May 23, 2005

Opinion: PVC pipe is not a health risk

We're surprised a publication covering commerce would carry such a biased, error-filled story as the one on the city's choice not to use PVC pipe in a park drainage system ("City tries less toxic pipe type," April 26).

The story failed to mention that nationwide PVC is the material of choice for municipal pipe to deliver safe drinking water and remove sewage wastes, or that it is tested to meet the high standards of the National Sanitation Foundation. PVC is proven safe and is not a health risk.

Most concerning, the story incorrectly reported that lead and cadmium are used in PVC pipe. And, the story failed to make clear that an expert panel of the U.S. Green Building Council, the source of the LEED standards that Seattle and other cities have eagerly adopted, reviewed the health and environmental issues related to PVC and other building materials. This panel concluded in a draft report this past December, that not only is PVC not a bad material, but discouraging its use could "steer designers to use materials which performed worse over their life cycles with respect to the bulk of impact categories."

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised at these short-comings given that the reporter and the city relied on the Healthy Building Network for "facts." HBN is on a political campaign that will do nothing to improve public health or the environment but will, if successful, restrict the choices of businesses and consumers to use the best, most affordable materials.

It may be of some interest to know how much in real added cost -- spec for spec and bid for bid on a bill of $250,000 -- we Seattle taxpayers incurred so this well intentioned but poorly decided course could be followed.

Paul Warner
President
Mikron Industries
Kent

The Daily Journal of Commerce welcomes your comments.

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Related Stories:

• City tries less toxic pipe type  04-26-2005
  

Previous columns:

• Letter to the Editor: County has other options besides Brightwater PLA, 05-03-2005
• Letters to the Editor: Lost a high-paying job? Sell the boat and move on, 10-20-2003
• Letter to the Editor: Don't forget there's a price to pay for new development, 10-13-2003
• Opinion: State's lawyers need to learn 'Indian law', 10-13-2003
• Opinion: Monorail images don't show the real picture, 08-18-2003
• Starbucks acquisition: grounds for concern?, 04-28-2003