I read today that Sears is moving to phase out pvc in all their products and packaging due to health concerns. Apparently, Target and Walmart have also done this to a lesser extent already. Here's the specific paragraph from the article that concerned me most:
"PVC is a plastic used in building materials, packaging, toys and clothing. The material has come under attack from environmental groups that say it releases chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects."
And here's a link to the article:
news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071...ng_pvc_dc_2
I know we have discussed the safety of certain tapes and the concerns about working with electrical tape but I don't think we've discussed the relative safety of working with pvc tubing. I know I work with it a lot. I just made a ton of hoops for Christmas presents. Does anyone have any information about the safety, or lack thereof, of working with pvc tubing?
"PVC is a plastic used in building materials, packaging, toys and clothing. The material has come under attack from environmental groups that say it releases chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects."
And here's a link to the article:
news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071...ng_pvc_dc_2
I know we have discussed the safety of certain tapes and the concerns about working with electrical tape but I don't think we've discussed the relative safety of working with pvc tubing. I know I work with it a lot. I just made a ton of hoops for Christmas presents. Does anyone have any information about the safety, or lack thereof, of working with pvc tubing?
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Raleigh
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Wed, December 12, 2007 - 10:38 AMWell if you google "health issues of pvc" You'll see that it has 3 main issues: dioxane production during plastification, PVC leakage when exposed to certain chemicals (typically health care), and interference of other plastics during recycling. Your odds of direct helth impact from hooping is pretty much null.
However, I would also like to point out that I have yet to see a PVC hoop. Most are made of irrigation tubing which is typically a polyethyl product, or sometimes a stiffened silicon. There are also many forms of vinyl that are not PVC: PVA, PVB, and others. The term PVC gets tossed around a lot like "Kleenex" which is one brand, but not the actual descriptive term for all facial tissues. It's quite likely that you're not using it at all. -
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Wed, December 12, 2007 - 11:29 AMThat's so interesting Tedward. Thanks!
And whew! At least for us. Not so much for the environment it sounds like. My friend Ali Cat made a hoop out of bamboo once. She wet, bent and bound the bamboo then tied it at junctures and covered those junctures with leather. It was neat but it was heavy. Still, until I can figure out a way to make a hoop out of natural resources, I'm stuck with the tubing we use and I'm grateful for it. I just want it to be safe. It would be great if it didn't contribute to environmental degradation too though. -
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Wed, December 12, 2007 - 5:09 PMI am not 100% sure but I think the tubing from Lowes here in Raleigh is made of Polyethylene (PE). -
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Thu, December 13, 2007 - 5:26 AMI HIGHLY recomment the movie/documentary "Blue Vinyl". It is an eye opener for sure. The people of Lake Charles, Luisianna are the most endangered by PVC production.
PVC in its finished form isn't toxic, but the production and waste is toxic. The american and Italian manufacturers have known about it for over 50 years, but little has been done.
In one Itallian factory, 150 workers died because of PVC dust in the air.
Like I said, please, see Blue Vinyl. -
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Fri, December 14, 2007 - 7:49 PMThanks for the movie recommendation Joanna...
And for bringing up the ? Caroleeena....
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Thu, December 20, 2007 - 3:12 PMAnyone see that movie yet? Put it in your queue (for you netflix, blockbuster peeps) -
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Fri, December 21, 2007 - 4:43 AMI've seen the movie and agree it was an eye opener and very disturbing. I recommend it as well.
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Sun, December 30, 2007 - 7:47 AMFor anyone who is interested, the U.S. government runs a web site that is free and open to the public called Toxnet.
toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen
Included in it is the Hazardous Substances Database (HSDB), a compendium of data on thousands of different chemicals.
The database includes information about physical properties, manufacturing, pharmaceutical uses, animal toxicity testing, and any known human toxic encounters.
Some of the information may be more accessible to laymen than others, but it is still a fascinating site!
If you look up PVC on the HSDB, it indicates that essentially all known human toxic effects from PVC have occurred during manufacture of the product. Not a surprise, really. My colleagues are working on an in vitro test to determine acute cellular toxicity. Most of the chemicals they work with are not "finished products", they are chemical intermediates used (or formed) during various manufacturing processes.
Hope that helps.
Now, go play with the HSDB! He hheh hehh! -
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Sun, December 30, 2007 - 9:57 AMHey...thanks for digging out some facts. -
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 9:26 AMAnyone interested in seeing Blue Vinyl, it is on the Sundance Channel several times this week for all that subscribe to that station.
-Peace -
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 1:46 PMso what is environmentally friendly as far as tubing goes. I would like to know if there is a tubing that is economically friendly.... Thanks ~PeAcE
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Tue, May 13, 2008 - 4:48 PMI'm really interested about the topic about tapes and safety but can't seem to find the thread for it....I must be blind to the subject or something but can't find it for the life of me, so could anyone help me out?
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Re: Poison PVC!?!
Wed, May 14, 2008 - 5:07 AMIn all likelihood, you're drinking from it. White plumbing pipe is PVC.
