Facts, not Myths, Build Healthy Communities
Misinformation and Fear are Frequently Used Tools by Anti-plastic Activists
Non-profit organizations (NPOs) have established, through a long history, an impressive record of making effective and significant contributions to improving the general health in thousands of domestic and international communities. Typically NPOs are formed to focus on a particular need or cause that will benefit a designated community or population segment, such as providing electricity or clean water, or vaccinations to children, teaching better farming practices or better nutrition.
Unfortunately there are some NPOs that, either through a skewed representation or just plain ignorance of the facts, have created public disruption, confusion and fear by promoting half-truths and incorrect information.
One such organization is the Center for Health, Environment and Justice or CHEJ. Based in Falls Church, Virginia, this NPO for the last three decades has been disseminating distorted and incorrect information. According to the CHEJ, plastics are categorically harmful to the health and environment of our communities. It promotes the idea that Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is one of earth’s most dangerous materials. In fact, the CHEJ refers to PVC as poison plastic.
If you believe the sensationalism published by the CHEJ, you need look no further for the cause of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autism, strokes, pulmonary disease, metal retardation, bed bug infestation, erectile dysfunction and any other malady one can come up with. Yep, PVC is the culprit. Of course, the CHEJ protects itself from being challenged or sued by carefully prefacing its published claims with such words as “may cause,” “could be,” “possibly,” etc. What a waste of resources for an organization that professes to improve community health and the environment.
The facts speak otherwise and are easily available to the public. PVC is one of the most tested and studied materials in the world. It has been in use for over seven decades in thousands of products and applications. It is the material of choice in such diverse applications as window profiles, roofing membranes, piping, packaging, electrical conduit, and even IV bags–just to skim the surface. Why? Because PVC has been proven durable, safe and easy to install, as well as being environmentally sound and cost effective.
In today’s world of product certification, building rating organizations are seeking scientific evidence of a product’s impact on the environment from cradle (feed stocks) to grave (end of use–recycling). These studies are called Life Cycle Assessments or LCAs, and are performed by qualified third parties. With few exceptions, plastic products, including PVC, have been shown to have less of an impact on the environment than other similar non-plastic products.
And not least, plastic manufacturing facilities are safe! Federal government-reported workers’ health and accident data for the last decade show the plastic industry to be the safest, when accident rates of the plastic industry are compared to those of other material industries such as glass, metal, or concrete.
Also worthy of note, PVC as well as other plastic products have contributed significantly to making the planet friendlier to flora and fauna. Plastics have replicated and replaced many furs and hides, ivory, silk and wood products, saving the lives of countless animals and aiding in preventing deforestation.
Despite CHEJ’s bad rap against PVC, there has been no real damage done. The use of PVC worldwide continues to grow at a rapid pace. The damage, rather, has been to CHEJ’s contributors and potential beneficiaries, as this organization misappropriates its annual one million dollar plus revenues––revenues that should be put to better use in scientifically proven programs that would result in making a real difference in the health of our citizens.
If CHEJ and other misguided NPOs were to adopt programs such as reducing obesity, smoking, substance abuse, child neglect and abuse, or high school dropout rates, the impact on improving community welfare would be much more favorable. Instead CHEJ’s leadership’s mantra seems to be “down with PVC.” It would seem more appropriate if the CHEJ acronym were to represent the real purpose of this NPO—the Center for Habitual and Erroneous Journalism.
David A. Chasis
Chasis Consulting, Inc.
