EPDM question
EPDM question
(OP)
Hello all,
I have been reading your forum in an attempt to learn more about EPDM and what contaminants various formulations might leach to water. Please forgive me for not being an engineer and posting this to your forum. I'm desperate for knowledgeable help and I don't know who to ask.
To begin, I'm 6 months pregnant. To my horror, I recently learned that for the first 5 months of my pregnancy and the year before, the 6-8 glasses of water I drank at work every day reached the faucet by a 200 ft EPDM hose that sat on a sunny hillside. According to the manufacturer, this hose is not intended for potable water. The hose was quietly installed after the main water pipe broke and management decided not to spend any more money on this site. Now I'm very concerned that possible contaminants could have affected my child. I would like to ask for appropriate testing.
After I complained, my employer rashly had an (unrepresentative) sample tested for phthalates and BPA. But from what I've recently learned, BPA and phthalates are very unlikely to be found in EPDM anyway.
Please correct me if what I'm saying is wrong. EPDM formulations typically seem to include:
-- raw polymer
-- filler (?carbon black)
-- softener (?paraffinic oil)
-- vulcanization agents (?sulfur type)
-- other things?
From what I read, EPDM is seen as a pretty safe material but should I be concerned about contaminants considering water sometimes sat over a weekend on a sunny hillside? If so, what contaminants would be appropriate to look for in the water?
I don't have a chemistry background so I can only guess.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be a huge help to me. Thank you.
carmel
I have been reading your forum in an attempt to learn more about EPDM and what contaminants various formulations might leach to water. Please forgive me for not being an engineer and posting this to your forum. I'm desperate for knowledgeable help and I don't know who to ask.
To begin, I'm 6 months pregnant. To my horror, I recently learned that for the first 5 months of my pregnancy and the year before, the 6-8 glasses of water I drank at work every day reached the faucet by a 200 ft EPDM hose that sat on a sunny hillside. According to the manufacturer, this hose is not intended for potable water. The hose was quietly installed after the main water pipe broke and management decided not to spend any more money on this site. Now I'm very concerned that possible contaminants could have affected my child. I would like to ask for appropriate testing.
After I complained, my employer rashly had an (unrepresentative) sample tested for phthalates and BPA. But from what I've recently learned, BPA and phthalates are very unlikely to be found in EPDM anyway.
Please correct me if what I'm saying is wrong. EPDM formulations typically seem to include:
-- raw polymer
-- filler (?carbon black)
-- softener (?paraffinic oil)
-- vulcanization agents (?sulfur type)
-- other things?
From what I read, EPDM is seen as a pretty safe material but should I be concerned about contaminants considering water sometimes sat over a weekend on a sunny hillside? If so, what contaminants would be appropriate to look for in the water?
I don't have a chemistry background so I can only guess.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be a huge help to me. Thank you.
carmel





RE: EPDM question
RE: EPDM question
RE: EPDM question
Calcium oxide is often used in normal hoses, but as little as possible when in formulations for potable water.
Antioxidants as TMQ might be used, antiozonants are normally not necessary in EPDM. Nitrosamines formed during the vulcanisation might be present, depending on the accelerators used.
White fillers can also be used in combination with carbon black. Normally these are harmless.
EPDM types with high amount of diene or blended with oils cannot be used for food/water contact.
It was a mistake to use this hose, but if I were you I would try not to be overly concerned. The stress might have a bad effect too.
Request the MSDS of the rubber used in the hose. Do not expect the full formulation, but look if there is a mention that the formulation can be given to a doctor on request (+ it should mention contact details). The rubber hose producer made no mistake as he was not the one to install the hose.
RE: EPDM question
RE: EPDM question
RE: EPDM question
RE: EPDM question
And as a footnote to Nitrosamines in this list "Analysis for N-Nitrosodimethylamine, N-Nitrosomethylethylamine, N-Nitrosodiethylamine, N-Nitrosodi-npropylamine, N-Nitrosopyrrolidine, N-Nitrosomorpholine, N-Nitrosopiperidine, N-Nitrosodi-n-butylamine and N-Nitrosodiphenylamine are required when material is sulfur cured. Analysis shall be in accordance with USEPA Method 521 (USEPA-600/R-05/054)." I believe from off the record conversations with an engineer familiar with the particular formulation that the material in this hose was sulfur cured. I am worried about Nitrosamines and want thorough testing for these. Are the sort of Nitrosamines and levels that can leach from rubber along the same order of magnitude as I might get from eating bacon and washing it down with a beer (though I'm vegan and can't drink : )
I've sent the NSF61 information to my employer and asked them to hire someone qualified to see that testing is done to these standaards. I've also finally made contact with the appropriate contact person at California Department of Public Health and hope to hear from him next week.
Thanks to all of of you for your input. Any additional thoughts?
Happy 4th of July