PVC PLASTIC USE BY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Resolution 103-98

Author: Robert M. Gould, MD

Adopted March 1998

Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in its 1994 Draft Dioxin Reassessment concluded that medical waste disposal is a major source of Dioxin contamination; and

Whereas, virtually all chlorinated organic compounds such as dioxins that have been studied exhibit at least one of a wide range of serious toxic effects such as endocrine dysfunction, developmental impairment, birth defects, reproductive dysfunction and infertility, immunosuppression, and cancer, often at extremely low doses; and

Whereas dioxins are created and released into the environment during the combustion of chlorinated plastic products such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), representing on a tonnage basis, the largest and fastest growing class of synthetic chlorinated organic compounds; and

Whereas the use of PVC products by the health care industry has grown rapidly, especially for the single use or short term use applications, accounting for most of the organically bound chlorine in medical waste; and

Whereas appropriate alternative products composed of non-chlorinated materials are currently available for many, but not all health care uses of chlorinated plastics, (e.g. Blood Bags); and

Whereas any substitution for a chlorinated plastic product must provide a
less toxic alternative with concern for the full public health implications
of the replacement, including infectious considerations; and

Whereas highly effective programs for the reduction of hospital waste have been initiated in the U.S. and programs for the substitution of PVC are in place in some hospitals in Europe; therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the CMA encourage the study and evaluation of alternative products and practices that will lead to the reduction and elimination of dioxin release into the environment from medical products composed of chlorinated hydrocarbons; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the CMA refer this issue for national action.

AMA Action 12/17/98:

Reaffirmed policy stating that AMA should encourage the study of alternative products and practices that would reduce or eliminate dioxin release into the environment from medical products composed of chlorinated hydrocarbons. (Res. 412)