PVC hazards - as bad as they now say?

[glenn-k]

I listened to a radio show the other day and decided to look up a bit of info on this.

Here's one link.

http://www.healthybuilding.net/pvc/ThorntonPVCSummary.html

PVC has long been approved for cold water supply lines and is still in major building use.  Non-metalic conduit, shower pan liners, roofing membranes - tons of other stuff -mostly PVC.

[Daddymem]

I personally don't like water from pvc waterlines, I can taste the plastic.  I know that has nothing to do with the horrendous pollution the creation of PVC causes (similar damage as vinyl siding IIRC), but still is my deciding factor, copper for me please.

[Amanda_931]

if it leaches, copper can have its own problems--too much of it can make you crazy, or depressed beyond belief.  Probably fine as water lines, although I did give up my (tinned but not well) copper teakettle--which I filled up once a day, heated a couple of times.  With water lines it just goes on through.  (same reasons that drinking wine out of full lead crystal glasses is fine, but you might not want to leave brandy in a lead crystal decanter for six months.)

A lot of the stuff in that abstract had to do with the manufacturing and not the finished product.

Chlorine is getting a worse and worse reputation.

Freezing resistance is a major criterion for my choice of water lines.  PVC and CPVC don't make it.  Even if it is easy to repair.

(by the way, polycarbonate is now not considered as safe as plain old polyethylene water jugs)

[benevolance]

Well I thankfully have black iron pipe in the old house that was built in 1946

I am sure that there is a long list of harmful toxins entering into my body with every sip of water.

Although we do have a pur water filter on the tap in the kitchen...So I would like to think that the water is pretty decent to drink.

-Peter

[glenn-k]

I hope it's not made of PVC, Peter.

As mentioned above-  should we be concerned about the product that is stable and in use or just manufacturing and burning of it etc.  The guys who started this are really crying wolf now.  I would like to know if it is a baby wolf or a daddy wolf.  :-/

It was the totally non-toxic, in thing for years and years - now it is instant death - we are the Romans poisoning ourselves with lead pipe.  I'd like to know - if it will take a hundred years before it does damage then maybe I'm OK.  If it is why I'm like I am today, then I think I'd better start ripping out pipe. :-/

[Amanda_931]

Baby wolf or daddy wolf.

Nice way to put it, Glenn.

[benevolance]

Well they can send a man to the moon, and they can blow up the earth a hundred times over..

I would like to think that the technology exists to pipe in clean safe drinking water.

But maybe I am asking for too much?

-Peter

[rampage]

PVC is the only thing used here in FL. Do you know what it would cost to break our concrete slabs apart to replace the pipes??...

[glenn-k]

Multiply that times the world.

I am currently piping my drinking water through nearly a thousand feet of it then back down the hill to the cabin in the same line---hence the insanity. :-/

At least now I have something tangible to blame it on.

[harry51]

Glenn, it would be interesting to take a sample before the water enters the pipe, and one after it had travelled all the way through the system, and have them both assayed for pollutants, including lead. If bad stuff was being released into the water from the pipe, it seems like it should show up after 1000' of exposure.

Peter, I don't know about your area, but around here, iron water pipes accumulate carbonates and other debris from the water over time. I've replaced old 3/4" galvanized iron pipes that only had a hole about the size of a pencil left open through the center of them. Seems to build up worst near fittings; tees, elbows, etc. Makes it real hard to do dishes and take a shower at the same time!

Harry

[glenn-k]

Sounds interesting, Harry, but testing is expensive and I have 320 feet of PVC well drop pipe too- no way for a clean sample except to bail.

Another thing about galvanized pipe is that electrolysis eats holes in it in a few years.  Small electric currents develop under water and transfer the metal from one part to another -leaving a hole behind - (the simplified explanation).

[harry51]

Maybe I'll do it one of these days, if curiosity gets strong enough.  I have about 1300' of PVC from my spring tank to my storage tank, then the water comes backwards about another 300+' to the lateral feeding the faucet near the house site.  I could get a sample before the spring tank that had only been in the PVC for about 50', and compare assay results.  Unfortunately, there's no easy water access ahead of all the plumbing.

http://www.ppfahome.org/industrylinks.html

is a list of plastics industry links, one of which is:

www.c3.org

where a different perspective (naturally!) is available. Which view is closer to the truth?  All we can do is look at both sides of the argument, draw our own conclusions, and act accordingly.  


Harry    

[glenn-k]

Ahhhhhhhh --great -- rosy outlook - now I feel safe again.  Thanks Harry.

http://www.ppfahome.org/pvc/greenbuilding.html

[harry51]

Always glad to lend a hand, Glenn. But don't get carried away, now. Remember Jim Morrison's admonition: "The future is uncertain and the end is always near...."

Harry