The Biggest Problem: Vinyl in Building Construction

Production of vinyl is increasing worldwide. In the United States, vinyl construction materials are responsible for over 70% of all vinyl use. Vinyl is used as siding, flooring, fencing, roofing membranes, piping, windows, carpet, conduit and insulation, and wallpaper backing.

Vinyl is especially hazardous to human health when it burns or smolders in a house fire or in a municipal waste incinerator. In the process of combustion, vinyl releases deadly gases, including the carcinogenic dioxin and the potentially lethal hydrochloric acid. Occupants of a building that catches fire or first-responders can be in grave danger from exposure to dioxin and hydrochloric gas.

In fact, the position of the International Association of Firefighters, which represents fire fighters in the U.S. and Canada, is:

"Due to its intrinsic hazards, we support efforts to identify and use alternative building materials that do not pose as much risk as PVC to fire fighters, building occupants or communities." (Richard Duffy, Department of Occupational Health and Safety 4/14/98)

PVC is also used for consumer articles such as office furniture, binders, folders; it is used in the car industry, especially as underseal, in hospitals for medical disposables, as cable and wire insulation and for imitation leather and for garden furniture.