- According to SpecialChem, an online network of industry experts, polyvinyl is a resin formed by combining different vinyl monomers. Polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol are examples of polyvinyl resins.
- Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It's often used in construction as a building material and is cheap and easy to use. It is also used in various types of manufacturing and packaging.
- Polyvinyl acetate is often used to make glues and adhesives, or to coat paper and textiles to give them a shine. Polyvinyl acetate is also an ingredient in cosmetics.
- Polyvinyl alcohol is a tasteless, odorless, translucent white or cream colored powder. It is used in the food industry as a binding and coating agent. It is also an important moisture barrier. It is FDA-approved as non-toxic.
- According to the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice, PVC production uses chemicals such as the "highly polluting chlorine," the "cancer-causing" vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), and ethylene dichloride (EDC). They also claim that large amounts of toxic additives are required to make PVC plastic stable and usable. These additives are released during use and disposal, resulting in "elevated human exposures to phthalates, lead, cadmium, tin, and other toxic chemicals." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2000 proposed national standards to limit air toxic emissions from polyvinyl chloride production plants.
The FDA acknowledges that vinyl chloride, is a human carcinogen but concludes that the amount contained in PVC food packaging is within safe limits.
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