Leaching of lead from new unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) pipes into drinking water. 2015

Yuanyuan Zhang, and Yi-Pin Lin
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore.

Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) pipes have been used in the premise plumbing system due to their high strength, long-term durability, and low cost. uPVC pipes, however, may contain lead due to the use of lead compounds as the stabilizer during the manufacturing process. The release of lead from three locally purchased uPVC pipes was investigated in this study. The effects of various water quality parameters including pH value, temperature, and type of disinfectant on the rate of lead release were examined. The elemental mapping obtained using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) confirmed the presence of lead on the inner surfaces of the uPVC pipes and their surface lead weight percentages were determined. The leachable lead concentration for each pipe was determined using high strength acidic EDTA solutions (pH 4, EDTA = 100 mg/L). Lead leaching experiments using tap water and reconstituted tape water under static conditions showed that the rate of lead release increased with the decreasing pH value and increasing temperature. In the presence of monochloramine, lead release was faster than that in the presence of free chlorine.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007854 Lead A soft, grayish metal with poisonous salts; atomic number 82, atomic weight 207.2, symbol Pb.
D011143 Polyvinyl Chloride A polyvinyl resin used extensively in the manufacture of plastics, including medical devices, tubing, and other packaging. It is also used as a rubber substitute. Chloroethylene Polymer,Polychloroethylene,Vinyl Chloride Polymer,Chloroethylene Homopolymer,Geon,PVC,Ultron,Viaflex,Vinylite,Chloride, Polyvinyl,Homopolymer, Chloroethylene,Polymer, Chloroethylene,Polymer, Vinyl Chloride
D002614 Chelating Agents Chemicals that bind to and remove ions from solutions. Many chelating agents function through the formation of COORDINATION COMPLEXES with METALS. Chelating Agent,Chelator,Complexons,Metal Antagonists,Chelators,Metal Chelating Agents,Agent, Chelating,Agents, Chelating,Agents, Metal Chelating,Antagonists, Metal,Chelating Agents, Metal
D002700 Chloramines Inorganic derivatives of ammonia by substitution of one or more hydrogen atoms with chlorine atoms or organic compounds with the general formulas R2NCl and RNCl2 (where R is an organic group). Chloroamines
D002713 Chlorine An element with atomic symbol Cl, atomic number 17, and atomic weight 35, and member of the halogen family. Chlorine Gas,Chlorine-35,Cl2 Gas,Chlorine 35,Gas, Chlorine,Gas, Cl2
D004202 Disinfectants Substances used on inanimate objects that destroy harmful microorganisms or inhibit their activity. Disinfectants are classed as complete, destroying SPORES as well as vegetative forms of microorganisms, or incomplete, destroying only vegetative forms of the organisms. They are distinguished from ANTISEPTICS, which are local anti-infective agents used on humans and other animals. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 11th ed) Biocide,Disinfectant,Biocides
D004492 Edetic Acid A chelating agent that sequesters a variety of polyvalent cations such as CALCIUM. It is used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and as a food additive. EDTA,Edathamil,Edetates,Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid,Tetracemate,Calcium Disodium Edetate,Calcium Disodium Versenate,Calcium Tetacine,Chelaton 3,Chromium EDTA,Copper EDTA,Coprin,Dicobalt EDTA,Disodium Calcitetracemate,Disodium EDTA,Disodium Ethylene Dinitrilotetraacetate,Distannous EDTA,Edetate Disodium Calcium,Edetic Acid, Calcium Salt,Edetic Acid, Calcium, Sodium Salt,Edetic Acid, Chromium Salt,Edetic Acid, Dipotassium Salt,Edetic Acid, Disodium Salt,Edetic Acid, Disodium Salt, Dihydrate,Edetic Acid, Disodium, Magnesium Salt,Edetic Acid, Disodium, Monopotassium Salt,Edetic Acid, Magnesium Salt,Edetic Acid, Monopotassium Salt,Edetic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Edetic Acid, Potassium Salt,Edetic Acid, Sodium Salt,Ethylene Dinitrilotetraacetate,Ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic Acid,Gallium EDTA,Magnesium Disodium EDTA,N,N'-1,2-Ethanediylbis(N-(carboxymethyl)glycine),Potassium EDTA,Stannous EDTA,Versenate,Versene,Acid, Edetic,Acid, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic,Acid, Ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic,Calcitetracemate, Disodium,Dinitrilotetraacetate, Disodium Ethylene,Dinitrilotetraacetate, Ethylene,Disodium Versenate, Calcium,EDTA, Chromium,EDTA, Copper,EDTA, Dicobalt,EDTA, Disodium,EDTA, Distannous,EDTA, Gallium,EDTA, Magnesium Disodium,EDTA, Potassium,EDTA, Stannous,Edetate, Calcium Disodium,Ethylene Dinitrilotetraacetate, Disodium,Tetacine, Calcium,Versenate, Calcium Disodium
D004784 Environmental Monitoring The monitoring of the level of toxins, chemical pollutants, microbial contaminants, or other harmful substances in the environment (soil, air, and water), workplace, or in the bodies of people and animals present in that environment. Monitoring, Environmental,Environmental Surveillance,Surveillance, Environmental
D006863 Hydrogen-Ion Concentration The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D012498 Sanitary Engineering A branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction, and maintenance of environmental facilities conducive to public health, such as water supply and waste disposal. Plumbing,Engineering, Sanitary

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