IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 15, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Director, 602-832 6039, [email protected]
Washington, D.C. – On Imagine a Day Without Water, GreenLatinos is reminding the nation that clean water is not guaranteed — especially for communities living near toxic plastic and chemical facilities. Through our PVC Watch website, GreenLatinos is exposing how polyvinyl chloride (PVC) — a plastic used in everything from pipes to packaging — poses a hidden threat to our water, health, and environment.
“PVC is a toxic threat hiding in plain sight,” said Dr. Val Schull, Water, Equity & Ocean Program Director with GreenLatinos. “From the moment it’s produced to the moment it’s discarded, PVC pollutes our air, water, and bodies. We launched PVC Watch to fill the information gap and help communities fight for the transparency and protection they deserve.”
PVC is made using vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen linked to cancer and neurological damage. Every stage of PVC’s lifecycle — from production and transportation to installation in water systems — releases harmful chemicals into the environment. Despite these dangers, PVC production and disposal continue to expand, disproportionately impacting Latino, Black, and low-income communities living near chemical plants or along transportation routes.
The launch of PVC Watch gives the public a central hub for data, reports, and news on PVC and vinyl chloride pollution — empowering communities with knowledge to advocate for clean air and water. The site also highlights policy developments, including the EPA’s ongoing review of vinyl chloride under the Toxic Substances Control Act, a crucial step toward stronger chemical oversight.
“As cities rebuild their water infrastructure with PVC pipes, we risk trading one crisis for another,” Dr. Schull added. “Clean air and water shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code. Everyone deserves the right to live in a world where their drinking water isn’t contaminated by plastic or poison.”
For Imagine a Day Without Water, GreenLatinos urges the public to reflect on what life would look like without access to clean, safe water — and to join the call for stronger regulation, corporate accountability, and environmental justice.
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About GreenLatinos
GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.
