Studies on Metallocene Polyolefin and Polyvinyl Chloride for Blood ...

Chapter J 10
DEHP directly leaching out of the PVC product or when an extracting material (blood, IV
fluids) diffuses into the PVC matrix, dissolves the plasticizer and the two diffuse out together
(43-46). The overall loss of plasticiser from PVC products will depend on both the diffusion
constants with respect to the PVC and the solubility or volatility at the surface (47).
Certain drugs are found to accelerate the DEHP leaching from PVC intravenous (IV) bags into
solutions (48-53). In the Handbook on Injectable Drugs, Trissel (1998) identified a wide range
of drugs that have been shown to increase the leaching of DEHP from IV bags as mentioned in
Table 1.3 (52) Trissel noted that the presence of surface-active agents or large amounts of
organic eo-solvents in the formulation might enhance leaching of the plasticizer. The nutrient
fluids used in these bags have a high lipid content, which would likely increase the leaching of
DEHP (54).
Table 1.3 Drugs that increase the leaching ofDEHP from PVC bags into solution
Name ofthe drug
Etoposide, Paclitaxel, Teniposide
Chlordiazepoxide HCL
Micronazole
Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus
Fat Emulsions and Vitamin A
Source: "Hand Book ofInjectable Drugs", Trissel (1998)
Application
Chemotherapeutic
Antianxiety
Antifungal
Immunosuppressive
Nutritional
1.3.3 Dioxin and Hydrochloric acid emission during the disposal of PVC
by incineration.
As the numbers of disposable medical products in use increase, the public concern about the
environmental and biological risks oftheir disposal will also grow.
Dioxin, the most potent carcinogen ever encountered, is created during all phases of PVC
production, as well as in its disposal by incineration or accidental fire (55,56). Dioxin is made
up of 75 different compounds. A more complete name for these compounds is chlorinated
dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs), which are commonly referred to as polychlorinated dioxins. Municipal
waste incinerators are a leading source of dioxin, and half of the chlorine in incinerators that
ends up in dioxin comes from PVC waste.
Dioxins are extremely toxic and potent environmental contaminants. They modulate and disrupt
multiple growth factors, hormones, immune system and developmental processes (57-60). Over
the last few years, an increasing number of reports have appeared about the reproductive
problems in both wildlife and humans. Nanogram to microgramlkg body weight doses of dioxin
on a single day during pregnancy was found to cause permanent disruption of male sexual
development in rodents, including delayed testicular descent, lower sperm counts, and feminized
sexual behavior (61). The study of The American Public Health Association revealed that a
prenatal exposure to dioxin in rodents substantially increased the risk of breast cancer later in
life (62).