EPA: Chemical in PVC, vinyl flooring risky for kids - E&E News by POLITICO

A chemical used to make PVC plastics and vinyl flooring puts workers and children at risk of serious illnesses if inhaled, EPA preliminarily determined.

The agency’s draft risk evaluation for diisononyl phthalate (DINP), released Friday, found the chemical could lead to liver cancer, developmental harms or damage to the male reproductive system if breathed in high amounts.

Dust from vinyl flooring, polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, backed carpeting or certain wallpapers puts children under 5 years of age at risk. Workers who inhale spray adhesives or are exposed to DINP-laden paints applied using a high-pressure sprayer are also at risk.

Those three conditions of use — out of 47 uses evaluated — contribute to EPA’s determination that DINP presents unreasonable risks.