Vinyl Chloride

Chemical composition and reactivity

• The chemical formula for vinyl chloride is C2H3Cl

• molecular weight = 62.5 g/mol

• The half-life of vinyl chloride in air is a few hours.

• colorless gas with a mild, sweet odor • slightly soluble in water • extremely flammable• vapor pressure = 2,600 mm Hg at 25 °C• has a log octanol/water partition

coefficient (log Kow) of 1.36. (1)

Physical Properties of Vinyl Chloride

Carboxyl-Modified Vinyl Chloride (VAMA)Used as a coating for various substrates, especially metals, cellulosics, and certain plastics.

Major Sources: Plastics and Vinyl

Used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

pipes, wire and cable coatings,packaging materials, furniture and automobile upholstery, wall coverings, house ware, automotive parts, etc.

from the discharge of exhaust gases from factories that manufacture or process vinyl chloride, or evaporation from areas where chemical wastes are stored.

Air inside new cars may contain vinyl chloride at higher levels because vinyl chloride may outgas into the air from the new plastic parts

Drinking water may contain vinyl chloride released from contact with polyvinyl pipes. Vinyl chloride is a microbial degradation product of trichloroethylene in groundwater

Tobacco smoke also contains vinyl chloride.

Exposure (generally very low)

Major Human Heath RisksCarcinogen especially to the liver and kidney

Damages the

Central Nervous System

Causes irritation to the eyes and respiratory tracthigh exposure has caused loss of consciousness, lung and kidney irritation, and inhibition of blood clotting in humans and cardiac arrhythmias in animals.

"vinyl chloride disease"

Teratogen

Formosa Plastics Vinyl Chloride Explosion“On April 23, 2004, five workers were fatally injured and two others were seriously injured….The explosion followed a release of highly flammable vinyl chloride, which ignited. The explosion forced a community evacuation and lighted fires that burned for several days at the plant.” -Accident Description by the Chemical Safety Board

(video with more on this example on the CSB’s website)

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ridemonomer.gif http://www.csb.gov/assets/investigation/original/Newspaper_

91.JPG http://www.csb.gov/investigations/detail.aspx?SID=22 http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00mewEzMpdfDca/Carb

oxyl-Modified-Vinyl-Chloride-VAMA-.jpg http://consultox.com/images/p_vinylchloride.jpg http://chemical.ihs.com/nl/Public/2009/0906/0906.html http://www.metroeast-stlouislaw.com/vinyl-chloride-exposure-

lawyers/ http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/64980.html http://www.tangram.co.uk/TI-Glazing-Pinking.html http://www.lookfordiagnosis.com/images.php?term=Polyvinyl

+Chloride&lang=1

http://www.oursbiz.com/Products/b/59/Calcium-Chloride-Pellet-285763.jpg

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http://newcarreleases.com/audi/2011-new-audi-a9-hybrid-release/attachment/2011-audi-a1-car-interior/

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http://www.cancerin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/liver-cancer.jpg