Special communication. Polyvinyl chloride - vinyl chloride disease: an occupational health hazard. 1976

A Sadick

Poly Vinly Chloride (PVC) is a very durable, practical and economical plastic, which is so wide spread in its use that it may become difficult to replace it. The annual amount of world production has been constantly increasing and has reached the figure of 8.5m tons. While PVC is so useful, the health hazards which accompany this plastic are causing alarm in the industrially developed countries. The hazards are severe and include defects such as Haemangioendothelial sarcoma (Angiosarcoma) of the liver, Acro-Osteolysis of the fingers and Sclerodermic type skin lesions. This paper illustrates the recent developments, the clinical findings and the measures necessary to control the disease. Moreover, this paper should help alerting the health authorities in the developing countries about the health hazards involved in the manufacture and utilization of PVC. Due to the restrictions imposed on PVC producing plants, there is a real eventuality that these plants may be transferred to the developing countries, where this disease is still unknown.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D011143 Polyvinyl Chloride A polyvinyl resin used extensively in the manufacture of plastics, including medical devices, tubing, and other packaging. It is also used as a rubber substitute. Chloroethylene Polymer,Polychloroethylene,Vinyl Chloride Polymer,Chloroethylene Homopolymer,Geon,PVC,Ultron,Viaflex,Vinylite,Chloride, Polyvinyl,Homopolymer, Chloroethylene,Polymer, Chloroethylene,Polymer, Vinyl Chloride
D011145 Polyvinyls POLYMERS derived from the monomer VINYL COMPOUNDS. Polyvinyl
D002617 Chemical Industry The aggregate enterprise of manufacturing and technically producing chemicals. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Industry, Chemical,Chemical Industries,Industries, Chemical
D003906 Developing Countries Countries in the process of change with economic growth, that is, an increase in production, per capita consumption, and income. The process of economic growth involves better utilization of natural and human resources, which results in a change in the social, political, and economic structures. LMICs,Less-Developed Countries,Low Income Countries,Low and Middle Income Countries,Lower-Middle-Income Country,Middle Income Countries,Third-World Countries,Under-Developed Countries,Developing Nations,Least Developed Countries,Less-Developed Nations,Third-World Nations,Under-Developed Nations,Countries, Middle Income,Countries, Third-World,Country, Least Developed,Country, Less-Developed,Country, Low Income,Country, Lower-Middle-Income,Country, Middle Income,Country, Third-World,Country, Under-Developed,Developed Country, Least,Developing Country,Developing Nation,Least Developed Country,Less Developed Countries,Less Developed Nations,Less-Developed Country,Less-Developed Nation,Low Income Country,Lower Middle Income Country,Lower-Middle-Income Countries,Middle Income Country,Nation, Less-Developed,Nation, Third-World,Nation, Under-Developed,Third World Countries,Third World Nations,Third-World Country,Third-World Nation,Under Developed Countries,Under Developed Nations,Under-Developed Country,Under-Developed Nation
D004781 Environmental Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals. Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014752 Vinyl Chloride A gas that has been used as an aerosol propellant and is the starting material for polyvinyl resins. Toxicity studies have shown various adverse effects, particularly the occurrence of liver neoplasms. Chloroethylene,Chloride, Vinyl
D014753 Vinyl Compounds Compounds containing the vinyl (-C Compounds, Vinyl

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