breathing hydrogen chloride gas causes lung damage and even death.
  
  

The manufacturing of PVC and its incineration produces persistent organic pollutants that travel through the air and water, get into the food chain. PVC bio-accumulates and becomes stored in body fat of animals and humans.

PVC is #3: The only way to avoid PVC is to LEARN TO IDENTIFY IT! On packaging, look for the #3 or the letters "PVC," often found next to the three-arrow "recycling" symbol.

In every case where PVC is used, alternatives to it exist. PVC cannot be readily recycled!

PVC Production Results In Dioxin:

What makes PVC production so harmful to our children? The ‘C’ in PVC stands for “chloride.” When chlorine in PVC is produced, used or burned, the process creates dioxin. Dioxins are ubiquitous, low level environmental contaminants; for example, dioxin was responsible for the contamination at Love Canal and Times Beach.. With cumulative exposure, they are potential carcinogens and may cause reproductive or developmental health problems.

THERE IS NO SAFE LEVEL OF DIOXIN EXPOSURE! The EPA has also concluded that the levels of dioxin currently found in adults AND CHILDREN are already high enough to present significant health threats to the American public.

PVC is Made with Phthalates

Potentially harmful chemicals called phthalates are added to PVC to make it soft, for example for use in infant toys. Phthalates (pronounced thay-lates) are not bound to the plastic and thus can leach out of infant toys that are chewed and sucked. As the phthalates leach out, they can be swallowed or absorbed by children.

Phthalates are known to cause liver and kidney damage, endocrine disruption, reproductive system damage and in some cases, cancer.

The Connection between PVC, Phthalates and Human Hormone Disruption

Phthalates, the plasticizer in PVC, and dioxin, are suspected endocrine disruptors. These substances capable of interfering with our hormones by mimicking them, blocking them, or otherwise changing normal hormone behavior. Endocrine disruptors can cause harm to a number of systems in the body.

A 2003 study by researchers at Case Western University found that exposure to a common plasticizer, Bisphenol A, causes birth defects in mice. The scientists say that it is reasonable to assume that these same effects can occur in human embryos.

These chemicals harm our children and the younger the child is the greater is the risk of harm. The unborn child is thus at greatest risk. Hormone disruptors affect the developing fetus and young children by causing a variety of endocrine and reproductive system defects including malformations of newborns, undecended testicles, abnormal sperm, low sperm counts, feminization of males and masculinization of females, thyroid dysfunction, and various types of cancer such as cervical, breast and prostate cancer.

PVC Is Made With Heavy Metals

Heavy metals like lead and cadmium are added to make the rigid type of PVC more durable for use in older children's toys and other consumer products. These additives are also capable of leaching out of PVC plastic. Lead causes damage to the nervous system, leading to decreased learning ability and behavioral deficits. Cadmium is known to produce cancer and in animal tests causes kidney damage; it can affect the developing brain.

What Types of Products Can Contain PVC Plastic?

• Teething & squeeze toys Athletic shoes Plastic toys
  
• Vinyl dashboards & seats Vinyl flooring PVC pipes
  
• Plastic bottles & containers Wallpaper Shower curtains
  
• Decorations on T-shirts Vinyl sheeting Cling wrap for kitchen use
  
• Curtain and mini-blinds backings Vinyl Siding for construction LP records
  
  
  

What Alternatives Can Parents Use To Reduce the Toxins That May Impact Their Children’s Health?

PVC can be replaced with safer materials in virtually all cases. You can use traditional materials such as glass, ceramics, clay and linoleum instead of PVC vinyl. Select plastics that are PVC-free and chlorine-free. Avoid products with the recycling number 3 on the bottom. Avoid using vinyl products in all housing construction materials.

As a consumer, demand PVC-free products. Contact your favorite companies and ask what the product is made from or packaged in. Companies that have stopped using PVC for packaging include The Body Shop, Vittell and Evian water bottlers, Procter & Gamble, Mattel, IKEA, Sony, Herlitz, and AEG. Nike has built a “PVC-free” headquarters in Europe.