What is the source of vinyl chloride?
Workers at facilities where vinyl chloride is produced or used may be exposed primarily through inhalation. The general population may be exposed by inhaling contaminated air or tobacco smoke. In the environment, the highest levels of vinyl chloride are found in air around factories that produce vinyl products.
Where do you find vinyl chloride?
Vinyl chloride is a common contaminant found near landfills. Most exposure to vinyl chloride occurs when people breathe contaminated air. If a water supply is contaminated, vinyl chloride can enter household air when the water is used for showering, cooking or laundry.
How does vinyl chloride get into water?
You can be exposed to vinyl chloride by drinking water from contaminated wells. Most drinking water supplies do not contain vinyl chloride. In a 1982 survey, vinyl chloride was found in fewer than 1% of the 945 groundwater supplies tested in the United States. The concentrations in groundwater were up to 0.008 ppm.
How is vinyl chloride produced?
Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is the key chemical precursor to PVC. It is produced commercially by combining a hydrocarbon feedstock, namely ethylene, obtained by cracking natural gas or petroleum, with elemental chlorine. Chlorine is derived from brine—a solution of common salt and water.
Does vinyl leach into water?
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) mains manufactured prior to 1977 contain elevated levels of vinyl chloride monomer, which are prone to leaching (Flournoy, 1999). Vinyl chloride is a toxic chemical with known carcinogenic effects; the drinking water MCL is 2 µg/L, enforceable at the point of entry to the distribution system.
What are the different forms of vinyl chloride?
Vinyl chloride
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name Chloroethene | |
| Other names Vinyl chloride monomer VCM Chloroethylene Refrigerant-1140 | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 75-01-4 |
What are the raw materials for the production of vinyl chloride?
1 Production The essential raw materials for PVC are derived from salt and oil. The electrolysis of salt water produces chlorine, which is combined with ethylene (obtained from oil) to form vinyl chloride monomer (VCM).
Does PVC release vinyl chloride?
Vinyl chloride (VC) is a flammable and explosive colourless gas with a sweet odour. It is used in the plastics industry, often to produce PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and does not occur naturally in the environment. It is also used as a refrigerant, and in organic synthesis reactions.
What contains vinyl chloride?
Vinyl chloride is an intermediate in the production of PVC plastic used in a wide range of products including pipes, wire and cable coatings, packaging materials, upholstery for automobiles and furniture, wall and floor coverings, flooring, backing for carpet, house wares, automotive parts, medical devices, and …
Is vinyl chloride soluble in water?
Vinyl chloride has a relatively low solubility in water and a low capacity to adsorb to particulate matter and sediment.
How do you prevent vinyl chloride?
What are the top tips to avoid exposure?
- Limit use of PVC plastic containers and food packaging, as they may have traces of vinyl chloride.
- Industrial workers in close contact with vinyl chloride should use respirators and wear protective clothing.
- Avoid tobacco smoke[11]
What reaction produces vinyl chloride?
Pyrolysis (thermal cracking) of EDC produces vinyl chloride. Pyrolysis of EDC is an endothermic reaction (∆H = 71 kJ/mol) that is carried out in a furnace.
Does vinyl chloride bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms?
Some data indicate that vinyl chloride is too readily volatilized to undergo bioaccumulation, except perhaps in the most extreme exposure conditions. Based on a reported water solubility of 2,700 mg/l, a BCF of 7 was estimated, indicating that vinyl chloride will not be expected to significantly bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms.
Where can I get more information about vinyl chloride?
For more information, call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-800-232-4636. This public health statement tells you about vinyl chloride and the effects of exposure to it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies the most serious hazardous waste sites in the nation.
What is the level of vinyl chloride in tobacco smoke?
Levels of vinyl chloride in tobacco smoke are very low, usually around 5–30 nanograms per cigarette (a nanogram is 0.000000001 gram). You can be exposed to vinyl chloride by drinking water from contaminated wells. Most drinking water supplies do not contain vinyl chloride.
What is the natural source of chloride in water?
In addition to the chloride deposited on a basin by pre- cipitation, there is a natural input from the weathering of rocks and minerals. Chlorine is present in several minerals in com- mon rocks, and its release to waters as chloride ions is gener- ally slow and through processes other than dissolution (Feth, 1981).