Interesting article

[Domino]

Merv, it's not the Americans who want to rule the world, but the European invaders who stole their country and decimated then with disease and bullets.

Domino

[pvcdreams.old]

Guys, lets keep to the subject and not start world war three.

Its a good point made by Enthusiast, that the alternative to using Plasticisers is 1) more expensive and 2) they don't work! The problem with say EVA which is an alternative is that it's like thick paper, its got no give and is weak at the seams and so if it doesn't do the job its designed to do and it just gets thrown away into that massive land fill site! (so that didn't help the environment did it!)

What concerns me is that some people do not want to listen to the facts that new plasticisers have been developed that are proven to be safe to human health and do the job perfectly well. For too long Green Peace and similar organisations have been bleating on about PVC being bad for the environment that everyone is now brain washed and do not listen to the facts.

I can't understand what the problem is with PVC when there is so much else going on in the world that needs sorting, is it that these people are jealous that we're having some fun and that they are not?

Just remember guys, the next time you hear a do gooder spouting off about PVC give them the facts straight that PVC is safe, it is one of the most investigated substances on the planet, is proven to do the job, it saves lives (hospitals, fire services and irrigation rely on PVC) and that they need to get a life and stop being a prat! and then maybe the message will get out and the general public and silly organisations will find another subject matter to witter on about.

Nuff said!

[hazrainsuitman6]

@pvcdreams You have your facts right. PVC is used in a lot of items and is a good substitute for older, more expensive materials, i.e rubber. When unwarranted fear is spread by do-gooder groups, it's hard to debunk their pseudoscientific BS.

@merv Not all Americans are fat, gun crazy, imperialists. It's those in power and the media that make it seem that way. I don't base my attitudes towards the English from the trash broadcasted on television and printed in your tabloids.

[sissy_sofi]

Lead plasticizers are used in cheaply bad pvc/vinyl and so this is a real fear but only if you lick it. I just wish i didn't discourage stores from carrying the raincoats we love.

[slicker-lover]

how many have been hit by cars on rainy nights because they wore a dark hoody instead of a yellow slicker

[Juppe]

I've noticed that since the banning of certain phthalate plasticisers from PVC inflatables and clear dome umbrellas, the material is no longer soft, rubbery, stretchy and supple, and it has the tendency to tear at the the welded seams, especially at low temperatures. Not long ago I bought a clear dome umbrella (the one with an 'I love rain' motif). The PVC material was somewhat 'brittle' (non-stretchy) and had the texture of paper. After the umbrella's first use , a massive tear had developed. The PVC used for the umbrella was a 'clarity POE PVC'. In short, the phthalate ban has resulted in a poorer quality PVC. I just hope that PVC rainwear and other garments are not subjected to the phthalate ban. Are any effective phthalate substitutes being developed?

First an answer to your last question, yes, there are substitutes being developed. One example is from a big player BASF, and there are a number of other companies as well. It is now very sexy to develope alternative chemicals because phtalates are burdened with such bad fame.
The reason why lead and cadmium have been used successfully for many years in PVC, is that those compounds act as stabilazors and gives PVC e.g. very good weatherability. Also there are inorganic dyes (especially yellow) where Cd and Pb are involved.
Even if that particular article is mostly rubbish, I do keep an eye on the issue. It is not totally bullshit what is published on phtalates.

PS ..but I still use my old PVC rainwear and plastic pants...