Vinyl's Slippery Slope

There is no doubt that Judith Helfand is a strong, impassioned woman as she parades her section of blue vinyl around for 6 + years like it's a badge of honor. The catalyst moment in her 2002 documentary, Blue Vinyl occurs when her parents reside the rotting wood paneling on their humble abode with the ever cheap siding selection: vinyl. Curious as to how this product is manufactured and disposed of, Judith delves into a bit of research, only to unveil a dark, seemingly endless trail of evidence showing the dangerous toxins vinyl siding causes. Having a hysterectomy at age 25 from harmful toxins given to her mother during pregnancy, Judith becomes concerned for the health of not only her parents, but their neighbors. With her constant blue vinyl companion, Judith sets out to find a more environmentally friendly siding option for her parents.

When question the film poses is: Can vinyl really be done away with? Even after people are told of the threats vinyl siding inflict upon the environment and its inhabitants, they are not so easily persuaded to seek safer options. Take Judith's parents, for example. Midway into the film, her father states that despite the evidence she has placed before him, he still sees the vinyl siding as a cost efficient option and stands by his initial decision to use it on his home.

Its cost efficiency puts it in the good graces of many, especially those who cannot afford to procure their own home. The film touches base on this as we see a team of vinyl workers assemble a house and garage for a working class family. For this particular family, and many others in their same situation, shelter takes priority over environmental concerns.

In my own experience, vinyl siding is found on almost any form of affordable student housing: duplexes, apartment complexes, condominiums, etc. These houses aren't built for efficiency. They are built cheap so their residents can live cheap. Judith even admits that the only way she could afford to reside her parent's house was through the use of her settlement funds she gained through the hysterectomy.

It's a slippery slope that opens a new can of worms at every turn.