Today, the EPA proposed that vinyl chloride would be one of five chemicals designated as high priority substances for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 

In response, Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter released the following statement: 

“There is no doubt that vinyl chloride poses significant harms to public health at every step in the supply chain. Vinyl chloride increases fossil fuel drilling and fracking, and the widespread use of products containing vinyl chloride, such as PVC plastic, has harmful health effects through water and food contamination. As we saw with the East Palestine rail disaster, transporting this dangerous substance poses serious risks to communities across the country. The Biden-Harris administration’s designation is one that could help protect everyone from exposure to this dangerous chemical.

“We know that the risk evaluation will show one thing – vinyl chloride must be banned.”