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Nano- and Microplastic Release from Indoor Drinking Water Pipes: characteristics of different Pipe Materials
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Scientists tested different types of plastic pipes used in drinking water systems and found that some materials, especially one called polybutylene, shed more tiny plastic particles and dissolved organic matter into water than others, particularly under hot, chlorinated conditions similar to real-world plumbing. Pipes made of PVC performed more like stainless steel, releasing far fewer particles. This matters because it suggests the type of pipe in your home or building could affect how much microplastic ends up in your tap water, and it points to a practical way to reduce plastic exposure: choosing pipe materials more carefully.
The current study comparatively evaluated the release characteristics of nano/microplastics and organic matter from non-metallic drinking water pipes. Accelerated aging experiments were conducted on polybutylene(PB) and impact-modified polyvinyl chloride(iPVC) to verify the effects of long-term operations on the pipe material. FT-IR spectra of particles detected after the aging conditions matched those of the original pipe materials, confirming the presence of pipe-derived particles. Subsequently, a continuous-flow system simulating drinking water distribution conditions was established, and a pipe circulation experiment was conducted for approximately 45 days under a residual chlorine concentration of about 4.3mg/L and a temperature of 40°C. The results showed that PB exhibited a higher cumulative release of nanoparticles and a greater number of microplastic particles than iPVC. Results also showed that the total organic carbon(TOC) release from was also higher in PB. In contrast, iPVC and stainless steel(STS) showed no substantial differences in TOC concentration or cumulative nanoparticle release. These findings demonstrate that the release characteristics of nano/microplastics and organic matter vary depending on pipe material under drinking water distribution conditions and suggest that the potential release of nano/microplastics should be considered when selecting materials for drinking water pipes.
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