Characterization of emissions of dioxins and furans from ethylene dichloride (EDC), vinyl chloride (VCM) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) manufacturing facilities in the United States. I. Resin, treated wastewater, and ethylene dichloride.

Under the auspices of its Dioxin Characterization Program, members of The Vinyl Institute (VI), have analyzed for potential polychlorinated dibenzodioxin/furan (PCDD/F) concentrations in polyvinylchloride (PVC) resins, treated wastewater effluent and ethylene dichloride (EDC) product at EDC, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and PVC manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada. No 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) was detected in any sample analyzed under the program to date. Trace concentrations (low pg/g) of PCDD/F were detected in only a few samples of PVC resins and EDC product. Treated wastewater contained low ppq concentrations of PCDD/F. All concentrations are expressed as Toxic Equivalents (TEQ). Extrapolation of these data shows that the contribution of EDC/VCM/PVC manufacturing via these media constitutes substantially less than 1 percent of the estimated annual U.S. dioxin releases to the environment.