Research by Purdue University has found that some types of plastic pipes leach chemicals into drinking water that can cause odors, and sometimes exist at levels that may exceed health standards. In the study, drinking water tested from a PEX plumbing system in a “net-zero energy” building in Maryland, revealed the presence of 11 chemicals that were PEX pipe ingredients and ingredient degradation products. Research with PEX pipes in the laboratory also showed that six brands caused drinking water to exceed the US Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum limit. The results of this study once again raises the issue of transparency when it comes to green building materials.
Read the entire article here: The ‘Lonely Fight’ for Green Building Material Transparency