The Battle Between Pex and Copper
Warning: What is presented here is nothing but facts. You can make up your own mind, to copper or not to copper, that is the question. We here at House of Kartheiser LLC can not sell a product using PEX within the potable water system, and we will not.
Andrew Whelton
Assistant professor at Purdue’s Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering and Lyles School of Civil Engineering
“Not all PEX is created equal,” Whelton said.
“Just because one brand of PEX leaches a lot of chemicals into the water doesn’t mean the brand sitting next to it will have the same effect. What’s unfortunate is that people walking into building supply stores have no idea about which ones are dirtier than others.”
So, should we be worried about PEX?
“I err on the side of caution,” Whelton said. “If there’s something in water that I can avoid, I typically do.”
Over the longer term, researchers who studied how “the mechanical properties and lifetime of PEX were reduced after exposure to chlorinated water” concluded that “on the basis of aging mechanisms and material performance characteristics, we propose that MPs and/or NPs can be leached from aging pipes.” Researchers have not yet assessed the type and quantity of particles released, however.
Numerous animal studies have shown that exposure to nano- and microplastics leads to impairments in oxidative and inflammatory intestinal balance, and disruption of the gut’s epithelial permeability. Other notable effects of nano- and microplastic exposure include dysbiosis (changes in the gut microbiota) and immune cell toxicity. Moreover, microplastics contain additives, adsorb contaminants, and may promote the growth of bacterial pathogens on their surfaces: they are potential carriers of intestinal toxicants and pathogens that can potentially lead to further adverse effects.
DANGERS OF USING PLASTIC FOR DRINKING WATER
As the interior surfaces of these pipes degrade, they release particles of plastic into water. When people ingest the MP and NP flaking from plastic pipes, it adds to their already significant exposure to plastic pollution, as illustrated by analysis showing an average person consumes about one credit card’s worth of plastic each week.
Aging of Drinking Water During Operation as a Potential Source of Nano- and Microplastics Academic research identifies plastic pipes as a significant source of microplastics (MP) and nano plastics (NP) in potable water systems. An analysis by Świetlik and Magnucka of water and pipes taken from water-transmission systems in 2023 found that both PVC and PE pipes crack and peel “relatively quickly” as they age, due to interactions between the plastic materials with water and additives used for disinfection.
Plastic Debris Is a Human Health Issue This report summarizes research on how plastic pipes shed MP and NP and reviews the effects that these particles can have on the gut, lungs, brain, and reproductive systems, along with risk factors for the spread of pathogens and disease.
Evidence showing that plastic pipes degrade Evidence showing that plastic pipes degrade over time prompted several research teams to examine the degree to which plastic plumbing materials might represent a source of MP & NP in water. Their methods included a straightforward comparison that measured the concentration of MP and NP in water sampled from treatment facilities and compared that value to water samples taken from a point of use. The results found that the number of plastic particles increases as water moves through pipes made of plastic.
Micro- and Nano-plastics and Human Health
CHLORINE DIOXIDE AND PLASTIC HOT- AND COLD- WATER PLUMBING DISTRIBUTION PIPES
The Plastic Cycle: A Novel and Holistic Paradigm for the Anthropocene
Drinking water odors, chemicals above health standards caused by 'green building' plumbing
Crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) drinking water pipe: Carbon leaching, impacts on microbial growth, and developmental toxicity to zebrafish
Polystyrene Nano plastic Exposure Induces Developmental Toxicity by Activating the Oxidative Stress Response and Base Excision Repair Pathway in Zebrafish
Crude oil contamination of plastic and copper drinking water pipes
Impact of the surface aging of potable water plastic pipes on their lead deposition characteristics
Release of drinking water contaminants and odor impacts caused by green building cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) plumbing systems
WE HAVE 101 REASONS ON WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO, WHAT'S YOURS?
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PATHOGENS
As you will begin to learn, microplastics are not the only things you need to worry about in your potable water. There's a hole lot of goodies waiting to set up shop in your water system.
Critical Review: Propensity of Premise Plumbing Pipe Materials to Enhance or Diminish Growth of Legionella and Other Opportunistic Pathogen
Legionnaires’ Disease is the “leading cause of reportable waterborne illness” in the United States with 52,000–70,000 cases per year, 8,000–18,000 hospitalizations, an overall mortality rate of 15%, and high healthcare and legal costs. Bacteria belonging to the genus Legionella are the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac Fever, which infect the human respiratory system via inhalation or aspiration. Legionella is classified as “opportunistic” because it preferentially infects those with underlying illnesses or weakened immune systems. To date more than 60 Legionella species have been identified, with Legionella pneumophila being the species most attributed to human disease. Legionella can be found even in “the most aggressively treated drinking water”. Studies have confirmed that potable water is a key source of infection, for both hospital- and community-acquired cases. Other opportunistic pathogens (OPs) such as nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acanthamoeba, can similarly be transmitted via tap water and tend to infect individuals belonging to certain risk groups.
Legionnaires’ disease, a pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacterium, is the leading cause of reported waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States. Legionellae occur naturally in water from many different environmental sources, but grow rapidly in the warm, stagnant conditions that can be found in engineered water systems such as cooling towers, building plumbing, and hot tubs. Humans are primarily exposed to Legionella through inhalation of contaminated aerosols into the respiratory system. Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal, with between 3 and 33 percent of Legionella infections leading to death, and studies show the incidence of Legionnaires’ disease in the United States increased five-fold from 2000to 2017. Management of Legionella in Water Systems reviews the state of science on Legionella contamination of water systems, specifically the ecology and diagnosis. This report explores the process of transmission via water systems, quantification, prevention and control, and policy and training issues that affect the incidence of Legionnaires’ disease. It also analyzes existing knowledge gaps and recommends research priorities moving forward.
02.
The Pro's of Copper
How many more reasons do you need to not use PEX in your potable water system? Well here are a few reasons why you should use copper and only copper.
Contact killing and antimicrobial properties of copper
Reduction of Environmental Contamination With Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria by Copper-Alloy Coating of Surfaces in a Highly Endemic Setting
From Laboratory Research to a Clinical Trial: Copper Alloy Surfaces Kill Bacteria and Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
Inactivation of Influenza A Virus on Copper versus Stainless Steel Surfaces
The Scientific Illusion of Victor Burq (1822–1884)
Low numbers of microplastics detected in drinking water from ground water sources
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So, in conclusion, avoid plastic, use copper, and get your water from ground sources. There is no way House of Kartheiser LLC could consciously sell a product with anything else but copper being used for the potable water system, along with stainless steel holding tanks.
Mill wrap tape, or anything to cause separation (however slight) will prevent electrolysis. Using pipe insulation will work well in areas where the copper and dissimilar metals run close together for long runs. We already have that covered and avoided it at all costs, proper installation by a licenced plumbing professional, not DIY.
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