The production of vinyl products is considered by many to be an environmental hazard. But vinyl’s affordability keeps it popular. Now a new study says vinyl alternatives can be just as affordable. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Corbin Sullivan reports:
Transcript
The production of vinyl products is considered by many to be an environmental hazard. But
vinyl’s affordability keeps it popular. Now a new study says vinyl alternatives can be just as
affordable. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Corbin Sullivan reports:
Vinyl or PVC is used in everything from pipe fittings to
medical gloves. It’s cheap and easy to make.
But when vinyl is produced it releases hazardous substances like mercury and dioxin. Both are
known to threaten human health.
The study was done at Tufts University. The authors say
regardless of health threats, vinyl is only inexpensive in
the short term.
They say that while vinyl is cheap when you first buy it,
it doesn’t last as long as most of its alternatives.
Frank Ackerman co-authored the study. He says since
the study showed vinyl isn’t more affordable, using
vinyl is irresponsible to the environment.
“The excuse that the market made us do it, that we were
economically forced to do something that we knew was
bad for health and the environment. That’s a lousy
excuse. There’s no reason to put up with that. You can
afford to do what you know is right for your health and
for the environment of those around you.”
Ackerman says the alternatives can be materials that
vinyl originally replaced. These are often natural
materials like woods and metals.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Corbin
Sullivan.