In its recent review of the toxicological data on vinyl chloride, the EPA reduced its cancer unit risk estimate for vinyl chloride to 20 times lower than its previous estimate. The vinyl industry emits about 12.6 grams of dioxin a year, compared to the EPA's recent estimate of nearly 3,000 grams a year from known sources. The EPA also stated that dioxin emissions in the United States decreased by about 80 percent between 1987 and 1995, primarily due to reductions in air emissions from municipal and medical waste incinerators. Notably, while the amount of dioxin in the environment has decreased sharply over the past 30 years, VCM production has more than tripled - which is the best evidence that the vinyl production chain is a minor contributor to dioxin levels in the environment. Nevertheless, the Vinyl Institute members have pledged to work with the EPA to reduce any existing levels still further.
Close regulation makes vinyl production safe.
Vinyl production poses no risk to community health. Vinyl production is a minimal contributor of dioxin. Vinyl industry is working with the EPA to ensure safety. Unlike metal tubing, vinyl conduit will not arc or short, thereby reducing the hazard of fires in electrical applications. The products of vinyl combustion are no more hazardous than those produced by many other common materials, both natural and synthetic.