Characterization of emissions of dioxins and furans from ethylene dichlorid- e (EDC), vinyl chloride (VCM) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) manufacturing facilities in the United States. I. Resin, treated wastewater, and ethylene dichloride

BERGER (T. C.) / BORRELLI (F. E.) / CARROLL (W. F. JR) / GARRITY (P. J.) / JACOBS (R. A.) / LEWIS (J. W.) / MCCREEDY (R. L.) / TUHOVAK (D. R.) / WESTON (A. F.) - ARTICLE DE PERIODIQUE - 1998

Under the auspices of its Dioxin Characterization Program, members of The Vinyl Institute (VI), have analyzed for potential polychlorinated dibenzodioxin/furan (PCDD/F) concentrations in polyvinylchloride (PVC) resins, treated wastewater effluent and ethylene dichloride (EDC) product at EDC, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and PVC manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada. No 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) was detected in any sample analyzed under the program to date. Trace concentrations (low pg/g) of PCDD/F were detected in only a few samples of PVC resins and EDC product. Treated wastewater contained low ppq concentrations of PCDD/F. All concentrations are expressed as Toxic Equivalents (TEQ). Extrapolation of these data shows that the contribution of EDC/VCM/PVC manufacturing via these media constitutes substantially less than 1 percent of the estimated annual U.S. dioxin releases to the environment.