ScienceDaily (June 7, 2008) — Scientists in Virginia are reporting that home plumbing systems constructed with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipes may be more susceptible to leaching of lead and copper into drinking water than other types of piping -- especially when PVC systems include brass fixtures and pipefittings.

Marc Edwards and colleagues point out that more water purification plants in the United States are using chloramine to treat water. At the same time, builders are plumbing more houses with plastic pipe, rather than copper, to cut costs. Past studies have found that ammonia formed in chloramine-treated water can trigger a series of events that corrode brass faucet components and connectors commonly used in PVC plumbing systems. Corrosion of brass (made with copper, zinc and lead) releases those metals into water pipes and makes faucets prone to failure.

In the new study, researchers sampled water from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), copper, lead, and other pipe material under a range of experimental conditions. They found that corrosive conditions were often worst in plastic pipes, which could be expected to cause higher metal leaching of zinc and lead from brass faucets used in homes and buildings.

Journal reference:

1. Zhang et al. Nitrification in Premise Plumbing: Role of Phosphate, pH and Pipe Corrosion. Environmental Science & Technology, 2008; 0 (0): 0 DOI: 10.1021/es702483d

Email or share this story:  

enlarge

Plumbing systems with polyvinyl chloride plastic pipes could be more susceptible than copper pipes to leaching of lead and copper into drinking water, researchers report. (Credit: Courtesy of Marc Edwards)

Related Stories

Plastic Water Pipes Affect Odor And Taste Of Drinking Water (Aug. 28, 2007) — Plastic pipes, which are increasingly being used in place of copper water pipes, can significantly affect the odor and taste of drinking water, according to a pioneering study on the ...  > read more

Corroding Plumbing Materials Producing Environmental Problems (July 12, 2002) — Many factors influence the quality of drinking water and a burgeoning new problem is raising concern. Metallic plumbing materials, capable of lasting for centuries, are occasionally corroding at a ...  > read more

How Toxic Environmental Chemical DBT Affects The Immune System (Oct. 29, 2008) — Scientists have issued a report on the mechanism of toxicity of a chemical compound called Dibutyltin (DBT). DBT is part of a class of high toxic and widely distributed chemical compounds called ...  > read more

Protecting Drinking Water Supplies Within Buildings (Mar. 4, 2005) — Mention drinking water contamination and most people would suspect problems with the ground water or with a water treatment plant. However, contamination of a building’s internal piping or ...  > read more

Search ScienceDaily

Dangers Of Going Green