Ah this old chestnut, went around last month and I think the best reply I read was from someones brother.

I think the article that Seneca forwarded to me about vinyl records is a
bunch of BS. First of all, I have never heard of the IOCE (Institute of
Chemical Engineering). I am a member of AIChE (American Institute of
Chemical Engineers). Secondly, the "key petroleum byproduct" no longer
being generated sounds like bunk. Oil is used to make a wide variety of
chemicals, including precursors to vinyl plastics. Vinyl records are
made from poly(vinyl chloride):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_record I've never heard of anyone
outlawing PVC pipe for plumbing (also made from poly(vinyl chloride)).