DRINKING WATER CONTAMINANTS ARISING FROM HOUSEHOLD WATER PIPES AND PIPEWORK MATERIALS
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2016 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | PROCEEDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL PHD STUDENTS CONFERENCE, (MENDELNET 2016) |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | http://mendelnet.cz/artkey/mnt-201601-0180_DRINKING_WATER_CONTAMINANTS_ARISING_FROM_HOUSEHOLD_WATER_PIPES_AND_PIPEWORK_MATERIALS.php?back=/magno/mnt/2016/mn1.php?secid=4 |
| Field | Water pollution and control |
| Keywords | drinking water; water pipes; PEX; volatile compounds; MTBE; ETBE; TBA; heavy metals; anti-hormonal activity |
| Description | Water pipe materials can have significant effect on drinking water quality. Whereas heavy metals originate from metal pipes and couplings, new plastic polyethylene pipes can also leach different organic compounds that can effect olfactory and taste properties of water, and even be harmful to consumers. In this project the effect of crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) pipes on water quality was studied in laboratory and in residences with drinking water pipes made of different pipe materials. PEX pipes leached several organic volatile compounds, such as methyl and ethyl tert-butyl ethers (MTBE and ETBE) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) in the water in both laboratory tests and in the studied house. Water incubated in the pipes in laboratory was found to leach anti-androgenic and anti-retinoid X-like compounds. Water metal content was not affected by PEX pipes but rather the couplings and other network materials. Risks of leached compounds were low, and mostly affecting the taste and odour of water. Metal couplings and other metal network materials in household can potentially increase harmful metal exposure of residents. |
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