Dioxin is an unwanted by-product of incineration, uncontrolled burning and certain industrial processes. The term "dioxin" refers to a large family of compounds that includes 17 compounds of particular interest because it is thought that these compounds have similar mechanisms of toxicity.
Nevertheless, the toxicities of dioxins vary greatly, with the least toxic compound estimated to be 10,000 less potent than the most toxic.
PVC is an extremely small source of dioxin, so small that levels in the environment would be essentially unchanged even if vinyl were not being manufactured and used every day in important products. The proof: dioxin levels in the environment have been declining for decades, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. During this time, production and use of vinyl have soared.
Dioxin produced during incineration are not related to the presence of vinyl.
A study conducted by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in 1987 found that the presence -- or absence -- of vinyl waste in incinerators had no effect on the levels of dioxin produced. Rather, it was found that incinerator operating conditions (primarily, temperature) were the key to controlling dioxin formation. Most recently, German officials examined the issue of incinerating vinyl waste and decided there was no cause for concern.
For more information about dioxin, go to www.dioxinfacts.org.
This contents of this article were taken from www.dioxinfacts.org
and from The
Vinyl Institute. Visit www.vinylinfo.org
or www.dioxinfacts.org for more information.
