1. RESPONSIBLE OPERATIONS THE VINYL INDUSTRY, VINYL CHLORIDE, AND HEALTH RISKS

2. OVERVIEW I.The Vinyl Industry II.What products are made of vinyl? III.The History of the Vinyl Industry IV.What risks are associated with vinyl production? V.Who is at risk? VI.What diseases are associated with vinyl chloride exposure? VII.Research on Vinyl Chloride VIII.Vinyl Workers in the UK IX.Vinyl Workers at B.F. Goodrich X.How has the Vinyl Industry responded?

3. THE VINYL INDUSTRY -Manufactures vinyl which is a cost- effective and durable material used in various products. -Provides over 200,000 jobs in the United States of America

4. WHAT PRODUCTS ARE MADE OF VINYL? -Siding -Window frames -Floor & Wall coverings -Fencing -Blood and Intravenous bags -Cardiac Catheters -Endotracheal tubes -Packaging

5. THE HISTORY OF THE VINYL INDUSTRY -1920s: Developed by Waldo Semon -1930s: Plants began manufacturing PVC -1940s: The United States began manufacturing PVC products to help in WWII -1950s & 1960s: Five companies are now manufacturing PVC -1970s: Industry discovers link between high levels of by-product exposure and angiosarcoma. -1980s: Twenty companies are producing Vinyl -Currently: -Vinyl is the second-largest selling plastic in the world. -Vinyl is the primary material used in the medical and construction market.

6. WHAT RISKS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH VINYL PRODUCTION? -During the production process, toxic by-products are produced. -Dioxin is one of these toxic by-products. -Exposure to Vinyl Chloride in handling, transportation, and further manufacturing put the worker at risk for various diseases.

7. WHO IS AT RISK?

8. WHAT DISEASES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH VINYL CHLORIDE EXPOSURE? -Angiosarcoma of the liver -Brain cancer -Leukemia -Liver disease -Raynaud's syndrome -Scleroderma

9. RESEARCH ON VINYL CHLORIDE In 1949, Tribukh, a Russian researcher found in her research that VC causes liver injury.

10. VINYL WORKERS IN THE UK From 1940-1974, there were 11 tumor-related deaths of vinyl workers, 7 of them were from angiosarcoma.

11. VINYL WORKERS AT B.F. GOODRICH -In a B.F. Goodrich plant 4 cases of angiosarcoma were diagnosed between September 1967 and December 1973.

12. VINYL WORKERS AT B.F. GOODRICH -By December 1973, all four employees passed away. -This incident opened the way for reforms in health and safety for vinyl factory workers.

13. HOW HAS THE VINYL INDUSTRY RESPONDED? -The Vinyl Industry began to implement a closed loop polymerization operation in the 1970s. -U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims this has almost eradicated all of the exposure to vinyl chloride. -The Vinyl Industry has been proactive in monitoring health-related issues among workers in their plants since the 70s.

14. REFERENCES http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=991 http://wap.vinylinstitute.com/WhatIsVinyl/HistoryofVinyl.aspx http://wap.vinylinstitute.com/UsesofVinyl/Medical_1.aspx http://wap.vinylinstitute.com/UsesofVinyl/Packaging.aspx http://wap.vinylinstitute.com/UsesofVinyl/Construction_1_2.aspx http://www.resource4angiosarcoma.com/topics/lawsuitfaq.html http://www.omnova.com/products/wallcovering/health_safety.aspx#Why_Vinyl http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1198335/How-Britain-got-groove-back.html http://www.roomu.net/exterior/advantages-vinyl-fencing.html Blue Vinyl (documentary) http://www.gfmer.ch/genetic_diseases_v2/gendis_detail_list.php?cat3=950 http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/bf-goodrich-all-terrain-ta-ko-need-advice-37503/ http://halloweenhootinnanny.com/scary-halloween-props/4-halloween-prop-cemetery-tombstone-graveyard-headstone/ http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/lmrk103.htm Tribukh, S L et al. “Working Conditions and Measures for Their Improvement in Production and Use of Vinylchloride Plastics” (1949) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3393850