01/21 Study Links PVC's with Enviro/Health Problems

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
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                   GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>> NEW STUDY LINKS PVC PLASTIC WITH DECLINES IN THE
ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH
 
COPENHAGEN, 21 January 1996 (GP) Greenpeace today cited new
evidence that common plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is
linked to a wide range of environmental and human health
problems. New research, released by the Danish Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), follows PVC's life cycle linking it
to harmful environmental and health effects.
 
The Danish study links the production, manufacture, use and
disposal of PVC with the chemical attack on human beings in
the form of endocrine disruption, reproductive disorders,
immune system suppression and a variety of cancers. In
particular PVC by-products such as dioxin and some PVC
additives are known to interfere with the hormonal systems of
living creatures, a phenomena which is currently causing grave
concern amongst environmental and human toxicologists.
 
"This latest report shows that you cannot make, use or dispose
of PVC plastic without risking our own health and the
environment." said Jan Soendergaard, of Greenpeace Denmark,
"The Danish Government now has the evidence it needs to decide
to phase out PVC, which is confirmed as the most dangerous of
all the plastics."
 
The study comes hot on the heels of the Swedish Parliament
recently agreeing on the need to phase out PVC. The Danish
Minister is also currently considering a phase out of soft PVC
because of the toxicity of PVC additives and is due to
announce a proposal by April.
 
Dioxin was recently included in a list of the twelve worst
toxic, persistent chemicals identified by a meeting of
international governments in Washington, DC in November 1995.
The international community agreed to set up a global legal
instrument to eliminate their production and release into the
environment.
 
The latest report, which was led by the Danish Environmental
Protection Agency, was reviewed by eight representatives from
the European PVC industry and representatives of the EPAs of
Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Germany.
 
Contact:
Jan Soendergaard, Greenpeace Denmark, +4533 935 344
Maddy Cobbing, Greenpeace International, +44 171 354 5100
Malini Morzaria, Greenpeace Communications, +44 171 833 0600 
Notes:
* Copy of Greenpeace summary of Danish report, `Environmental
aspects of PVC, Danish Technological Institut, November 1995,
available on request
* Copy of full 104 page report available on request
 
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF PVC - DANISH TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.
DUE TO BE RELEASED 22/1/96, COPENHAGEN
 
GREENPEACE SUMMARY & COMMENTARY.
 
This report has been compiled by the Danish Technological
Institute with a review panel representing the Environmental
Protection Agencies (EPAs) of Sweden, Norway, Germany, the
Netherlands and Denmark, and eight trade associations  and
industries representing the European PVC industry.  The Danish
EPA has overall responsibility.
 
The report is a study of the environmental and human health
effects related to PVC (poly vinyl chloride), and follows the
life cycle of PVC, from the production of the raw material, to
its manufacture, use and, finally, disposal. No
recommendations are made as a result of the study as it is
intended simply to present a factual account which can be used
to inform political decisions. In spite of the extensive input
from the PVC industry on the review panel, the report gives a
relatively thorough account of the environmental problems
encountered at each stage of the life cycle of PVC, as a
result of the hazardous raw materials and numerous additives
used to make PVC. These are as follows:
 
RAW MATERIALS.
 
- Large amounts of energy are used in all production processes
-totaling 66.80 MJ for every kg of PVC.
 
- The synthesising of Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) (the basic
raw material for PVC) gives rise to the emission of chlorine,
ethylene dichloride (EDC), hydrochloric acid, and chlorinated
by-products including dioxin. 'Chlorinated by-products,
including dioxins, are formed in the VCM process. These
compounds will end up either in the off gas, in the liquid
'light end' fraction, or in the process waste water.'
 
- The process which converts VCM into PVC (polymerisation)
'will cause emissions of VCM to the environment.'
 

The report states that 'emissions of VCM and EDC are the most
important substances to control, due to their potential large
emission and their health effects. From an environmental point
of view, it is further important to control releases of all
chlorinated substances from the VCM and PVC production.'
 
