The Politics of PVC

• Main Author: Vess, Lora Elizabeth, 1972-
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: University of Oregon 2008
• Subjects: Health social movements; Green building; Polyvinyl chloride; Environmental health; Environmental justice; Politics; Social movements; PVC
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1794/6195

xv, 277 p. A print copy of this title is available from the UO Libraries, under the call number: SCIENCE TP1180.V48 V46 2007 === This dissertation examines the political, scientific, social, environmental, and health debates surrounding the use of polyvinyl chloride (commonly called vinyl), a plastic many public health advocates and activists contend has a toxic lifecycle with deleterious human and ecological impacts at every stage. Using extensive documentary research and in-depth interviews, I answer a basic question: how and why have major stakeholders politicized PVC in recent decades? I find the strength of the anti-PVC movement lies largely in its broad based constituency: it includes professionals within the health care and green building industries, as well as labor unions and environmental health advocates. However, I raise critical questions about the movement's strategy of situating itself as a market-based movement where limited analysis is given to the greater environmental and health impacts of the health care and building industries as a whole. === Adviser: Gregory McLauchlan