Water contamination with vinyl chloride

What is vinyl chloride?

Vinyl chloride is a chemical compound used mainly in the production of PVC (Vinyl polychloride), a plastic widely used in pipes, packaging, coverings, etc. It is a colorless gas at room temperature, which can dissolve in water.

Sources of water contamination:

  1. Industrial spills:

    • Rejections from manufacturing or PVC processing factories.
    • Leaves storage sites or pipelines containing vinyl chloride.

  2. Groundwater pollution:

    • Former industrial sites or discharges containing chemicals can release vinyl chlorure in water tables.
    • The degradation of chlorinated solvents (such as tetrachloroethylene or trichloroethylene) can produce vinyl chloride.

  3. PVC materials:

    • Poorly installed or ancient PVC pipes can release vinyl chloride residues in drinking water, although it is rare.

Health effects:

  • Carcinogenicity:
    Vinyl chloride is classified as carcinogen for humans by the WHO. Prolonged exposure increases the risk of liver cancer, in particular the Hepato-Vascular sarcoma.
  • Other effects:
    It can also cause neurological disorders, respiratory problems, or lesions in the kidneys and the immune system.

Regulations and limits:

  • WHOs: Maximum recommended limit of 0.5 µg/L in drinking water.
  • Europe and France: Strict standards are in place to monitor concentrations in water intended for human consumption.

Prevention and treatment:

  1. Monitoring :

    • Water treatment facilities should regularly test contaminants such as vinyl chloride.

  2. Infrastructure replacement:

    • The pipes or tanks likely to release vinyl chloride must be replaced by safer materials.

  3. Water filtration:

    • Monderma Black Filters type carbon filtration: This method is particularly effective in eliminating volatile organic compounds, such as vinyl chloride, by adsorbating them on the porous surface of active coal.
    • Certified filters: High quality filters, such as filters Coldstream FTO+ or other high density activated carbon filters are ideal for guaranteeing optimal purification.
    • Recommended systems: A fountain in gravity, like those of type Monderma Or Berkey, equipped with these filters, constitutes a simple, economical and effective solution to obtain healthy water and devoid of contaminants.
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