Frequently Asked Questions
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Vinyl products are widely used. Naturally, consumers want to find out as much as they can about the properties and safe use of these products. Some commonly asked questions are answered here. For more information visit the sections in this site or contact us at info@vinyl.org.au
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What does 'PVC' stand for?
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PVC is a plastic called polyvinyl chloride. PVC is commonly referred to as vinyl and the two names are interchangeable. PVC is a resin. Depending on the function required, the resin is combined with other materials such as plasticisers, stabilisers, lubricants and colorants.
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How much manufactured chlorine goes into the PVC industry?
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Worldwide, about 35 per cent of chlorine produced is used in the PVC industry. Chlorine is one of the most commonly occurring elements. Man-made chlorine is vital to many industries producing valuable modern products.
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Is it true that people working in the PVC industry can contract cancer from the chemical, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)?
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In the early 1970s, a link between vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and a rare form of cancer, angiosarcoma of the liver, was discovered. PVC workers with prolonged and high exposure were found to be at risk. Once the link was discovered, industry and governments took quick action to reduce the level of potential exposure. Exposure limits are now much lower, and no cases of the cancer have been detected in workers who have joined the industry since that time.
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Do PVC factories emit large amounts of dioxin into the environment?
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No. Studies in Australia, the US, UK and the Netherlands have shown that only very small amounts of dioxin can be attributed to VCM or PVC production. Dioxin emissions in Europe and the US have halved in the last thirty years while PVC production has increased 300 per cent. In Australia, it is estimated that 60-80 per cent of dioxin emissions to air arise from agricultural burning off, residential wood combustion and bushfires. The manufacture in Australia of all chemicals based on chlorine (i.e. halogen chemicals) contributes less than 1per cent to the total emission of dioxin.
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Are dioxins present in the PVC that is used to make everyday products?
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No. Dioxins have not been found in PVC polymer at the limits of detection, even using today's highly advanced measurement techniques.
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What are plasticisers?
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Plasticisers make PVC soft and flexible. A number of different products are used as plasticisers including groups of chemicals known as phthalates (or phthalate esters), citrates and adipates.
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Is PVC cling film safe?
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Yes. Plasticised PVC films have been a major contributor to food safety, having properties that both protect and preserve food. Any material used to package food may result in some transfer of its constituents to the foodstuff. The migration of plasticiser from PVC film is at levels which are considered harmless by international health and legislative authorities. All Australian-made films comply with Australian Standard for Plastics and Food Contact, AS 2070.
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What are plasticisers and why does PVC require them?
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To make PVC soft and flexible, plasticisers are added. A number of different products are used as plasticisers including categories of chemicals known as phthalates (or phthalate esters), citrates and adipates.
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Environment groups claim that plasticisers used in PVC disrupt the human hormone system. If there's any risk of this, should we still be using these substances in PVC?
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There are risks associated with the use of any product, and those associated with the use of phthalate plasticisers appear to be small. Phthalate plasticisers have been used worldwide for over 40 years and have been extensively studied for health effects. No phthalate plasticiser has displayed estrogenicity in live animal studies. It appears phthalates do not have significant effects on the female hormone, oestrogen. Research has turned instead to the possibility of androgenic effects (i.e. effects on the male hormone). Recent studies suggest effects may be possible in laboratory animals at high doses. The European Union has conducted comprehensive risk assessments on the commonly used phthalates to assess their safety. View more information: Plasticisers
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What happens when PVC products burn in building fires?
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PVC has low flammability and rate of heat release due to its low organic/high chlorine content. Pure PVC will self-extinguish once the external heat or flame source is removed. Rigid PVC materials such as those used for pipe, vertical blinds and siding, are recognised for their excellent fire retardant properties. The fire properties of flexible PVC products depend on the quantity and composition of plasticiser added.
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Are PVC emissions a danger to people in building fires?
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The toxicity of building fire emissions from PVC is neither better nor worse than many other common materials. The most dangerous aspects of any fire are heat, smoke and carbon monoxide. These are produced by all organic materials when they burn. Hydrogen chloride is produced when chlorine-containing materials, including PVC are burnt. It is a severe irritant gas, and has a very pungent odour so is quickly detected. At the levels encountered in building fires, hydrogen chloride remains an irritant and is not lethal. To our knowledge, no building fire fatality has ever been attributed to PVC by building fire authorities.
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Do PVC products cause a waste problem?
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No, around 80% of PVC is used for products which last for between 15 and 100 years and this long life means PVC waste volumes are relatively low. Many building materials such as window frames, water distribution and drainage pipes and electrical cable insulation and conduit last 50 or more years. 10% of products are used for between two and 15 years e.g. computer housing, car parts and furniture. Only 10% is used for less than two years and these include things that can only be used once like medical packaging. PVC packaging materials have a short life and most frequently end up as household refuse. On the whole, PVC is not designed to be wasted. View more information: End-of-Life
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Does discarded PVC pollute soil and groundwater in landfill?
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Studies show that PVC does not pollute soil and groundwater. PVC doesn’t degrade in landfill, so is not considered to add significantly to toxicity of leachate in landfill. Although vinyl chloride gas may be present in landfill, it is formed from the degradation of other less stable chlorinated hydrocarbons, not from PVC.
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Does the incineration of PVC cause the emission of large amounts of dioxins?
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PVC in the waste stream of properly operated incinerators has a negligible effect on the amount of dioxins emitted. Dioxin emissions are primarily the result of combustion temperature and efficiency of operation, both of which can be controlled with the use of modern incineration technology. Municipal waste incineration and halogen (chlorine-based) chemical manufacture contribute less than 1per cent to total dioxin emissions in Australia. View more information: Incineration
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Does PVC material contaminate the recycling of other plastics? Is PVC difficult to recycle?
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Plastics may have different melt temperatures which makes them incompatible with one another for reprocessing together. PVC and PET, for example, are incompatible. Consequently, it is important that different polymers are sorted to improve recyclate quality.
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Over its lifecycle, how does PVC compare to other materials? Can it be readily substituted for more environmentally benign materials?
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Several life cycle or ‘cradle-to-grave’ studies have been completed for PVC in some of its major applications. These indicate that the environmental performance of PVC in its major applications is as good, or better than, alternative products. In some of its applications, there are few or no readily available alternative materials offering the same or improved beneficial properties. PVC is one of the most thoroughly tested of all materials. Where alternatives do exist, they may not have been subjected to the same degree of rigorous assessment. The Vinyl Council supports selection of all products based on merit in terms of fitness for purpose, life cycle cost and life cycle environmental performance.
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Are there any organised PVC recycling programs in industry similar to kerbside collection?
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The building and construction industry organises several collection schemes. Cable sheathing, profiles and PVC pipe are among the items collected for re-use. Both off cuts from new products and PVC which is no longer needed are suitable for recycling into new products.
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