Evaluating lead leaching from uPVC pipes into drinking water: Characterization with SEM-EDX and ICP-OES

Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC), has become a popular choice for piping systems due to its numerous advantages. Its prevalence in the piping industry is a testament to its versatility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. These uPVC pipes are generally considered safe for use in many applicat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Yassin T.H. Mehdar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Results in Chemistry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211715624006726
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832583077155569664
author Yassin T.H. Mehdar
author_facet Yassin T.H. Mehdar
author_sort Yassin T.H. Mehdar
collection DOAJ
description Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC), has become a popular choice for piping systems due to its numerous advantages. Its prevalence in the piping industry is a testament to its versatility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. These uPVC pipes are generally considered safe for use in many applications, there are some health concerns associated with them. One of the main components of uPVC is lead (Pb), which is used as a stabilizer in the manufacturing process. Lead can be leached from these pipes into drinking water, influenced by many factors such as temperature and time. Furthermore, there are many studies about lead exposure and its damage to the kidneys and reproductive system, as well as contributing to elevated blood pressure and hypertension.This study investigates the presence of lead and its leaching rate from some uPVC pipes into drinking water under different conditions of temperature and time. Inductively coupled plasma −optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to determine the concentration of Pb in water. In addition, elemental mapping obtained using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) was utilized to determine the weight percentages of Lead (Pb) on the inner surfaces of the uPVC pipes.The novelty of this study lies in several key aspects that distinguish it from existing literature. It utilizes locally sourced uPVC pipes, which have different manufacturing processes, raw materials, and stabilizers compared to those investigated in previous research. This regional specificity offers new insights that are directly relevant to local public health and regulatory standards. The use of local pipes fills a significant gap in current literature, reflecting regional variations in manufacturing practices.In addition, this study employs a dual-method approach, combining ICP-OES for accurate quantification of lead concentration in water with SEM-EDX for detailed elemental mapping. EDX provides valuable insights into the spatial distribution of lead on pipe surfaces, complementing the quantitative data from ICP-OES. This dual methodology enhances the robustness and comprehensiveness of our findings, offering a more holistic understanding of lead leaching dynamics.
format Article
id doaj-art-35b73e8542b84c2c93764b77e5d4b855
institution Kabale University
issn 2211-7156
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Results in Chemistry
spelling doaj-art-35b73e8542b84c2c93764b77e5d4b8552025-01-29T05:00:46ZengElsevierResults in Chemistry2211-71562025-01-0113101976Evaluating lead leaching from uPVC pipes into drinking water: Characterization with SEM-EDX and ICP-OESYassin T.H. Mehdar0Coresponding author at: Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry, P.O. Box 3170, 42317 – 7115, Madinah city, Saudi Arabia; Department of Chemistry, Taibah University, P.O. Box 30002, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah 14177, Saudi ArabiaUnplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC), has become a popular choice for piping systems due to its numerous advantages. Its prevalence in the piping industry is a testament to its versatility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. These uPVC pipes are generally considered safe for use in many applications, there are some health concerns associated with them. One of the main components of uPVC is lead (Pb), which is used as a stabilizer in the manufacturing process. Lead can be leached from these pipes into drinking water, influenced by many factors such as temperature and time. Furthermore, there are many studies about lead exposure and its damage to the kidneys and reproductive system, as well as contributing to elevated blood pressure and hypertension.This study investigates the presence of lead and its leaching rate from some uPVC pipes into drinking water under different conditions of temperature and time. Inductively coupled plasma −optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to determine the concentration of Pb in water. In addition, elemental mapping obtained using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) was utilized to determine the weight percentages of Lead (Pb) on the inner surfaces of the uPVC pipes.The novelty of this study lies in several key aspects that distinguish it from existing literature. It utilizes locally sourced uPVC pipes, which have different manufacturing processes, raw materials, and stabilizers compared to those investigated in previous research. This regional specificity offers new insights that are directly relevant to local public health and regulatory standards. The use of local pipes fills a significant gap in current literature, reflecting regional variations in manufacturing practices.In addition, this study employs a dual-method approach, combining ICP-OES for accurate quantification of lead concentration in water with SEM-EDX for detailed elemental mapping. EDX provides valuable insights into the spatial distribution of lead on pipe surfaces, complementing the quantitative data from ICP-OES. This dual methodology enhances the robustness and comprehensiveness of our findings, offering a more holistic understanding of lead leaching dynamics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211715624006726Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride(uPVC) pipesSEM-EDXPb leachabilityHealth effectsmIgration
spellingShingle Yassin T.H. Mehdar
Evaluating lead leaching from uPVC pipes into drinking water: Characterization with SEM-EDX and ICP-OES
Results in Chemistry
Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride
(uPVC) pipes
SEM-EDX
Pb leachability
Health effectsm
Igration
title Evaluating lead leaching from uPVC pipes into drinking water: Characterization with SEM-EDX and ICP-OES
title_full Evaluating lead leaching from uPVC pipes into drinking water: Characterization with SEM-EDX and ICP-OES
title_fullStr Evaluating lead leaching from uPVC pipes into drinking water: Characterization with SEM-EDX and ICP-OES
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating lead leaching from uPVC pipes into drinking water: Characterization with SEM-EDX and ICP-OES
title_short Evaluating lead leaching from uPVC pipes into drinking water: Characterization with SEM-EDX and ICP-OES
title_sort evaluating lead leaching from upvc pipes into drinking water characterization with sem edx and icp oes
topic Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride
(uPVC) pipes
SEM-EDX
Pb leachability
Health effectsm
Igration
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211715624006726
work_keys_str_mv AT yassinthmehdar evaluatingleadleachingfromupvcpipesintodrinkingwatercharacterizationwithsemedxandicpoes