COMPOUNDING AND MANUFACTURE OF PVC PRODUCTS.
 
Particular attention is paid to the effects of additives -
especially plasticisers such as phthalates and stabilisers
such as organotin, as this is the area that has been least
well covered in previous studies.
 
-  Stabilisers.  'With respect to their toxicological  or
ecotoxicological effects the most important substances  are
identified to be: lead, and some of the organotins.' '.. it
can be concluded that di-n-butyltin dichloride is acute(ly)
toxic to the aquatic environment and should be classified as
dangerous to the  environment'.  Dibutyltin dichloride 'has 
immunotoxic properties and effects were seen in a
teratogenicity study at doses of 5 mg/kg/day.'

 
- Plasticisers. The most common of the phthlates, DEHP, has
been found in sewage treatment plants inlets in Denmark (30-50
micrograms/l), as well as in sewage sludge. 10 - 50% of the
DEHP 'passes through the waste water treatment plant to the
aquatic environment.'
 
The report cites evidence that all of the phthlates, which are
produced in extremely large quantities are toxic to aquatic
organisms.  These substances are also building up in  the
environment,  as 'due to lowered biodegradability  at  low
temperatures DEHP may accumulate in sediments and soils where
temperatures are relatively low'. Another plasticiser, DIDP
'may be toxic to aquatic organisms and it is bioaccumulable'. 
The report also refers to animal studies which have indicated
liver toxicity, carcinogenic effects and weakly positive 
results showing xenoestrogenic effects.
 
USE OF PVC PRODUCTS
 
The report finds that 'plasticiser is known to be extracted
from plasticised PVC eg. vinyl flooring or textiles with PVC
print or coating during cleaning. From platicised PVC used as
packaging most plasticisers will have some migration OT the
product after direct contact with a fatty product.'
 
Although PVC does not burn easily, accidental fires can also
lead to the release of hydrochloric acid and 'the soot formed
at the fire may contain traces of dioxins, dependent on the
fire conditions'.
 
WASTE MANAGEMENT OF USED PVC PRODUCTS
 
In Denmark, a total of 9,500 tonnes of chlorine are
incinerated a year, and 2/3 of this comes from PVC and that
'the formation of chlorinated compounds in the waste
incineration plant requires the presence of chlorine.' The
report finds that 'the main pollution problem caused by
incineration of PVC containing waste is the emission of
hydrochloric acid ... the content of PVC in the waste also
contributes to the emission of dioxins and heavy metals'.
These substances are also found in incinerator residues which
need to be kept away from ground water and surface water -'in
Denmark, the solid residues are deposited temporarily until
the problems with the leachate are solved satisfactorily.'
 
The enormous amount of PVC accumulated in construction
materials which will in future be discarded, and burned, will
be a substantial source of cadmium, lead and other heavy
metals to the environment.
 
A small section of the report deals with recycling, which
might be  possible in special circumstances, however, there 
are organisational and economic obstacles to recycling.  The
Danish EPA's point of view is that PVC recycling is a way  of
recirculating hazardous substances such as heavy metals into
the environment.
 
OMISSIONS
 
The report omits a great deal of data about the quantity of
dioxin produced during the manufacture of raw material for
PVC, perhaps because there is no primary production of PVC in
Denmark. For example, Stringer et al. (1995 showed that heavy
ends from a US plant contained over six parts permission of
dioxin.  ICI (1994) also found high levels of dioxins being
generated at their plant in the UK. The release of liquid
effluent from the PVC and solvents processes has caused severe
pollution of the company's settling lagoon (over 70,000
ng/kg). ICI state that given the conditions in their
oxychlorinated process it is difficult to see how it could be
modified to prevent PCDD/F formation.
 
The information given on the toxicity of dioxins is also
somewhat understated.  Dioxins affect immune systems,
reproduction and development at very low levels. There is also
accumulating evidence that they are human carcinogens.
 

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