Vinyl chloride

Synonyms

Chloroethene; Chloroethylene; Ethylene monochloride; Monochloroethene; Monochloroethylene; VC; Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM); [NIOSH] UN1086

Category

Vinyl Halides

Description

Colorless gas or liquid (below 7 degrees F) with a pleasant odor at high concentrations; Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

The highest exposures to vinyl chloride occurred in polyvinyl chloride polymerization plants during reactor vessel cleaning. [LaDou, p. 520]

Comments

Increased incidence of liver cancer (angiosarcoma) was found in workers who had high exposure to vinyl chloride monomer while cleaning reaction vessels. [LaDou, p. 298-9] "There is compelling evidence that exposure to vinyl chloride is associated with angiosarcoma of the liver, and strong evidence that it is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Together with the observation that vinyl chloride increases the risk for liver cirrhosis, which is a known risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, the findings from two large multicentre cohort studies provide convincing evidence that vinyl chloride causes hepatocellular carcinoma as well as angiosarcoma of the liver." [IARC Monograph 100F] There is limited evidence that vinyl chloride caused increased birth defects in exposed human populations. [ATSDR Case Studies #29] Vinyl chloride was once evaluated as an anesthetic; it can cause central nervous system depression after inhalation of high concentrations. [ATSDR Medical Management] Possible frostbite from contact with liquid; [NIOSH] Vinyl chloride, stabilized (UN1086) has warning of explosive polymerization; [ERG 2016]

See 29 CFR 1910.1017;

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

1 ppm

1 ppm, STEL(OSHA) = 5 ppm (avg. not exceeding any 15 min)

10 ppm

Odor Threshold High

20 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 180,000/15m

Yes

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold from AIHA; Flash point = -78 deg C;

Based on limited data: "fairly rapid"; [TDR, p. 1224]

Reference Link #2

burn readily

500 ppm

5,000 ppm

20,000 ppm

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Established

Human carcinogen

Confirmed Human

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Acro-osteolysis
• Angiosarcoma of the liver
• Liver cancer
• Raynaud's phenomenon

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Smoking cigarettes