Causes of Scleroderma: Vinyl Chloride
Overview of Vinyl Chloride and Vinyl Chloride Disease (a scleroderma-like illness)
Exposure to vinyl chloride has been found to cause acroosteolysis, angiosarcoma, brain cancer, leukemia, liver disease, Raynaud's, scleroderma, and "vinyl chloride disease". It can cause scleroderma-like skin changes.
Synonyms and Trade Names for Vinyl Chloride: Chloroethene, Chloroethylene, Ethylene monochloride, Monochloroethene, Monochloroethylene, VC, Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). NIOSH Pocket Guide to Hazardous Chemicals.
Vinyl Chloride Hazards Summary A small percentage of individuals occupationally exposed to high levels of vinyl chloride in air have developed a set of symptoms termed "vinyl chloride disease," which is characterized by Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers blanch and numbness and discomfort are experienced upon exposure to the cold), changes in the bones at the end of the fingers, joint and muscle pain, and scleroderma-like skin changes (thickening of the skin, decreased elasticity, and slight edema). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
SCLERO.ORG was the world's leading nonprofit for trustworthy research, support, education and awareness for scleroderma and related illnesses from 1998 to 2021. It was a grassroots movement from the original Scleroderma from A to Z web site, which was founded by Shelley Ensz. We were a 501(c)(3) U.S.-based public charitable foundation. We closed this web site and our nonprofit agency in April 2021.