Pub 3-13 - PVC Audit

PVC MedicalIs it time to reduce How can a hospitalDevicesyour use of PVC medical remove PVC medicalproducts? devices from its shelves?ContainingMany hospitals are reconsidering their To move away from PVC devices con-use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC or taining DEHP, hospitals arethe Plasticizer■vinyl) medical products. Their con- performing audits to identify PVCcerns with PVC products relate to and DEHP products;DEHP patient safety or potential environmen-■ identifying and evaluating alterna-tal health effects. The use of flexible tives;PVC medical devices often exposes■ purchasing PVC- or DEHP-freepatients to the reproductive toxicant,Guidelinesproducts of equivalent quality andDEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate).performance.And when incinerated as waste, PVCfor an Auditcauses emissions of dioxin, a knownhuman carcinogen that also causes Hospitals are replacing DEHP-contain-reproductive and developmental disor- ing PVC with eitherders. ■ PVC-free products – PVC-freeproducts are inherently flexible anddo not contain a plasticizer likeHow can a PVC medicalDEHP; or device expose a patient■ DEHP-free products – A PVCto DEHP? product with a non-DEHP plasti-Manufacturers add DEHP to PVC to cizer. make it flexible. But DEHP does notattach to the plastic — it “floats” with-How to do ain the vinyl structure. During certainprocedures DEHP leaches from med- PVC/DEHP audit:ical devices and exposes patientsIn the best of all possible worlds, ...