The health risks of vinyl chloride were first discovered in the 1970s at a B.F. Goodrich factory in Louisville, Kentucky. Four workers were overly exposed to the chemical and developed angiosarcoma of the liver, a rare type of tumor. This case, as well as a few others, led to the recognition of vinyl chloride as a carcinogen.

The known carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride raises the question of the increased risk of cancer in people who may have been exposed to it in Ohio. Though short-term inhalation exposure can cause breathing problems, dizziness, and loss of consciousness, the larger concern is the amount of vinyl chloride released into the river—affecting the water supply used by thousands.

Vinyl chloride can accumulate in enclosed spaces, especially when the water is heated, such as for showers or during cooking. This means if vinyl chloride has gotten into your private well, it can quickly become contaminated. Overexposure to vinyl chloride in your water can cause liver, brain, and lung cancers, as well as lymphoma and leukemia.