Breathing very high levels of vinyl chloride over several years may cause immune disorders and damage to the liver, kidneys and nerves. Animal studies show that exposure to high levels of vinyl chloride can damage the liver, lungs and kidneys. Most vinyl chloride is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and vinyl products. Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl, is arguably one of the most toxic types of plastic in our lives. If vinyl chloride concentrations in air are above the action level, we recommend taking an action to halt exposure. Cardiotoxicity -- Vinyl Chloride: Exposure to Vinyl Chloride can have a toxic effect on the heart and may result in blood vessel tumors. Workplace exposure to vinyl chloride is also known to cause cancers and other types of liver disease. Most people cannot smell vinyl chloride until the level is between 300 and 10,000 ppbv. PLASTIC or VINYL ODOR EXPOSURE - part 3 Exposure to vinyl chloride over many years can affect the liver, nervous system, and skin. If the victim has collapsed or is unconscious, call 911. Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of vinyl chloride in air has resulted in central nervous system (CNS) effects, such as … The degree of toxicity may be influenced the duration and level of exposure to the chemical. Because personal breathing zone measurements of responders' exposures to vinyl chloride were not collected, it is impossible to correlate vinyl chloride exposure levels with symptoms. Cardiotoxicity -- Vinyl Chloride: Introduction. With the development of the plastics industry, diseases caused by exposure to vinyl chloride (VC) and poly vinyl chloride (PVC) had been identified by 1970. Chloroethene, Chloroethylene, Ethylene monochloride, Monochloroethene, Monochloroethylene, VC, VCM, Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) Colorless gas or liquid (below 7°F) with a pleasant odor at high concentrations. If you have a poisoning emergency in the United States call 1-800-222-1222. Breathing vinyl chloride for a lifetime at 0.62 ppbv is very unlikely to be harmful to people. Long-term exposure can cause a rare form of liver cancer. There may be other diseases and chemicals that have similar symptoms. Article Contents. developed a set of symptoms termed "vinyl chloride disease," which is characterized by Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers blanch and numbness and discomfort are experienced upon exposure to the cold), changes in the bones at the end of the fingers, joint and muscle pain, and scleroderma-like skin changes One reason why PVC is so toxic is that it is often mixed with softening chemicals called plasticizers, the most well known variety being phalates. 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