The Real Science on PVC
Despite its proven safety record and meticulous monitoring, ill-informed and unscientific allegations about PVC persist.
Claims that it’s toxic have been refuted by the scientific community and people like Greenpeace co-founder Dr. Patrick Moore. The evidence shows it neither leaches chemicals like lead, cadmium, BPA or plasticizers, nor does it release harmful organotins, nor pose major hazards in its manufacture, use and disposal, nor create a dangerous bio-film, nor form dioxins as water passes through, etc.
Moreover, it’s impossible for PVC pipe to leach plasticizers, BPA, lead or cadmium, since these aren’t even used in its manufacture nor are they part of its compound formulation. Says Dr. Moore in his book, Confessions of a Greenpeace Dropout, such claims come from “a kind of religion based on belief rather than facts or evidence.”
Finally, not only is dioxin not produced as it passes through PVC pipe, but claims that PVC manufacturing is a major dioxin polluter are also false. Forest fires, backyard burning and other manufacturing processes are the major contributors of dioxin.
More Than One Million Miles of Safe Water Transmission
Over 40,000 North American water utilities use PVC pipe today, and more than one million miles are in service – or about 78 percent of all new drinking water distribution pipes installed on the continent. Some 10 million quality control tests have been conducted on water carried through PVC pipe since it was introduced in North America and around the world. All of them confirm the product is safe and beneficial to public health.