PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

A white, water-insoluble, thermoplastic resin, derived by the polymerization of vinyl chloride: used chiefly for thin coatings, insulation, and pipings. Commonly referred to as vinyl, it is one of the most hazardous consumer products on the market. PVC is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle: at the factory, in our homes, and in the trash.  Some chemicals that are released during the PVC lifecycle are mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which have been proven to be harmful to human health.