WHAT IS VINYL CHLORIDE?

Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas that has a mild, sweet odor. It is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic products. Vinyl chloride can enter the air, soil, and groundwater following improper disposal of chemical wastes.

HOW CAN I BE EXPOSED TO VINYL CHLORIDE?

Drinking contaminated water can expose you to vinyl chloride; however, the most common way people are exposed is through breathing contaminated air. If your water supply is contaminated, showering, bathing, cooking, or laundering with the water can release vinyl chloride into the air where you can breathe it. Vinyl chloride is not easily absorbed by the skin.

HOW CAN VINYL CHLORIDE AFFECT MY HEALTH?

Most of what we know about the harmful effects of vinyl chloride comes from studies on male workers in the plastics industry and from animal studies. Breathing high levels of vinyl chloride can make you feel lightheaded and give you a headache. Recovery is usually rapid if exposure is stopped and fresh air is breathed. Animal studies show that exposure to high levels of vinyl chloride can damage the liver, lungs, and kidneys.

Breathing very high levels of vinyl chloride over several years is thought to cause liver damage, kidney damage, nerve damage, and immune disorders. Workers exposed to high levels of vinyl chloride for several years have higher rates of liver cancer. Pregnant women may have an increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects when exposed to very high levels of vinyl chloride in air. These high levels would not be expected in a home. It is not known whether breathing air or drinking water containing low levels of vinyl chloride over several years will cause these same effects.

How can I reduce my exposure to vinyl chloride?

You should avoid drinking water contaminated with vinyl chloride. Installation of an in-home activated carbon filter can remove most of the vinyl chloride from water. Using bottled water will reduce exposure. If you use contaminated water for other uses in the home, ventilate bathrooms, washrooms, and kitchens during and after water use.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF MY WATER IS CONTAMINATED?

If you are connected to a public water system, your water is regularly tested for vinyl chloride. If you have a private well, you can get your water tested by a private laboratory listed in the phone book. If vinyl chloride is detected in your water, contact your local or state health department.

DO STANDARDS EXIST FOR EXPOSURE TO VINYL CHLORIDE?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a maximum contaminant level of 2 micrograms of vinyl chloride per liter of water for public drinking water supplies. This standard is established to reduce the chance of adverse health effects from drinking contaminated water. This level also can be used as a guideline for private drinking water sources.

There are no standards set for the amount of vinyl chloride allowed in the air of homes. If you can smell vinyl chloride in the air, the level is too high. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set a workplace standard of 2.6 milligrams of vinyl chloride per cubic meter of air. This level is set for adult workers exposed eight hours per day, five days per week. It is not protective of children or the elderly in the home environment.

IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO DETERMINE IF I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO VINYL CHLORIDE?

Vinyl chloride can be detected in the urine after recent exposures. This test is not routinely available at most medical facilities, and its results may not accurately reflect the level or duration of the exposure. A positive test for vinyl chloride is not particularly useful in predicting future health effects.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Environmental Health
525 W. Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62761
217-782-5830
TTY (hearing impaired use only) 800-547-0466

This fact sheet was supported in part by funds from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act trust fund through a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.