Polyvinyl Chloride Pushback, Schoolchildren Forgotten

Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic polymer. Exposure to vinyl chloride gas affects the central nervous system, causing dizziness and headaches. Over long periods of exposure, humans are at risk of cancer of the liver and birth defects.

In 1978, Keyser-Century owned a plant in California that produced vinyl chloride gas. The document we are highlighting today is a letter from John B. Stohlton of the law firm Hoge, Fentel, Jones & Appel, Inc to Keyser-Century. The note warned of the California Air Resources Board's intent to regulate vinyl chloride emissions.

In Mr. Stohlton's opinions, the Board reacts disproportionately to reports that state that the children who went to school near the plant were being exposed to dangerous levels of vinyl chloride gas.

Stohlton is especially concerned by the fact that staff at the public hearing organized by the board "attempted to underline its theory that there was no known safe level of exposure to vinyl chloride other than zero exposure."

Tom Quinn, chairman of the board, asks a lot of questions concerning the schoolchildren:

"What is the effect of the children's exposure to these high levels of vinyl chloride? Is there some risk that these children may have a higher risk of cancer than other children? Do we have time to study the problem or do we need to act immediately to protect the children? Would you be concerned if your children were going to the Saugus Elementary School?

Comparitively, it is clear Mr. Stohlton's goal is to avoid state supervision of Keyser-Century and other emission regulations.

Mr. Stohlton labels Mr. Quinn as "emotional," and accuses the Board and newspapers of pandering to the public and playing up the effects of vinyl chloride.

Casting doubt on state measurements that found the school to have almost double the allowed standard of vinyl chloride, Stohlton mentions that Keyser-Century's own measurements found the levels to be within the acceptable range. In addition to this, Stohlton adds that even if the levels are too high, the Board "chose to ignore" that "the incident took place in the evening when the children were not in school."

As of today, the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for vinyl chlorides is zero, since any amount is deemed unsafe. This document shows that in 1978, companies and their agents repeatedly cast doubt on the gas's toxicity, trying to avoid regulation. Go to our website to find thousands more documents on PVCs.