Improving the Healthiness of Sustainable Construction: Example of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Abstract

Abstract:With the increasing emphasis on sustainable construction, it has become important to better understand the impacts of common materials. This is especially paramount with the introduction of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which call for more comprehensive evaluations, adding many aspects of social consideration to the issues of environmental sustainability, including human health. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/vinyl can be seen as a material with potential for significant adverse effects on a multiplicity of levels, and the construction industry is its single most significant consumer. This article presents a transdisciplinary review of adverse health impacts associated with PVC showing a number of issues: some that could be eliminated through design, but also some which appear inherent to the material itself and therefore unavoidable. The totality of issues revealed in relation to PVC presents a compelling case for a call for complete elimination of use of this material in sustainable construction.

Investigating the Emission of Hazardous Chemical Substances from Mashrabiya Used for Indoor Air Quality in Hot Desert Climate

“…For the sample used in this experiment, samples prepared by wrapping veneer around raw materials of LLT, MDF, and HB, used for mashrabiya, were used with hot-melt-type adhesive [38].…”

Poly Vinyl Chloride Additives and Applications-A Review

“…The PVC strength, lightweight, and durability make PVC perfect for many applications as outlined below [35,36]:…”

Decarbonisation of calcium carbonate at atmospheric temperatures and pressures, with simultaneous CO2 capture, through production of sodium carbonate

“…45 Nonetheless, PVC is associated with adverse environmental and health impacts during its production, while in use, and after use; thus, posing concern in its use in sustainable construction. 47 Consequently, also due to the large difference in demand between cement and PVC, the wide scale industrial application of our technology may be constrained until development of regeneration processes of NaOH from Na 2 CO 3 , alternative NaOH production processes, or increased demand for Cl 2 /HCl. Nonetheless, limited replacement of global manufacturing with our technology is still feasible in current market demands.…”