50 years ago, some of plastic’s toxic hazards were exposed

In the United States alone, more than 29 billion pounds of plastic are produced each year. An estimated 2.5 million workers are engaged in mass producing them…. Many of these chemicals used to make plastics are so toxic that they affect workers’ health. Earlier this year, 15 vinyl chloride workers died from a rare, chemically induced liver cancer.

Update

Vinyl chloride is a primary ingredient in PVC, a non-carcinogenic plastic commonly used for water pipes, IV bags and many other products. Safety standards for vinyl chloride were set in 1975. Today, U.S. workers’ exposure levels are tightly regulated. But the chemical may soon be on the chopping block. In July, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a review of vinyl chloride’s safety and envi­ronmental data, which could result in a ban. The proposal follows a train derail­ment in Ohio in 2023 that exposed a nearby community to vinyl chloride and other hazardous chemicals. Residents reported respiratory symptoms and headaches, but it’s too soon to know what the exposure means for their risk of cancer.