Target became the most recent retail company in the United States to announce it would end the use of polyvinyl chloride (more commonly known as PVC) in some of the products it sells, most notably children’s paraphernalia like eating utensils and lunch boxes. By 2008, the company wants to eliminate PVC from changing tables, bibs and toys.

Polyvinyl Chloride is an extremely profitable substance for the chemical industry. Although there are fears that PVC releases toxins like mercury and dioxins – far traveling chemicals that can lead to immune system disorders or cancer – PVC is still commonly used by the construction industry because of its low cost and high durability.

Several companies have already eliminated PVC from their products, or are in the process of phasing it out. Microsoft addressed the problem a couple years ago and Wal-Mart has recently eliminated PVC from its in house brand products as well.