As water utilities mobilize to replace millions of lead pipes across the country, they are sometimes choosing plastic, which some advocates worry can pose its own risks to drinking water.

Scientists suspected that, among other possibilities, plastic drinking water pipes exposed to extreme heat released the chemicals (SN: 11/13/20). Now, lab experiments show that’s possible.

"PVC pipe safely delivers clean drinking water to communities ... chemicals and other contaminants in our water. "PVC is a fundamentally hazardous plastic," says Mike Schade, program director ...

Plastic pipes, especially those made from PVC, are a major contributor to microplastic pollution, releasing harmful chemicals ...