What is vinyl chloride?
The bottom line
Vinyl chloride is a synthetic chemical used in PVC manufacturing and is also a component of cigarette smoke. Short-term inhalation of vinyl chloride vapors can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and cause headaches and dizziness. Chronic exposure to vinyl chloride is associated with an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Prevention Tips
Do not smoke cigarettes, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
If you are exposed to vinyl chloride at work, talk to your doctor about any unexplained signs or symptoms that you experience.
Move to fresh air immediately if you smell an unexpected odor.
This Really Happened
In November 2012, a freight train carrying vinyl chloride derailed in New Jersey and released approximately 20,000 gallons of vinyl chloride into the atmosphere. A shelter-in-place order was issued, and an evacuation zone was established. Two hundred fifty-six people (aged eight weeks to 80 years) sought medical care at an Emergency Department (ED) close to the derailment location. The most common presenting symptoms were upper respiratory irritation, cough, and headache. Six patients were hospitalized, but most of the hospitalized patients had diagnoses unrelated to the exposure. No life-threatening signs or symptoms were noted in the patients who presented for ED evaluation, but some patients had persistent symptoms that lasted for at least four weeks.
What is vinyl chloride monomer?
Vinyl chloride monomer is a manufactured chemical produced in the United States since the 1930s. Nearly all of the vinyl chloride produced in the United States is used in making polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other plastic products. To make PVC, ethylene and chlorine are combined to make the chemical ethylene dichloride, which is then converted into vinyl chloride monomers that polymerize to form PVC.
What is the structure of vinyl chloride?
The chemical structure of vinyl chloride is H2C=CHCl. Vinyl chloride is a volatile compound that exists in both gaseous and liquid forms. Vinyl chloride gas is colorless, heavier than air, and has a sweet odor. However, the ability to detect the odor does vary among individuals. Vinyl chloride is typically transported in pressurized containers in a liquid state.
Where is vinyl chloride found?
Vinyl chloride is found in the air as an emission product released by plastic and PVC manufacturers and is also a component of cigarette smoke. Since vinyl chloride is a component of PVC pipes used in drinking water systems throughout the United States, small amounts can leach out of the pipes and into the water supply. Since the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits the amount of PVC used in food packaging, food does not contain a significant amount of vinyl chloride.
What does vinyl chloride do to the body?
Vinyl chloride can enter the body through inhalation or swallowing. Short-term exposure to vinyl chloride results in headache, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, dizziness, coughing, and eye irritation. Inhalation of high concentrations of vinyl chloride can initially cause a pleasant taste in the mouth and euphoria followed by drowsiness. Repeat exposures can lead to headaches, irritability, numbness and tingling in the extremities, and memory changes. Chronic exposure to vinyl chloride is associated with an increased risk of developing liver disease, including cancer.
What is vinyl chloride disease?
Vinyl chloride disease is a term used to describe symptoms that develop in people with chronic exposure to vinyl chloride, typically in a workplace setting and after years of vinyl chloride exposure. Signs and symptoms of vinyl chloride disease include hardened or coarse skin, fingertip shortening and bone abnormalities, a cold sensation in the fingers and hands, and blanching of the fingertips.
Does vinyl chloride cause cancer?
Vinyl chloride monomer exposure is associated with the development of a rare type of liver cancer called hepatic angiosarcoma. The relationship between vinyl chloride and hepatic angiosarcoma was first identified in 1974 in three men involved in PVC manufacturing while working at a BF Goodrich plant in Kentucky. After additional cases of hepatic angiosarcoma were reported in other individuals who worked with vinyl chloride, the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set limits for workplace vinyl chloride exposures, and vinyl chloride was also banned from use in consumer products such as household paints and air fresheners.
What are other health effects of vinyl chloride?
After vinyl chloride is inhaled, it is broken down by the liver into potentially toxic byproducts that can cause DNA damage. In animal studies, vinyl chloride exposure is associated with DNA damage and gene mutations. In addition to increasing the risk of developing hepatic angiosarcoma, chronic vinyl chloride exposure is also linked to an increased risk of developing liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Some studies have also suggested an association between vinyl chloride and other cancers, including leukemia and brain cancer.
What do you do if vinyl chloride makes you sick?
If you are having unwanted or unexpected symptoms after exposure to chemicals such as vinyl chloride, use the webPOISONCONTROL online tool to get immediate help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
