Do estrogenic compounds in drinking water migrating from plastic pipe distribution system pose adverse effects to human? An analysis of scientific literature.
With the widespread application of plastic pipes in drinking water distribution system, the effects of various leachable organic chemicals have been investigated and their occurrence in drinking water supplies is monitored. Most studies focus on the odor problems these substances may cause. This study investigates the potential endocrine disrupting effects of the migrating compound 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-d-t-BP). The summarized results show that the migration of 2,4-d-t-BP from plastic pipes could result in chronic exposure and the migration levels varied greatly among different plastic pipe materials and manufacturing brands. Based on estrogen equivalent (EEQ), the migrating levels of the leachable compound 2,4-d-t-BP in most plastic pipes were relative low. However, the EEQ levels in drinking water migrating from four out of 15 pipes may pose significant adverse effects. With the increasingly strict requirements on regulation of drinking water quality, these results indicate that some drinking water transported with plastic pipes may not be safe for human consumption due to the occurrence of 2,4-d-t-BP. Moreover, 2,4-d-t-BP is not the only plastic pipe-migrating estrogenic compound, other compounds such as 2-tert-butylphenol (2-t-BP), 4-tert-butylphenol (4-t-BP), and others may also be leachable from plastic pipes.
School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China. zehualiu@scut.edu.cn.|Key Lab Pollution Control & Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Cluster, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China. zehualiu@scut.edu.cn.|Guangdong Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China. zehualiu@scut.edu.cn.
Ze-Hua
ZH
Liu
School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.
Hua
H
Yin
School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.
Zhi
Z
Dang
D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D012498:Sanitary Engineering; D060753:Water Quality; D014881:Water Supply
D060766:Drinking Water; D004967:Estrogens; D010636:Phenols; D010969:Plastics; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D020959:Polyethylene; C056559:2,4-di-tert-butylphenol; C035406:2-tert-butylphenol; C006862:butylphen
Adverse effects; Drinking water; Estrogenic compounds; Migration; Plastic pipe distribution system; Polybutylene pipe; Polyethylene pipe; Polypropylene pipe