PVC plastic and environmental justice

Vinyl plants release cancer-causing chemicals into low-income communities of color

373,262 U.S. residents live within three miles of a vinyl chloride, PVC manufacturing, or PVC waste disposal facility.
Many vinyl plastics plants and disposal sites are located in low-income and communities of color, exposing vulnerable communities to dangerous chemicals.

People living in these communities are much younger, more diverse, and earn far less than the national per capita income. Among the people living within a three-mile radius of these plants, 63% are people of color, compared to 41% nationwide. Residents of these areas earn an average of $23,747 per capita, which is 37% below the national average of $37,638. Twenty-seven percent are children, compared to the national average of 22%. For more details, see the table below. This is concerning as infants and children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to toxic chemicals.[8]

And over the years, people in low-income communities of color have been forced to relocate due to vinyl chloride and contamination from vinyl/PVC plants in at least four different communities in Louisiana including Mossville, Reveilletown, Morrisonville, and Plaquemine.

Communities within three miles of a vinyl chloride, PVC plastic, or disposal facility

Facility	Pop. Within 3 mi	% Pop. Under 18yr	People of Color %	Per Capita Income	Facility Type
Ash Grove – Foreman, AR	1,493	22%	36%	$25,493	Disposal*
Chemical Waste Management – Sulphur, LA	1,138	27%	3%	$32,507	Disposal
Clean Earth – Avalon, TX	594	25%	47%	$33,598	Disposal
Clean Harbors – Deer Park, TX	62,646	28%	59%	$24,848	Disposal
Clean Harbors – El Dorado, AR	12,753	24%	62%	$23,630	Disposal
Clean Harbors – La Porte, TX	8,536	26%	40%	$27,023	Disposal
Formosa – Baton Rouge, LA	35,168	25%	95%	$18,079	VCM**
Formosa – Point Comfort, TX	586	21%	47%	$33,032	VCM
Freedom Waste – Mayfield, KY	3,323	24%	13%	$24,761	Disposal
Lubrizol – Louisville, KY	73,664	29%	82%	$17,055	PVC***
Occidental – Deer Park, TX	37,080	26%	51%	$27,885	VCM
Occidental – Ingleside (Gregory), TX	6,690	31%	59%	$34,217	VCM
Occidental – La Porte, TX	4,624	25%	28%	$27,808	VCM
Occidental – Pasadena, TX	42,540	32%	76%	$20,520	PVC
Occidental – Pedricktown, NJ	4,722	17%	36%	$24,950	PVC
Orbia (Mexichem) – Henry, IL	2,595	23%	4%	$28,708	PVC
Orbia (Mexichem) – Pedricktown, NJ	4,294	17%	35%	$24,239	PVC
Republic Services (BFI) – Itasca, TX	1,660	28%	44%	$26,707	Disposal
Shintech – Addis, LA	7,176	28%	53%	$30,386	PVC
Shintech – Freeport, TX	11,219	32%	80%	$22,346	PVC
Shintech – Plaquemine, TX	2,350	23%	74%	$20,590	VCM
Veolia – Port Arthur/Beaumont, TX	47	25%	20%	$38,129	Disposal
Waste Management – Alvin, TX	9,361	22%	39%	$32,116	Disposal
Westlake – Calvert City, KY	2,871	18%	3%	$33,025	VCM
Westlake – Aberdeen, MS	5,445	22%	72%	$26,339	PVC
Westlake – Geismar, LA	5,870	32%	33%	$37,244	VCM
Westlake (South Plant) – Lake Charles, LA	10,392	24%	20%	$35,309	VCM
Westlake – Plaquemine, LA	3,272	23%	74%	$21,478	VCM
Westlake (North Plant)- Lake Charles, LA	11,153	20%	18%	$32,964	VCM
Population weighted average of vinyl chloride-related facilities		27%	63%	$23,747
National average		22%	41%	$37,638

*Disposal denotes an incinerator, landfill, or cement kiln where wastes from vinyl chloride and/or PVC plants are sent for disposal
** VCM denotes a vinyl chloride monomer plant
*** PVC denotes a PVC resin plant
Data source for this table: EPA EJ Screen

Young residents of Mossville, Louisiana play near PVC plants. Many families have been forced to relocate due to contamination and the expansion of industry surrounding Mossville.

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PVC plastic and environmental justice

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