A plastics factory, being proposed for a location 5 km upwind from your neighbou

Question

A plastics factory, being proposed for a location 5 km upwind from your neighbourhood, will emit 5 kg/day of vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic gas. The proposed stack is to be 30 m in height. Winds at the stack may vary from 6 to 12 m/sec blowing towards the neighbourhood. Temperature inversions are common in this region; mixing heights of around 100 m are not unusual. A citizens group has asked you – a noted environmental expert – to comment as to whether vinyl chloride from the plant will adversely affect human health in your neighbourhood. Assume health problems may occur if concentrations at the near edge of your neighbourhood exceed 1ppm.

Explanation / Answer

Vinyl chloride (VC) is a flammable and explosive colourless gas with a sweet odour. It is used in the plastics industry, often to make PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and does not occur naturally in the environment.

Vinyl chloride is not toxic to the environment, but its carcinogenic effetc are known, for which there is no safe exposure level (non-threshold carcinogen). Air emission of VC from PVC manufacturing and VC manufacturing industries were recognized as a source of potential exposure for the human population. So, VC was listed on the List of Toxic Substances.

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