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PVC (polyvinyl chloride or simply "vinyl") is a rigid plastic commonly used in the construction industry for siding, pipe, plumbing, and conduit. When plasticizers (like phthalates) are added to make it softer and more flexible, it is used in apparel, upholstery, flexible tubing and flooring. It is identified by #3 on or near the bottom of bottles and containers.

The production of PVC produces dioxins and PCB's as by-products and PVC is rarely recycled. It has been called "the most toxic plastic" and PVC workers have suffered high rates of cancers.

For more information, see the U.S. Green Building Council commentary "Update on the Environmental Health Impacts of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) as a Building Material: Evidence from 2000-2004", the Wikipedia definition for polyvinyl chloride, the Greenpeace campaign against PVC, the Mindfully.org Article "PVC: A Health Hazard From Production through Disposal", and the CHEC Article "PVC: The Most Toxic Plastic".

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