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APHA calls for PVC phase-out
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From: Charlie Cray (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
Date: TUE 3-DEC-96 00:57:57 GMT
Subject: APHA calls for PVC phase-out
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To: People interested in the PVC/Dioxin Connection
Fm: Jack Weinberg, Charlie Cray -- Greenpeace
Re: Resolution adopted by the American Public
Health Association titled: "Prevention of
Dioxin Generation from PVC Plastic Use
by Health Care Facilities"
November 22, 1996 -- Please Forward as appropriate
------------------------------------------------
The following I believe is an accurate copy of the
text of a resolution adopted by the American
Public Health Association (APHA) at its 124th
Annual Meeting in New York City on November 20,
1996. The reference list is not electronically
available at this time but may be soon.
An official version of the resolution will be
available from APHA soon. APHA; 1015 Fifteenth
Street, NW: Washington DC 20005; 202/789-5600.
The resolution was introduced by Peter Orris, MD,
MPH; Division of Occupational Medicine; Cook
County Hospital; 720 South Wolcott; Chicago, IL
60612.
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Prevention of Dioxin Generation from PVC Plastic
Use by Health Care Facilities
The American Public Health Association,
* Noting, the conclusion in the 1994 Draft Dioxin
Reassessment by US Environmental Protection Agency
that medical waste disposal is a major source of
Dioxin contamination; (1,2) and
* Also realizing, as did APHA resolution #9304,
"that virtually all chlorinated organic compounds
that have been studied exhibit at least one of a
wide range of serious toxic effects such as
endocrine dysfunction, developmental impairment,
birth defects, reproductive dysfunction and
infertility, immunosupression, and cancer, often
at extremely low doses"; (3) and
* Recognizing that scientific and policy attention
and concern for several years, has been directed
at the potential public health threat from dioxins
which, in addition to their carcinogenic effects,
can disrupt the endocrine system; (4) and
* Understanding that dioxins are created by the
disposal of synthetic chlorinated organic
compounds. (5) Though the factors which determine
dioxin formation during incineration are not fully
understood, they are released into the environment
during combustion of chlorinated plastic products;
(5,8) and
* Observing that chlorinated plastic products -
predominately polyvinyl chloride (PVC) -
represent, on a tonnage basis, the largest and
fastest growing class of synthetic chlorinated
organic compounds; (6) and
* Observing that the use of PVC products by the
health care industry began after World War II and
has grown rapidly, especially for the single use
or short term use applications, account for most
of the organically bound chlorine in medical
waste; (7) and
* Confirming that a prime ethical principal of
health care provider is "First, to do no harm";
and
* Understanding as did APHA resolution #9304 "that
the only feasible and prudent approach to
eliminating the release and discharge of
chlorinated organic chemicals and consequent
exposure is to avoid the use of chlorine and its
compounds in manufacturing processes"; (3) and
* Understanding that appropriate alternative
products composed of non-chlorinated materials are
currently available for many, but not all health
care uses of chlorinated plastics, (e.g. Blood
Bags); (9) and
* Affirming that any substitution for a
chlorinated plastic product must provide a less
toxic alternative with concern for the full public
health implications of the replacement, including
infectious considerations; and
* Observing that highly effective programs for the
reduction of hospital waste generation have been
initiated in the US and programs for the
substitution of PVC are in place in some hospitals
in Europe; (9,10) therefore
1. Urges all health care facilities to explore
ways to reduce or eliminate their use of PVC
plastics;
2. Calls upon health care professionals to
encourage health care institutions with which they
are associated to adopt policies that will lead
toward the reduction and elimination of the use of
PVC plastic products;
3. Suggests that health care facilities hire or
assign professional staff to evaluate the
potential for persistent toxic pollution
associated with the life-cycle of products the
facility purchases;
4. Strongly urges medical suppliers to develop,
produce and bring to market appropriate, cost-
competitive products that can replace those that
contain PVC or other chlorinated plastics;
5. Encourages government oversight agencies and
private accrediting bodies to incorporate
institutionally, the requirement that health care
institutions have [based??] programs for the
reduction of toxic pollution in their
certification standards; and
6. Encourages study and evaluation of alternative
products and practices that will lead to the
reduction and elimination of the use of PVC
products; also encourages programs to provide
technical assistance and training to health care
facilities that seek help in the reduction of
their reliance on chlorinated plastics.
References follow:
-end-
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