[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: [BULK] Re: green building and plastics and PEX discussions

[Keith Winston]

Polyethylene is listed as a suspected human carcinogen here:

http://www.ecologycenter.org/fact_sheets/plastichealtheffects.html (the 
page provides references)

It may be that the cross-linking changes that, though I have no reason 
to believe thatn (and in face, can hardly imagine it). Also, it's 
important to realize that long-term health effects of, well, almost 
anything, are poorly documented, not the least because the EPA labs that 
test for such things are kept in a perpetually precarious position by 
Congress, last I heard.

Or you can believe the plastics industry, which says it this way:

*Are PE pipe and fittings safe for use in homes?* *Reference ASTM and 
NSF performance and health standards.

Yes, PE is safe for use in the home. As answered above it is a polymer 
composed of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. PE is commonly used for food 
containers (milk bottles, plastic food bags, etc.) when the plastic has 
received approval to NSF International's standards health effects 
applications by a third party certifying agency. Examples of such 
standards are NSF 14 and NSF 61.

here: http://www.ppfahome.org/pe/faqpe.html

Of course, benzene, toluene, and all kinds of other nasty things consist 
of nothing more than "only carbon and hydrogen atoms." But hey, without 
chemistry, life itself would be impossible. I wish Monsanto still used 
that, that was a GREAT motto... completely, boldly misleading. Thank god 
for clarity.

Sorry I don't have more time right now.

Warmly, Keith


Lawrence Lile wrote:
> I have no information that says PEX has any harmful effects whatsoever.
> I know purists who won't drink out of any plastic piping whatsoever, and
> this attitude may have some grounding in fact but is probably just
> paranoia.  If anyone has any better info on this let us know!
>  
> --Lawrence
>  
>  
>  
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Reuben Deumling [mailto:9watts at gmail.com] 
> Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 2:40 PM
> To: Lawrence Lile
> Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: green building and
> plastics and PEX discussions
> Importance: Low
>
>
> Lawrence,
> can you give me specific reasons to be suspicious of PEX from a health
> perspective? I chose PEX over copper recently because a colleague who is
> a student of Green Chemistry believed it would be less reactive with
> drinking water than copper piping. But he may be wrong...? 
>  
> Reuben Deumling
>
>  
> On 7/20/06, Lawrence Lile <LLile at projsolco.com> wrote: 
>
> 	I am often not keen on whole house water filters unless they
> solve a
> 	specific problem, but in this case I would agree.  If your water
> is 
> 	eating your pipes, the filter would be the most direct way to
> deal with
> 	the problem.  In a PH neutral system, copper is going to deliver
> the
> 	cleanest water of any common type of piping. I would argue for
> keeping 
> 	the copper, unless it is totally shot, over replacing it.
> 	
> 	
> 	--Lawrence Lile
> 	
> 	
> 	
> 	
> 	-----Original Message-----
> 	From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org 
> 	[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of
> Debra
> 	Lombard
> 	Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 9:38 AM
> 	To: Nitya Akeroyd
> 	Cc: greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org;
> 	greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
> 	Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] green building and plastics
> and PEX
> 	discussions 
> 	Importance: Low
> 	
> 	if your water is acidic you should get a whole house water
> filter. It
> 	will then allieve you of having to worry about your piping and
> provide
> 	you with better health.
> 	
> 	remember that when you shower all the pores in the top of your
> head by 
> 	your brain get dosed with all of the chemicals in your water. A
> pH of 7
> 	is best for human bodies and your water should be around pH=7
> 	
> 	lemon juice and coffee are around pH of 1-2
> 	
> 	Debra Lombard, LEED AP 
> 	Sustainable Design Specialist
> 	The RETEC Group, Inc.
> 	900 Chapel St., 2nd Fl - Box 9
> 	New Haven, CT 06510
> 	Tel: 203-868-0137
> 	Fax: 203-773-3657
> 	dlombard at retec.com
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-- 
Keith Winston
Earth Sun Energy Systems
3927 Madison St.
Hyattsville, MD 20781
301-980-6325
keith at earthsunenergy.com
www.EarthSunEnergy.com