Consumer Factsheet on: VINYL CHLORIDE
List of Contaminants
As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact
sheet is part of a larger publication:
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some
public or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health
problems if found in amounts greater than the health standard set
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What is Vinyl Chloride and how is it used?
Vinyl chloride is a colorless organic gas with a sweet odor. It is
used in the manufacture of numerous products in building and
construction, automotive industry, electrical wire insulation and
cables, piping, industrial and household equipment, medical
supplies, and is depended upon heavily by the rubber, paper, and
glass industries.
The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether
you are using this chemical at home or work.
Trade Names and Synonyms:
Chlorethene
Chlorethylene
Monochloroethene
Monovinyl chloride (MVC)
Trovidur
Why is Vinyl Chloride being Regulated?
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law
requires EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking
water which do or may cause health problems. These non-enforceable
levels, based solely on possible health risks and exposure, are
called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.
The MCLG for vinyl chloride has been set at zero because EPA
believes this level of protection would not cause any of the
potential health problems described below.
Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs
as possible, considering the ability of public water systems to
detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment
technologies.
The MCL has been set at 2 parts per billion (ppb) because EPA
believes, given present technology and resources, this is the
lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to
remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring
these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by these
regulations.
What are the Health Effects?
Short-term: EPA has found vinyl chloride to potentially cause the
following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels
above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: damage to the
nervous system.
Long-term: Vinyl chloride has the potential to cause the following
effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to
the liver and nervous system; cancer.
How much Vinyl Chloride is produced and released to the
environment?
Production of vinyl chloride in 1993 was nearly 14 billion lbs. Its
major release to the environment will be as emissions and
wastewater at polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics production and
manufacturing facilities. Small quantities of vinyl chloride can be
released to food since it is used to make many food wrappings and
containers.
From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA's Toxic Release Inventory,
vinyl chloride releases to water and land totalled over 38,000 lbs.
These releases were primarily from plastics materials and resins
industries. The largest releases occurred in Louisiana and
Delaware.
What happens to Vinyl Chloride when it is released to the
environment?
Vinyl chloride released to soil will either quickly evaporate, be
broken down by microbes or may leach to the groundwater. It also
rapidly evaporates from water, but does not degrade there. It will
not accumulate in aquatic life.
How will Vinyl Chloride be Detected in and Removed from My Drinking
Water?
The regulation for vinyl chloride became effective in 1989. Between
1993 and 1995, EPA required your water supplier to collect water
samples every 3 months for one year and analyze them to find out if
vinyl chloride is present above 0.5 ppb. If it is present above
this level, the system must continue to monitor this contaminant.
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL,
your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of vinyl
chloride so that it is consistently below that level. The following
treatment methods have been approved by EPA for removing vinyl
chloride: Granular activated charcoal in combination with Packed
Tower Aeration.
How will I know if Vinyl Chloride is in my drinking water?
If the levels of vinyl chloride exceed the MCL, 2 ppb, the system
must notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means.
Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water
supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public
health.
Drinking Water Standards:
Mclg: zero
Mcl: 2 ppb
Vinyl Chloride Releases to Water and Land, 1987 to 1993 (in
pounds):
| Water | Land |
TOTALS (in pounds) | 21,693 | 17,038 |
Top Five States |
---|
LA | 12,600 | 0
|
DE | 86 | 8,829
|
OH | 3,360 | 0
|
PA | 0 | 3,290
|
SC | 0 | 3,100
|
Major Industries |
---|
Plastics, resins | 19,489 | 13,375
|
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more about their drinking
water, and to support local efforts to protect and upgrade the
supply of safe drinking water. Your water bill or telephone books
government listings are a good starting point.
Your local water supplier can give you a list of the chemicals they
test for in your water, as well as how your water is treated.
Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a valuable
source of information.
For help in locating these agencies or for information on drinking
water in general, call: EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800)
426-4791.
For additional information on the uses and releases of chemicals in
your state, contact the: Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 424-9346.
List of Contaminants
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