Tuesday, August 30, 2011

What poisonous drink was Gunny Peiris to produce?

Sri Lanka police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) says that the most wanted person in relation to an alleged attempt of producing a poisonous drink using Vinyl Chloride imported by a toy factory in Kosgama in Colombo district has been arrested at Chennai airport on a warrant issued by Interpol.

The suspect is Canute Siripalan Peiris aka Gunny Peiris left the country as the investigation was commenced, says CID adding that discussions are underway to bring him to Sri Lanks for investigations.

We searched for what this chemical substance as it was mentioned in many media and found that it was not the D but V and the Vinyl Chloride is a carcinogenic substance. used in PVC production.

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

Vinyl chloride is a chemical intermediate, not a final product. Due to the hazardous nature of vinyl chloride to human health there are no end products that use vinyl chloride in its monomer form. Polyvinyl chloride is very stable, storable, and nowhere near as acutely hazardous than the monomer.
Vinyl chloride liquid is fed to polymerization reactors where it is converted from a monomer to a polymer PVC. The final product of the polymerization process is PVC in either a flake or pellet form. From its flake or pellet form PVC is sold to companies that heat and mold the PVC into end products such as PVC pipe and bottles. Tens of billions of pounds of PVC are sold on the global market each year.
Until 1974, vinyl chloride was used in aerosol spray propellant. Prior to the removal of vinyl chloride from hair spray the accumulation of vinyl chloride vapor in hair salons may have exceeded the NOAEL (No Observable Adverse Effect Level) exposure guidelines.
Vinyl chloride was briefly used as an inhalational anaesthetic, in a similar vein to ethyl chloride, though its toxicity forced this practice to be abandoned.
Here is a part of chemical fact sheet of the substance. 

HOW ARE PEOPLE EXPOSED TO VINYL CHLORIDE?Breathing: Most exposure to vinyl chloride occurs when people breathe contaminated air. If a water supply is contaminated, vinyl chloride can enter household air when the water is used for showering, cooking or laundry.
Drinking/Eating: People can be exposed to vinyl chloride if they drink or cook with contaminated water.
Touching: Vinyl chloride can be absorbed through the skin. This can occur when people handle vinyl products, contaminated soil, or bathe in contaminated water. However, skin absorption is probably a minor route of exposure.
DO STANDARDS EXIST FOR REGULATING VINYL CHLORIDE?Water: The state drinking water standard for vinyl chloride is 0.2 parts per billion (ppb). We suggest you stop drinking water containing more than 0.2 ppb. If levels of vinyl chloride are above 2 ppb, avoid washing or bathing with it. You may still use the water to flush toilets. Contact your local public health agency for more information specific to your situation.
Air: No standards exist for the amount of vinyl chloride allowed in the air of homes. Most people can’t smell vinyl chloride until the level is greater than 10 ppm. If you can smell the chemical, the level is too high to be safe.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulates the amount of vinyl chloride that can be released by industries.
WILL EXPOSURE TO VINYL CHLORIDE RESULT IN HARMFUL HEALTH EFFECTS?Vinyl chloride is very toxic. People should avoid contact with this chemical. The following health effects can occur after several years of exposure to vinyl chloride:
  • Damage to the nervous system
  • Changes in the immune system
Cancer: Exposure to vinyl chloride may increase a person's risk of developing cancer. Human and animal studies show higher rates of liver, lung and several other types of cancer.
Reproductive Effects: People exposed to levels of 1,000 ppm or more in air may have an increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects. Damage to male sperm-producing organs has occurred in laboratory animals.
Organ Systems: Being exposed to vinyl chloride can affect a person’s liver, kidney, lung, spleen, nervous system and blood.
Bone: Long-term exposure to high levels of vinyl chloride can result in a decrease in bone strength in fingers, arms, and joints.



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