Film stirs pot on popular siding

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| Saturday, March 19, 2005 9:49 PM CST | () comments

Alma Gaul

Vinyl has become the most commonly used form of siding in new construction in the United States. It is low-maintenance, less expensive than its rivals, resistant to fading, and is available in a wide range of colors.

But vinyl is made from a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic resin that can cause a rare form of liver cancer in humans.

And although vinyl may be safe while it is on your home, some scientists believe that its manufacture and disposal is hazardous to our health and the environment because of toxic chemicals that are released. Some environmentalists have called for its phase-out.

Among those leading the charge against vinyl are the makers of an independently produced documentary titled "Blue Vinyl" that was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 2003 for "best research" and "best documentary."

"Blue Vinyl" is being brought to the Quad-Cities March 29 and 31 by the Rock Island Preservation Society with free screenings at Q-C Brew & View and Augustana College, both Rock Island, and St. Ambrose University, Davenport.

A news release from the preservation society describes the film as "a detective story, an environmental documentary and a rollicking comedy all rolled into one."

Diane Oestreich of the preservation society says her group heard about the film during a preservation conference and decided to bring it to the Quad-Cities because "at least it is food for thought."

"We know we're not going to eliminate it, but at least people might think twice and look for alternatives to toxic products."

Brian Girskis, owner of Suburban Construction Inc., Davenport, says he's seen the film on HBO and describes it as "real left wing � it makes Michael Moore ("Fahrenheit 9/11") look like a right-winger."

"You can find fault with anything if you look far enough," Girskis says. "They're trying to equate vinyl with Three Mile Island (a Pennsylvania nuclear plant where a serious accident occurred in 1979), and it's not that way. There are OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) standards."

Trying to find a balanced view on vinyl can be difficult, with numerous "pro" and "con" Web sites on the Internet.

The "con" sites include one by Greenpeace (www.green peace.org/toxics) and by the film company, www.bluevinyl .org.

The vinyl industry counters with www.aboutblue vinyl.org that answers each "con" argument point by point � "allegation" vs. "fact."

Striking something of a balance is a site operated by BuildingGreen Inc., (www.BuildingGreen.com) an independent company based in Brattleboro, Vt., that says it is committed to providing accurate, unbiased and timely information to help building-industry professionals and policy makers improve the environmental performance, and reduce the adverse impacts, of buildings.

BuildingGreen says "at this point, we are left with more questions than answers" about PVC and that its recommendation is "to keep an eye on the debate."

"There is merit to addressing the problem of chlorine-related pollution (but) to the credit of the chlorine and PVC industries and government regulatory bodies, vast improvements have been made in manufacturing processes over the past 20 years," BuildingGreen says on its site.

"The residual vinyl chloride gas in PVC products has been reduced to (perhaps) insignificant levels, compared with two decades ago. Newer safer materials will almost certainly be developed by industries that are increasingly aware of environmental concerns."

While he cannot speak to concerns about chemicals released during PVC manufacture, Keith Krambeck, special waste manager for the Waste Commission of Scott County, says he can speak about disposal, and he has no concerns.

In Scott County, PVC construction waste is buried, and constant monitoring of ground water in the area and within the landfill itself shows no leaching of volatile organic compounds from vinyl, he says.

"We have no real concern about putting PVC in the landfill," he says. "There is no environmental threat."

Krambeck also points out that plastics, including vinyl, represent less than one-half of 1 percent by weight of all construction demolition material coming to the landfill.

Alma Gaul may be contacted at (563) 383-2324 or at agaul@qctimes.com