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Vinyl chloride

Report

To read the report please click here.

This marine risk assessment was also published in a peer-reviewed journal: De Rooij, C. et al., 2004. Vinyl Chloride Marine Risk Assessment with Special Reference to the OSPARCOM region: North Sea. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Vol. 97, (1-3), 57-67.

Summary

Current usage of vinyl chloride does not represent a risk to the marine environment. This conclusion is based on ten laboratory toxicity studies, plus 1990-1993 monitoring results from the North Sea, rivers and estuaries.

Applications of vinyl chloride

Vinyl chloride is used primarily for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins. In 1996, 22 million tonnes of PVC were produced worldwide, of which 5.2 million tonnes were made in Western Europe. Western European production increased by 2% in 1996, compared with rises of 4% in North America and 9.5% in Asia. PVC accounts for 99% of total worldwide vinyl chloride use, with only 300,000 tonnes used in non-PVC applications.

The main manufacturing process for vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is the three-step ethylene process:

• Direct chlorination of ethylene to produce ethylene dichloride
• Oxychlorination of ethylene by oxygen (or air) and hydrogen chloride to produce ethylene dichloride
• Pyrolysis of ethylene dichloride to produce VCM and HCl which is recycled in the second step.

Vinyl chloride is produced in Western Europe by 14 companies. Plants are located in Belgium (three plants), France (three), Germany (eight), Italy (four), the Netherlands (one), Norway (one), Spain (two), Sweden (one), and the UK (two).

According to data from the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM), the major applications of PVC are: building and construction (accounting for 53% of production); packaging (16%); wires, cables, electrical (9%); leisure (4%); transport (3%); furniture and office equipment (3%); clothing and footwear (3%); domestic appliances (1%); and others (8%).

Vinyl chloride is also a biodegradation product of the chlorinated solvents tri- and perchloroethylene. The main route by which vinyl chloride enters the environment during manufacturing, processing and usage is the atmosphere. Emissions into air from the use of vinyl chloride can be estimated based on the BAT recommendations as 448 t/y for the suspension PVC production (representing 86% of PVC production). Emissions of vinyl chloride into water would be about 22 t/y for the suspension PVC production.

Evaluation of environmental risk

Toxicity

For vinyl chloride, six sets of data for fish, three for invertebrates and one for algae were evaluated using the quality criteria recommended by EU authorities. Only acute toxicity studies were available and an appropriate assessment factor was used to define a final PNEC value of 210 µg/l.

Monitoring data

Monitoring data from river and estuary waters were used to calculate PECs. The most recent data (1990-93) support a typical PEC of < 0.008 m g vinyl chloride/l water and a worst case PEC of 0.15 m g vinyl chloride/l water. Data came from the Tees estuary (UK)and various rivers from non-industrial and industrial areas.

Available data on persistence of vinyl chloride indicate a half-life in water of a few hours or days and negligible bioaccumulation in marine organisms. Current use of vinyl chloride does not therefore represent a risk to the aquatic environment.

Risk assessment conclusion

The calculated PEC/PNEC ratios give a safety margin of 500 to 250,000 between the probable no effect concentration and the exposure concentration. Dilution within the sea would increase these safety margins.

North Sea monitoring data on vinyl chloride