PVC group defends material’s place in the medical market

May 2008 Medtec web exclusive:

Ole Grøndahl Hansen, director of the PVC Informationsrädet (Copenhagen, Denmark) was at the Medtec show to represent the European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry under the auspices of the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM; Brussels), said in European medical markets there appears to be little movement away from vinyl for single-use medical devices such as tubing and bags. He said hospitals have looked closely at both price and benefits compared to polyolefins or glass and have opted to continue using PVC, despite hefty anti-PVC marketing efforts by group such as Health Care without Harm. Although some arguments against the polymer were voiced in recent years regarding plasticizer use, the effectiveness of those, he said, has dwindled with the advent of environmentally-friendly alternatives such as BASF’s Hexamoll DINCH plasticizer and similar products coming to the market.

Hansen noted that DEHP, the phthalate used in most medical PVC applications, remains one of the best-tested chemicals available. The relationship with Health Care without Harm has proved very negative, with that group not letting the PVC industry speak at its last conference nor letting it rent a booth at the accompanying trade fair. “We want a dialogue; they’re not interested,” he said.

Despite the sometimes negative news on PVC and especially phthalates, he foresees no great change in the materials’ regulatory status in the near future. “It’s not very easy to substitute when you’re dealing with these applications,” he says, referring to sensitive medical products. “The most important requirement for medical tubing is that it doesn’t kink—so far, no one (material) can compete with PVC,” he said. -Bob Colvin & Matt Defosse