Polyvinyl chloride and its organotin stabilizers with special reference to packaging materials and commodities: A review

Abstract

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a thermoplastic that has entered practically all areas of life as a cheap and versatile material. Since PVC also fulfils the high quality requirements placed on modern packaging materials, with respect to packaging techniques and consumer protection, it is being used to an increasing extent for packaging of food and beverages as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The various additives required for processing PVC into packaging materials and commodity articles, as well as improving its properties during usage (e.g. lubricants and stabilizers), are harmless with regard to human and ecotoxicological aspects. Their use is non-hazardous and is therefore permitted by authorities. In the group of thermo- and light stabilizers for PVC, mixtures of mono- and dialkyltin thioglycolates play a major role. In accordance with legislation, these are allowed to be used in rigid PVC. In addition to their excellent stabilizing effect, they are not hazardous to the health of consumers of products packed in rigid PVC. Similarly, no health hazards exist to personnel, working in PVC production and processing plants, from volatile components of organotin stabilizers provided that processing and environmental prerequisites of modern technology are observed. The disposal of household waste that contains used PVC materials — stabilized with mixtures of mono- and dialkyltin thioglycolates — does not cause additional difficulties.