Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a polymer material obtained by addition polymerization of vinyl chloride. It is the third most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer after polyethylene and polypropylene.

  PVC comes in two basic forms: rigid and flexible. Rigid form PVC material can be used on pipes, doors and windows, it can also be used in bottles, other non-food packaging, and bank or loyalty cards. It can also be made into a soft finished product that is made more flexible by adding plasticizers (most commonly phthalates). In this form, it can be used in flexible conduit, cable insulation, imitation leather, soft signage, inflatable products, and replaces rubber in many applications.

  Since the 1970s, the United States has noticed that workers in PVC factories have some malignant liver cancer. Europe and Australia are also starting to notice several types of cancer in PVC factory workers.

The main problems are:

PVC must be used with additives or plasticizers, most of which are harmful and may bleed or vaporize.

Some additives can interfere with biological endocrine and affect reproductive function.

Some additives can increase the risk of cancer.

Incineration of garbage containing PVC produces the carcinogenic air pollutant Dioxin (Dioxin), a by-product of vinyl chloride. Dioxin is a highly toxic substance that can cause cancer and other conditions, and is a global threat because dioxin is widely dispersed in the environment and cannot be dissipated. Even at small exposures, dioxins are highly likely to be linked to immune system stress, fertility problems, various cancers, and endocrine disorders. According to a 1994 report by the British company ICI Chemical and Polymer Products Ltd., according to a literature published in 1989, these oxychlorination reactions (using vinyl chloride and some chlorinated solvents) produce more Chlorodibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs).

PVC often uses dioctyl phthalate (DEHP) as a plasticizer. Because DEHP is easy to be atomized, other vinyl products, including car interiors, shower curtains or floor coverings, will also release chemical gases into the air. And DEHP is also easily soluble in oily liquids. In addition, people have also begun to pay attention to the safety problem of additive leakage if children chew these soft plastic toys.

Polyvinyl chloride toys pose a great threat to the health of young children. Because young children in the oral stage will directly ingest plasticizers such as DEHP in PVC plastics by licking or putting toys in their mouths.

In 2008, a joint study by the United States and Canada pointed out that when five types of plastic shower curtains were tested, they released more than 100 kinds of toxic substances within 28 days.

In January 2006, the European Community moved out of the "2005/84/EC Directive" ban: prohibiting the use of six types of phthalate softeners in toys. In the United States, more and more companies making PVC toys for this age group are voluntarily discontinuing PVC or discontinuing phthalates. The FDA recommends that manufacturers consider banning DEHP in devices for sensitive patients, such as infants born under one month, but the safety of alternative plasticizers has not been tested.