Five of the train cars that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3, 2023, were carrying vinyl chloride which is a known human carcinogen. Vinyl chloride is used almost exclusively to make polyvinyl chloride plastic (commonly called PVC) which is hazardous to produce and dispose of.
Vinyl chloride is manufactured in low-income communities and communities of color in Louisiana, Texas, and Kentucky, where it threatens the health of local residents. The PVC plastic made from vinyl chloride is used to make everything from the iconic rubber ducky and other children’s toys to pipes, floor coverings, shower curtains, raincoats, and vinyl siding. Fortunately, there are safer alternatives to PVC.
It’s time for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban vinyl chloride. Please join Beyond Plastics in urging the EPA to take the critical first step in banning this toxic chemical before any more harm is done to communities like East Palestine, Ohio. Fill out the form below to add your name to the petition to Assistant Administrator Freedhoff.
Sign the Petition to Ban Toxic Vinyl Chloride
Beyond Plastics recently released a video that documents the situation in East Palestine, Ohio, where residents are dealing with the aftermath of the toxic train derailment.
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