Arr, the EPA be checkin' out the dangers o' toxic vinyl chloride after that mishap with th' train in Ohio!
2023-08-11
Arr, me hearties! Thar be rumors that the Environmental Protection Agency be settin' sail on a proper inquiry 'bout the mishap in Ohio, where a train went off course and unleashed a foul beast known as vinyl chloride, which be known to cause the dreaded scurvy, I mean, cancer!
The Biden administration is considering launching a formal evaluation of vinyl chloride, a cancer-causing chemical that was involved in a recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to review a number of chemicals later this year, with a focus on those used in plastic production. Vinyl chloride is among the chemicals eligible for review, and the EPA stated that it could begin a risk evaluation on the chemical in the near future. If selected, the evaluation process could take at least three years and would determine whether vinyl chloride poses an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.Environmental and public health activists have welcomed this development, stating that vinyl chloride should have been banned years ago. They argue that the train derailment in East Palestine serves as a warning that immediate action is needed to ban harmful chemicals like vinyl chloride. Vinyl chloride is a flammable gas used to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, which is found in various consumer goods. Inhalation of vinyl chloride has been linked to liver cancer and other health problems. The Vinyl Institute, a trade group representing manufacturers, has criticized the effort to ban vinyl chloride, stating that it is safely manufactured in the United States and has many important uses, including in medical products.
The train derailment in East Palestine resulted in the release of toxic vinyl chloride and the evacuation of residents. Although tests have shown that the air and water in the area are safe, concerns about the long-term health impacts persist among residents. Activists are urging the EPA to ban vinyl chloride and are calling for stricter regulation of the rail industry and the plastic products that contribute to the transportation of hazardous substances. There are also concerns that the controlled burn of the vinyl chloride after the derailment could have formed dioxins, a known carcinogen.
Overall, the evaluation of vinyl chloride by the EPA is seen as a positive step by environmental and public health advocates who have long been calling for a ban on the chemical. The outcome of the evaluation could have significant implications for the regulation of vinyl chloride and the use of PVC plastic in consumer goods.