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Washington D.C.–Today, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that the chemical vinyl chloride is a candidate for high-priority designation under the Toxic Control Substances Act (TSCA). The announcement sets into motion a years-long process that could culminate in the designation of vinyl chloride as a high-priority chemical under TSCA. The first step in the process is a comment period lasting 90 days to solicit any information about vinyl chloride, which will open with publication in the Federal Register notice.

In response, Defend Our Health’s Vice President of Programs and Policy, Sarah Woodbury, said:

“Defend Our Health is very pleased that the EPA has selected vinyl chloride as a candidate for high-priority designation under TSCA. Vinyl chloride is known to cause serious environmental health harms, including cancer, reduced immune function, and neurological effects. The chemical is made from fossil fuels, used almost exclusively to make plastics, and is one of the highest production volume chemicals in the world.

Communities that live next to petrochemical industry facilities are exposed to harm from multiple exposures to different chemicals, in addition to vinyl chloride, and other non-chemical stressors. These cumulative risks must be considered by the EPA as it assesses the risks posed by vinyl chloride. As the recent disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, demonstrates, people living along rail and trucking routes used to transport vinyl chloride are at risk of significant exposure to this dangerous chemical. It will be critically important for the EPA to evaluate these risks under TSCA. If the EPA considers the real-world risks posed by vinyl chloride, such as the cumulative risks to fenceline communities, it should find that the chemical is too risky to make or use, and it must be phased out of commerce entirely.”