RE: (Fwd) Re: Vinyl Chloride Odor

["Catalano, Dennis" <catalad@wdni.com>]

  I think the questions posed by  Jon were fine, but the statement about
  chosen profession and objectivity were a bit of a slam on Bill.  I don't
  think that all people in the chemical business are bad and a comment
  like that slams some very environmentally concerned people just because
  they work in a field that produces some of the very chemicals and
  supplies that we all use daily.  These compounds may be bad in the
  environment, but without plastic, I would not be able to type this into
  my plastic keyboard.  I think that we are all fighting for a safe place
  to live, so we should stop attacking people that have spent years in
  school and work learning chemistry or environmental activism.
  
  Dennis Catalano
   ----------
  From: Anita Davies
  To: Multiple recipients of list
  Subject: (Fwd) Re: Vinyl Chloride Odor
  Date: Tuesday, November 25, 1997 1:14PM
  
  Dr. Bill, (Can I call you Mr. Bill?)
  
  Do you really think that the below statements were an attack from
  Jon?  Get real buddy.  He was asking you questions that were raised
  prompted by an article.  After all, you are the one that should have
  that kind of data, for God's sake.  What do you want in life,
  people to unquestionably deem you correct yet put those who simply
  challenge you on the chopping block?  A little defensive, Dr. Bill?
  I wonder why?  By the way, Mr. Campbell in no way appears to me to
  act "superior" to you or to anyone.
  
  Anita Davies
  Louis Berger & Associates, Environmental Engineering Division
  30 Vreeland Road Florham Park, NJ 07932
  
   -----Original Message-----
  Jon, and the list:
  
  I sent these postings privately to Jon because he is incorrect to
  assume tha tthe odor of plasticized PVC is vinyl chloride, and out of
  respect for himI did not want to conduct that discussion in public.
  Clearly, this is now a public discussion.
  
  Monitoring done in processing facilities--like those making window
  shades--shows vinyl chloride is always well below the OSHA action
  level (0.5 ppm), and usually is non detect at low ppb levels.  You
  can't smell vinyl chloride in a processing plant, never mind at home
  or in your car.
  
  Therefore, I ask the list.  Who has data that shows that Jon is
  correct that a new windowshade in your home outgasses VCM to the
  extent that the odor is detectable--never mind strong?
  
  I've tried to be civil and helpful to people on this list, even if we
  usually don't agree.  If no one, including Jon, can produce this data,
  then I hope Jon will consider an apology to me for an unnecessary
  personal attack.
  
  Bill Carroll
  Chlorine Chemistry Council
  
   --------
  
  Bill (and the list)
  
       I was quoting from the book "Toxics A to Z, A Guide To Everyday
  Pollution Hazards, by John Harte, Cheryl Holdren, Richard Schneider,
  and Christine Shirley, published in 1991 by University of California
  Press. John Harte is a professor in the Energy and Resources Group at
  UCal Berkeley.
  
     I'll quote from the article on vinyl chloride directly:
  
  "Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas with a characteristic
  "plastic" odor. It is about twice as heavy as air, so that
  when the gas is released into the atmosphere, it tends to
  sink..."
  
  "Vinyl chloride is widely distributed throughout the
  industrialized world. The highest outdoor concentrations
  are usually found near vinyl chloride manufacturing
  plants and near industrial sites that work with PVC
  plastics. Residents of the Houston, TX area are the most
  likely group to be exposed as a result of industrial activity
  because 40% of U.S. production capacity is located
  in that area..."
  
  "Vinyl chloride can also be found in some municipal
  drinking waters and in a variety of foods and beverages,
  including alcoholic drinks, vinegar, oil, butter, and mineral
  waters. The source for this vinyl chloride contamination
  is believed to be PVC pipes and plastic packaging.
  Other sources of vinyl chloride exposure include new
  automobile interiors, tobacco products...Occupational
  exposure is likely anywhere vinyl chloride or PVC plastics
  are made or used during a manufacturing process.
  
  Health Effects
  
  "Vinyl chloride can cause cancer in people following
  both inhalation and ingestion. It is known to cause
  liver, brain, and central nervous system cancers in
  people, and it may cause human lung cancer, leukemia,
  and lymphoma...."
  
  "....liver damage...bone loss...circulatory changes...
  etc, etc."
  
  Protection and Prevention
  
  "...Ventilate new cars well before sitting in them. Do this
  by opening the doors for a few minutes after the car has
  been sitting in the sun or leaving the windows partially
  open while driving until that "new car smell" is no
  longer noticeable"
  
  Bill, I was quite serious about your chosen profession.
  When you work for people that pollute, your objectivity
  becomes compromised. You will have to be the judge
  of whether that has happened to you. I think you know
  our opinions about this. This extends not only to
  the the current discussion but also to the discussion
  about lead (in which you talked about domestic sources,
  knowing full well, as Charlie Cray pointed out,
  that most children's toys and other items are
  Chinese.
  
  Do you have proof that the odor of new PVC is not
  VC monomer? Have you smelled VC monomer and
  can tell me that the odor I identify with
  new PVC is not VC monomer? Any idea why, if
  what you say is true, that Toxics A to Z would
  make the statements listed above? Are they
  just "uninformed" like you have said I am?