A comprehensive analysis reveals the environmental and health risks of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), prompting international efforts to curb its use.
Nicola Jones reports for Yale Environment 360.
In short:
- PVC, associated with carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, is under scrutiny by environmentalists and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- The upcoming global plastics treaty aims to significantly reduce plastics pollution, possibly including a ban on PVC.
- Alternatives to PVC exist, but challenges remain in balancing cost, health, and environmental impacts.
Key quote:
"It’s the "worst of the worst" when it comes to plastics.
— Judith Enck, policy expert with Beyond Plastics
Why this matters:
The reconsideration of PVC's place in our daily lives and industries is driven by its staggering impact on U.S. health and healthcare. The organization Beyond Plastics has welcomed the analysis, calling it "one of the most important chemical review processes ever undertaken by the EPA."
