Many Good Reasons to go PVC-free

Many Good Reasons to go PVC-free

有許多好理由讓你遠離PVC

加拿大防癌主治醫生大聲疾呼: 別再使用PVC !!!

By Dr. Natasha Klemm, ND, PCN Co-Chair
娜塔莎博士克姆，ND，PCN 聯合主席 著文

In a large review of health and environmental impacts of plastics, polyvinyl chloride came out as the worst – a high volume material with carcinogenic ingredients, toxic exposures during manufacturing, use and disposal, and longevity as toxic trash in the environment.
塑膠帶給人們健康和環境的影響有許多研究與討論，其中，沒有比聚氯乙烯(PVC)更糟糕的 - 不論製造，使用和處置，都存在著高劑量的致癌成分。並留給環境無法分解的有毒垃圾。

Toxic Ingredients
有毒成分

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a plastic resin, made by repetitive joining together of vinyl chloride molecules or monomer. As summarized by the European Commission, PVC was first developed in the 1930s and production has dramatically increased since the 1950s to a current world production of more than 20 million tonnes per year. PVC is tough, weather, water and chemical resistant, and electrically insulating, but it is not stable when exposed to heat and light. Stabilizers, such as heavy metals lead and cadmium, are added to improve its stability and maintain its rigidity. PVC is made flexible with the addition of phthalates, such as DHEP (bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate).
聚氯乙烯（PVC）是一種塑料樹脂，由氯乙烯分子或重複單體連接在一起形成。歐洲委員會表示，PVC最早是在1930年代開發的，自1950年代生產量已急劇上升到目前全世界每年生產超過20萬噸。 PVC基本上是蠻堅韌的物質，它耐候，耐濕氣和耐化學性，同時也是電絕緣的，但暴露於熱和光時，它是不穩定的。因此穩定劑，如重金屬鉛和鎘，被添加以改善其穩定性和保持其剛性。而藉由添加鄰苯二甲酸酯(塑化劑)可使PVC柔軟，如DHEP（雙-2-乙基己基鄰苯二甲酸酯）。

Vinyl chloride is a known carcinogen, clearly associated with a rare form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma as well as brain cancer. The extensive review by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry (ATSDR) found that chronic low level exposure is also associated with degenerative bone changes, circulatory disturbances in extremities, skin lesions, and damage to the liver, spleen, lungs, immune and nervous system.
氯乙烯是一種已知的致癌物質，顯然與一種罕見的型式的肝癌被稱為血管肉瘤同時也是腦癌有關。由美國有毒物質和疾病登記署（ATSDR）的廣泛審查發現，長期低劑量接觸也與退行性骨質改變，四肢循環障礙，皮膚損傷和肝，脾，肺，免疫和神經系統的損害。

Stabilizers such as heavy metals also present environmental health hazards. Lead exposure impairs brain, nervous system, liver, bone and kidney development and function, while causing growth retardation, developmental and psychomotor impairment, blood and immune system toxicity and probably cancer. Cadmium is a known carcinogen, and exposure is also associated with developmental, neurological, renal (kidney) toxicity and bone fragility. Vinyl chloride manufacture has traditionally involved a mercury process, that remains a large source of this global pollutant.
穩定劑如重金屬也存在環境健康危害。鉛會損害大腦，神經系統，肝，骨和腎臟的發育和功能，同時引起生長遲緩，發育和精神運動障礙，血液和免疫系統中毒和癌症的可能。鎘是一種已知的致癌物質和曝光也有發育，神經系統，腎（腎）毒性和骨脆性有關。氯乙烯製造涉及汞製程，是巨大的全球性污染物的重要來源。

Phthalates are known to cause serious health consequences. By interfering with testosterone production, they can cause irreversible effects on the male reproductive system, such as low sperm count and quality and undescended testes. The US National Toxicology Program Expert Panel linked DHEP with risks to human development and fertility. Other health risks with phthalate exposure include preterm birth and low birth weight, premature female puberty, ADHD, obesity, diabetes, impaired neurodevelopment, and asthma. Limited actions have been taken for children’s protection.
鄰苯二甲酸酯已經被知道會導致嚴重的健康後果。它會干擾睾丸激素的生產，可能會導致男性生殖系統的不可逆影響，如低精子數量和質量，睾丸未降。美國毒理學計劃專家找出DHEP與人類發展和生育能力的關係。與暴露在塑化劑的其它健康危害，包括早產和出生體重過低，女性青春期過早，過動症，肥胖，糖尿病，神經發育受損和哮喘。為保護兒童，一些措施目前已經被採取。

