Vinyl Chloride Cancer Risk

Vinyl chloride is an organochloride with the formula h 2 c chcl that is also called vinyl chloride monomer vcm or chloroethene this colorless compound is an important industrial chemical chiefly used to produce the polymer polyvinyl chloride pvc.

Vinyl chloride cancer risk.

Studies in workers who have breathed vinyl chloride over many years showed an increased risk of liver brain lung cancer and some cancers of the blood have also been observed in workers. Its target organs are the liver brain lung and haemo lymphopoietic system there is no evidence that there is an exposure level below which no increased risk of cancer would occur in humans. 1 2 6 animal studies have shown that vinyl chloride via inhalation increases the incidence of angiosarcoma of the liver and cancer of the liver. About 13 billion kilograms are produced annually.

How can exposures be reduced. Which cancers are associated with exposure to vinyl chloride. Studies of workers who have breathed vinyl chloride over many years showed an increased risk for cancer of the liver. Vinyl chloride has also been associated with mammary breast cancer.

Brain cancer lung cancer and some cancers of the blood also may be connected with breathing vinyl chloride over long periods. Epa 1996 it is concluded that vc is a known human carcinogen by the inhalation route of exposure based on human epidemiological data and by analogy the oral route because of positive animal bioassay data as well as pharmacokinetic data allowing dose extrapolation across routes. The cdc also states that vinyl chloride gas can pass through your skin and enter your body. This toxic chemical is a known human carcinogen causing liver cancer brain cancer and some cancers of the blood.

Inhaled vinyl chloride has been shown to increase the risk of a rare form of liver cancer angiosarcoma of the liver in humans. Vinyl chloride has been found in the air near vinyl chloride manufacturing and processing plants hazardous waste sites and landfills. Vinyl chloride exposure is associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer hepatic angiosarcoma as well as brain and lung cancers lymphoma and leukemia. Under the proposed guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment u s.