Polyvinyl chloride--its risk potential in the hospital.
A potential risk management problem for hospitals is the thermal degradation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is a synthetic, plastic, polymer wire insulating material which releases hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas when it is thermally degraded. Inhalation of HCl, either as a gas or in combination with water vapor, is irritating to all mucous membranes. Thermal degradation of 25 feet of PVC wire yields 1.4 mg HCl/L, which is 70 times greater than the recommended maximum concentration. Because of the potential risks, ther is an immediate need to develop a safe, economical substitute for PVC.
D004559:Electric Wiring; D004560:Electricity; D005376:Financial Management; D006761:Hospitals; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D012308:Risk Management; D012449:Safety; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014481:United States