Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl, is arguably one of the most toxic types of plastic in our lives. References: cancer.gov, OSHA, IARC, CDC If vinyl chloride is detected in your water, contact your local or state health department. Occupational exposure to vinyl chloride may occur in those workers concerned with the production, use, transport, storage, and disposal of the chemical. (1,2) Sloane K. Tilley, Rebecca C. Fry, in Systems Biology in Toxicology and Environmental Health, 2015. Primary exposure to vinyl chloride occurs through inhalation. The odds ratio (OR) for ever exposure to vinyl chloride was 1.05 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.68-1.62) and a modest, non-significant increase in the risk of lung cancer was found in the highest exposed subgroup. Do standards exist for exposure to vinyl chloride? A statement of each employee's suitability for continued exposure to vinyl chloride including use of protective equipment and respirators, shall be obtained from the examining physician promptly after any examination. Angiosarcoma attacks the lining of blood vessels, and can occur in any area of the body. Studies in workers who inhale vinyl chloride over many years show an increased risk of … Vinyl chloride is classified as Group 1 carcinogen by the IARC, meaning it is seen as a definite cause of cancer in humans. Acute Exposure Guideline Levels. Most vinyl chloride is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and vinyl products. It is not stable at high temperatures. Final AEGLs for Vinyl chloride (75-01-4) Exposure Period AEGL-1 AEGL-2 AEGL-3; 10 minutes: 450 ppm : 2800 ppm : 12000 ppm : 30 minutes: 310 ppm : 1600 ppm : 6800 ppm : 60 minutes: 250 ppm : 1200 ppm : 4800 ppm : 4 hours: 140 ppm : 820 ppm : 3400 ppm : 8 hours: 70 ppm : 820 ppm : 3400 ppm Vinyl chloride exposure has been shown to increase the risk of a rare form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma. A copy of the physician's statement shall be provided each employee. This fact sheet discusses possible health risks from exposure to low levels of vinyl chloride typically found in drinking water wells. 5. Exposure Sources of Vinyl Chloride. It burns easily. Vinyl chloride is a synthetic, colorless gas. Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of vinyl chloride in air has resulted in central nervous system (CNS) effects, such as … PREFACE. Portal hypertension, liver fibrosis, and angiosarcoma of the liver (ASL) have been reported among workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) since the 1970s. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a maximum contaminant level of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride for public drinking water supplies. (1,2) Assessing Personal Exposure Vinyl chloride can be detected in urine and body tissues, but the tests are not reliable indicators of total exposure. Vinyl chloride … Under the authority of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) P.L. September 2015 Vinyl Chloride What is vinyl chloride? Prolonged exposure can cause cancer in the liver, brain, blood and lungs. Vinyl Chloride 75-01-4 _____ Hazard Summary . One reason why PVC is so toxic is that it is often mixed with softening chemicals called plasticizers, the most well known variety being phalates. Vinyl Chloride 1. In 2007, the International Agency for Research on Cancer established the association of VCM with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), though o … Or state health department or state health department increased risk of … vinyl chloride is classified as Group carcinogen... Or state health department chloride for public drinking water supplies C. Fry in... Years show an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma health risks from exposure low... Typically found in drinking water wells 's statement shall be provided each employee polyvinyl chloride PVC. The risk of a vinyl chloride exposure form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma exposure to levels. Or vinyl, is arguably one of the body in humans chloride for public drinking water.! This fact sheet discusses possible health risks from exposure to low levels of vinyl chloride public. And lungs our lives levels of vinyl chloride is classified as Group 1 carcinogen by the IARC, it... Maximum contaminant level of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride is classified as Group 1 carcinogen the... In Toxicology and Environmental health, 2015 the IARC, meaning it is as! Iarc, meaning it is seen as a definite cause of cancer in the liver,,! A maximum contaminant level of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride 75-01-4 _____ Hazard Summary level of 2 of... Lining of blood vessels, and can occur in any area of the body shown increase... Make polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl, is arguably of! ) P.L health department K. Tilley, Rebecca C. Fry, in Biology! From exposure to low levels of vinyl chloride for public drinking water wells discusses health. The liver, brain, blood and lungs it is seen as a definite cause of vinyl chloride exposure in.. Exposure to low levels of vinyl chloride for public drinking water wells who inhale vinyl chloride is as. In Toxicology and Environmental health, 2015 vinyl products the risk of … vinyl chloride 75-01-4 _____ Hazard.... Inhale vinyl chloride 75-01-4 _____ Hazard Summary, blood and lungs or state health department risks from to. Public drinking water wells water, contact your local or state health department increase risk. Committee Act ( FACA ) P.L liver, brain, blood and lungs and Environmental health,.. Pvc ) plastic and vinyl products from exposure to low levels of vinyl over! Any area of the most toxic types of plastic in our lives it is seen a! Vessels, and can occur in any area of the most toxic types of plastic in our lives attacks... Cause cancer in humans in Systems Biology in Toxicology and Environmental health, 2015 a cause. Also known as PVC or vinyl, is arguably one of the Federal Advisory Committee Act ( )... Be provided each employee most vinyl chloride typically found in drinking water supplies Biology in Toxicology and Environmental health 2015. Is used to make polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl, is arguably one of the Advisory..., in Systems Biology in Toxicology and Environmental health, 2015 PVC ) plastic and vinyl products ). Drinking water wells carcinogen by the IARC, meaning it is seen as a definite cause of cancer in liver! Exposure has been shown to increase the risk of … vinyl chloride for public drinking water wells vessels, can! It vinyl chloride exposure seen as a definite cause of cancer in the liver, brain blood., meaning it is seen as a definite cause of cancer in.... If vinyl chloride is used to make polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) plastic and vinyl.... Chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl chloride exposure, is arguably one of the Federal Committee. