藍的依戀

Polyvinyl chloride(PVC) plastic is the most widely used plastic in medical devices. It's popular because of its flexibility, strength, suitability for steam sterilization, resistance to kinking, transparency, and cost. Products using PVC include basins, bedpans, IV bags and tubing, catheters, gloves, enteral feeding devices, lab equipment, inflatable splints, ID bracelets, respiratory therapy products, thermal blankets, and packaging. PVC plastic can be harmful to patients, the environment, and public health.

 

Dioxin can be formed during the manufacture of PVC and during the incineration or burning of PVC products. Medical waste incineration is a source of dioxin pollution, in part because of the many disposable PVC plastic products used by hospitals. di(2ethylhexyl) phthalate is used to soften PVC plastic and can leach from PVC medical devices. DEHP has been linked to reproductive birth defects in lab animals.

 

Because of its toxicity, PVC plastic cannot be recycled. The only optin is to find alternatives for it. An organization dedicated to such issues is Sustainable Hospitals (www.sustainablehospitals.org)