Why Health Care is Moving Away from the Hazardous Plastic Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

PVC, or “vinyl” as it is often called, has some advantageous attributes, including flexibility, transparency, and strength. But PVC can also adversely impact human health and the environment. A chemical used to make PVC flexible is leaching out of PVC medical devices and exposing patients. That chemical, di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP), is a reproductive toxicant. For this reason, many hospitals are seeking alternatives to PVC plastic medical devices, building products, and office supplies.