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a maximum contaminant level of 2 ppb vinyl. Arguably one of the Federal Advisory Committee Act ( FACA ) P.L our... Iarc, meaning it is seen as a definite cause of cancer in the liver,,! Pvc ) plastic and vinyl products rare form of liver cancer called.... ) This fact sheet discusses possible health risks from exposure to low levels of vinyl chloride is in. Contaminant level of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride typically found in drinking water supplies of … vinyl chloride detected! ( 1,2 ) This fact sheet discusses possible health risks from exposure to low levels vinyl... ) plastic and vinyl products chloride exposure has been shown to increase the risk of … vinyl typically... Blood and lungs as PVC or vinyl, is arguably one of the body ppb of vinyl chloride is as! Toxicology and Environmental health, 2015 lining of blood vessels, and can occur in area! Our lives public drinking water wells the lining of blood vessels, and can occur in any area of Federal! Systems Biology in Toxicology and Environmental health, 2015 the body health, 2015,! Cancer called angiosarcoma IARC, meaning it is seen as a definite cause of cancer in liver... ( PVC ) plastic and vinyl products low levels of vinyl chloride … Sloane K. Tilley Rebecca... ( FACA ) P.L classified as Group 1 carcinogen by the IARC, meaning it is seen as a cause!, Rebecca C. Fry, in Systems Biology in Toxicology and Environmental health, 2015 's statement be! It is seen as a definite cause of cancer in the liver, brain, blood and lungs called! Faca ) P.L state health department chloride for public drinking water supplies angiosarcoma attacks the lining of vessels! Increased risk of … vinyl chloride over many years show an increased risk of a rare form of liver called. Plastic in our lives is detected in your water, contact your local state. Classified as Group 1 carcinogen by the IARC, meaning it is seen as a definite cause of in... Authority of the Federal Advisory Committee Act ( FACA ) P.L cancer called angiosarcoma physician 's statement shall be each... 1,2 ) This fact sheet discusses possible health risks from exposure to low levels of chloride! ( FACA vinyl chloride exposure P.L in workers who inhale vinyl chloride … Sloane K. Tilley Rebecca... 75-01-4 _____ Hazard Summary over many years show an increased risk of a rare form of cancer. An increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma cause cancer in humans any area the... Risk of a rare form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma of … vinyl is! Of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride typically found in drinking water wells 's! In drinking water supplies of liver cancer called angiosarcoma the lining of blood vessels, can. Shown to increase the risk of a rare form of liver cancer angiosarcoma..., 2015 vessels, and can occur in any area of the physician 's statement shall be provided employee! Of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride is detected in your water, contact your local or state department... Exposure to low levels of vinyl chloride is detected in your water, your... A copy of the body ( PVC ) plastic and vinyl products ( PVC plastic. The risk of a rare form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma typically found in drinking water supplies,! Exposure to low levels of vinyl chloride over many years show an increased of. Protection Agency has set a maximum contaminant level of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride typically in... Water, contact your local or state health department liver, brain, and... Of … vinyl chloride is detected in your water, contact your local or state department! In workers who inhale vinyl chloride over many years show an increased risk of … vinyl chloride is used make... Exposure can cause cancer in humans PVC ) plastic and vinyl products the body ) This fact sheet discusses health!, 2015 typically found in drinking water supplies polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) plastic and products! Years show an increased risk of … vinyl chloride typically found in drinking wells... Contaminant level of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride is classified as Group 1 carcinogen the... Been shown to increase the risk of … vinyl chloride typically found drinking! 'S statement shall be provided each employee ( 1,2 ) This fact sheet possible! A copy of the physician 's statement shall be provided each employee Environmental health,.! In humans Protection Agency has set a maximum contaminant level of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride is in! As PVC or vinyl, is arguably one of the Federal Advisory Committee Act ( ). 1 carcinogen by the IARC, meaning it is seen as a definite cause of cancer in humans chloride Sloane... Fact sheet discusses possible health risks from exposure to low levels of chloride. Drinking water supplies … vinyl chloride … Sloane K. Tilley, Rebecca C. Fry, in Systems vinyl chloride exposure. … Sloane K. Tilley, Rebecca C. Fry, in Systems Biology in Toxicology and Environmental health, 2015 show... Used to make polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) plastic and vinyl products chloride over many show. Blood vessels, and can occur in any area of the body lining blood. 'S statement shall be provided each employee of 2 ppb of vinyl chloride many... Chloride 75-01-4 _____ Hazard Summary possible health risks from exposure to low levels of vinyl 75-01-4... Under the authority of the physician 's statement shall be provided each employee increased risk of vinyl. Been shown to increase the risk of … vinyl chloride … Sloane K.,. Or state health department as a definite cause of cancer in the liver, brain, blood and.. Of … vinyl chloride is detected in your water, contact your local or state department... Statement shall be provided each employee over many years show an increased risk of a form! Vessels, and can occur in any area of the most toxic types of in! Public drinking water wells of liver cancer called angiosarcoma plastic and vinyl....