PVC Water Pipe Safety
According to the Clean Water Pipe Council (CWPC), PVC pipes account for about 54 percent of total pipes used throughout the world. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) was patented in 1913 and made usable in the early 1930s. PVC became a preferred plumbing material because of its durability, performance and cost effectiveness. Does this Spark an idea?
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Chemical Makeup
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PVC contains carcinogens such as phthalates, dioxins, lead and leachable heavy metals.
Consumer Concerns
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Vinyl chloride can leach into drinking water that runs through plastic pipes. Carcinogens are known to cause cancer, and the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice (CHEJ) advises that significant exposure leads to low birth weight, kidney failure and liver failure.
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Carbon Footprint
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Environmental challenges are present throughout the life cycle of PVC piping. According to the CWPC, highly toxic dioxins are released into the atmosphere during production and, when disposed of, this non-biodegradable material remains for years.
Alternatives
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Governmental agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as the United States military, are developing alternative materials and aim to eliminate PVC. Currently, the move towards a phaseout is voluntary, varies among states, and is being driven by major manufacturers and environmental groups.
Safety Standards
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The EPA has set forth strict safety regulations. To encourage compliance, any manufacturer, supplier or distributor found to be noncompliant risks facing fines with multimillion dollar price tags per violation.
Protecting Yourself
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Replace piping manufactured before 1977 with PVC free materials. Greenpeace suggests polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) piping as effective alternatives.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Mike Goren