Vinyl chloride monomer and additives volatilize from PVC and cause, for example, the distinctive chemical smell released from a new shower curtain. Phthalates and toxic metals also cling to tiny dust particles that may penetrate deep in the lungs.
氯乙烯單體和添加劑會從PVC中揮發，例如，獨特的化學氣味從一個新的浴簾釋放。塑化劑和有毒金屬也可能藉由附著在微小的塵埃顆粒中，被吸入肺部。

Children are Most Vulnerable
兒童是最脆弱的

Children are particularly vulnerable to vinyl chloride exposure and its health consequences due to their developing brains and bodies. Infants start life “pre-polluted” due to exposure in the amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, and then breast milk. Pound for pound, children eat, drink and breathe more than adults, increasing their toxin amount. Children put toys and other objects in their mouth, leeching chemicals from the objects to their saliva. The highest levels of phthalates are found in the youngest children and in women.
由於大腦和身體正在發育，兒童暴露在氯乙烯中特別容易受到影響。嬰兒則生活在“預先污染的環境”因為暴露在含氯乙烯的羊水，臍帶血和母乳中。一點一滴，兒童吃，喝，呼吸對體重的比例都比成人多，這也增加了他們的毒素量。孩子把玩具和其他物品放入嘴裡，從唾液榨取化學品。最高含量的塑化劑在年紀最小的兒童和婦女的身體裡發現。

Due to the clear and significant health hazards of PVC and its additives, toys containing some phthalates have been banned in the US and Europe. Canada has enacted regulations to limit the concentration of phthalates in children’s toys and child care articles. Since 1998, manufacturers of pacifiers, teethers, rattlers and baby bottle nipples have voluntarily excluded phthalates.
由於PVC和添加劑的顯著健康危害，含有塑化劑的一些玩具已在美國和歐洲被禁止。加拿大已經頒布法規，限制塑化劑在兒童玩具和兒童護理用品中的濃度。自1998年以來，奶嘴，牙膠，和嬰兒奶瓶奶嘴製造商已自願排除塑化劑。

While the ban for toys lowers exposure for the very young, no phthalate ban has been placed on building materials in schools and playgrounds, as well as school supplies that are used every day.
雖然這些玩具的禁令降低了嬰兒暴露在PVC的風險中，但學校的建材，操場的材料，以及每天用於學習的用品，塑化劑卻無被禁止。

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) recently conducted a study on common items bought during the back-to-school period at stores, such as Kmart, Payless and dollar stores. Backpacks, lunchboxes, 3-ring binders, rainboots and raincoats were tested for phthalates and heavy metals. The results indicated that 80% of the sampled supplies contained phthalates and 75% contained levels of phthalates that would be in violation of the US Federal ban for toys. Fifty percent of the supplies contained more than one phthalate, indicating multiple exposures. None of the products were labelled as containing phthalates. Forty percent of the supplies contained heavy metals, so this chronic exposure also poses a serious concern.
衛生環境司法中心（CHEJ）對一些學生普通物品進行研究。有背包，飯盒，牙套，雨鞋和雨衣為塑化劑和重金屬進行了測試。結果表明，所採樣的耗材的80％含有塑化劑，而其中的75％含超量塑化劑，這違反了美國聯邦玩具安全規範。物品有百分之五十包含一個以上的塑化劑種類，顯示多重危害。產品都沒有被標示含有塑化劑。物品有百分之四十包含重金屬，所以這種慢性接觸也帶來了嚴重的問題。

Despite the CHEJ study results indicating multiple PVC exposures in school supplies, many steps can be taken to reduce this exposure. Avoid products that are labelled “vinyl” or contain the universal recycling symbol with the number “3” or letters “V” or “PVC.” Many stores and companies offer PVC-free products, including Walmart, SC Johnson, Sears, Ikea, Target, Microsoft and Apple. The CHEJ has produced a helpful guide to help you choose PVC-free school supplies and materials to start your own PVC-free campaign. PVC-free is also being promoted in Health Care.
由於CHEJ的研究結果顯示許多學校用品含有PVC的危害，可以採取措施來降低這種風險。避免使用標有“乙烯”，或包含與數字“3”或字母“V”或通用回收標誌產品“PVC”的產品。許多商店和企業提供免費的PVC產品，包括沃爾瑪，莊臣，西爾斯，宜家家居，目標百貨，微軟和蘋果。請以自身做起，選擇不含PVC的學校用品和材料。健康中心也推廣不使用PVC。

Natasha Klemm ND is a Toronto-based doctor and is co-Chair of Prevent Cancer Now.
娜塔莎克萊姆ND是多倫多的醫生，現在也是預防癌症的聯合主席。