Here are the changes that were made by the CDC on vinyl chloride just days before the derailment. Could be coincidence, but the response from the federal government to East Palestine being turned into a toxic waste dump makes it suspicious.
Removed
ATSDR Information Center Phone Number
Highlights section
Exposure to vinyl chloride occurs mainly in the workplace. Breathing high levels of vinyl chloride for short periods of time can cause dizziness, sleepiness, unconsciousness, and at extremely high levels can cause death. Breathing vinyl chloride for long periods of time can result in permanent liver damage, immune reactions, nerve damage, and liver cancer. This substance has been found in at least 616 of the 1,662 National Priority List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"What is vinyl chloride?" section:
Removed:
Vinyl chloride is also known as chloroethene, chloroethylene, and ethylene monochloride.
"How might I be exposed to vinyl chloride?" section:
Added:
You can also be exposed from cigarette and cigar smoke.
Changed:
Drinking water from contaminated wells.
You can be exposed to very low levels of vinyl chloride in drinking water.
"How can vinyl chloride affect my health?" Section:
Added:
The levels of vinyl chloride typically found in the environment are lower than levels known to cause health problems.
Highly exposed workers have also developed a specific type of cancer known as angiosarcoma of the liver.
Changed:
Some people who work with vinyl chloride have nerve damage and develop immune reactions.
Some people who work with vinyl chloride have nerve damage and develop alterations in immunity.
Animal studies have shown that long-term exposure to vinyl chloride can damage the sperm and testes.
Animal studies have shown that long-term exposure to vinyl chloride can damage the sperm and testes.
Changed "Can vinyl chloride cause cancer?" Section: to include links instead of description.
How likely is vinyl chloride to cause cancer?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined that vinyl chloride is a known carcinogen. Studies in workers who have breathed vinyl chloride over many years showed an increased risk of liver, brain, lung cancer, and some cancers of the blood have also been observed in workers.
Can vinyl chloride cause cancer?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has classified vinyl chloride as known to be a human carcinogen (cause cancer).
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified vinyl chloride as a known human carcinogen by the inhalation route of exposure. It has also classified it as carcinogenic by the oral route and likely to be carcinogenic by the dermal route.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined that vinyl chloride is carcinogenic to humans.
Removed:
How can vinyl chloride affect children?
It has not been proven that vinyl chloride causes birth defects in humans, but studies in animals suggest that vinyl chloride might affect growth and development. Animal studies also suggest that infants and young children might be more susceptible than adults to vinyl chloride-induced cancer.
Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?
Vinyl chloride is regulated in drinking water, food, and air. The EPA requires that the amount of vinyl chloride in drinking water not exceed 0.002 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of water.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a limit of 1 part vinyl chloride per 1 million parts of air (1 ppm) in the workplace.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the vinyl chloride content of various plastics. These include plastics that carry liquids and plastics that contact food. The limits for vinyl chloride content vary depending on the nature of the plastic and its use.
References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2006. Toxicological Profile for Vinyl Chloride. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
Changed:
Where can I get more information?
If you have questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or environmental quality department or:
For more information, contact: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Office of Innovation and Analytics, Toxicology Section 4770 Buford Highway Chamblee, GA 30341-3717 Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO 888-232-6348 (TTY) Email: Contact CDC-INFO
ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.
