The derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, last February released one million pounds of toxic vinyl chloride into the air and water, prompting politicians to support the affected community. In the year since, vinyl chloride has faced scrutiny, but the market for vinyl products continues to grow. Major petrochemical companies are expanding their operations, and the vinyl industry is spending record amounts on lobbying. Vinyl chloride is a key building block for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic found in various construction materials, medical devices, and household items. Environmental advocates have long raised concerns about PVC, calling it the "poison plastic" due to its harmful additives and production process.
Despite growing awareness of vinyl chloride's dangers, the plastics industry is expanding, including the PVC plastics industry. OxyVinyls, Formosa Plastics, Shintech, and Orbia have announced billion-dollar plans to expand their PVC plastic operations. Most petrochemical operations, including PVC plants, are sited in marginalized communities, exposing residents to toxic pollution and associated health risks. The EPA recently released a risk assessment detailing toxic emissions near a Westlake Chemical vinyl plant in Calvert City, Kentucky, exceeding acceptable levels of lifetime cancer risk.
In 2022, OxyVinyls, Shintech, Westlake, and Formosa released over half a million pounds of vinyl chloride into the air. As members of the Vinyl Institute, the leading lobbying group for the PVC and vinyl chloride industry, these companies are fighting to convince lawmakers that PVC is safe and sustainable. The Vinyl Institute upped its federal lobbying spend to $560,000 last year, opposing the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, which seeks to reduce single-use plastics. At the state level, the Vinyl Institute has worked to slow down or stop PVC bans.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution convened twice last year to discuss the proposed Global Plastics Treaty, with the European Union and dozens of countries advocating for a PVC ban. The Vinyl Institute has been present at these meetings, promoting the importance of PVC products in healthcare and clean drinking water. Meanwhile, the petrochemical industry is ramping up efforts to undermine the EPA, with the Vinyl Institute suing the agency over an order issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA has added vinyl chloride to its list of priorities for formal review under the TSCA, potentially leading to a vinyl chloride ban.
https://theintercept.com/2024/02/03/east-palestine-disaster-vinyl-chloride-pvc/
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