March 2025: The Modern Lead Pipes? Plastics in Our Water System and the Roman Parallel
- carlyncunningham20
- Mar 19
- 7 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Unintended Consequences: The Roman Example
History often provides stark warnings about the unintended consequences of technological innovation. Perhaps no example is more pertinent to our modern concerns about plastics than the Roman Empire's extensive use of lead pipes in their water systems.
The Romans were masterful engineers who created one of the ancient world's most sophisticated water systems. Their aqueducts and plumbing network, which extensively used lead pipes (known as "plumbum" in Latin, giving us our modern symbol 'Pb' for lead), were considered the height of technological advancement. However, this engineering marvel came with a hidden cost that wouldn't be fully understood for centuries. Archaeological evidence from Roman skeletal remains shows significantly elevated lead levels compared to pre-Roman populations [1]. Studies of ancient Roman pipes and human bones have revealed lead levels that were 41-47% higher than modern European populations [2] and likely reached 100 times the natural background levels [3]. Analysis of preserved Roman texts suggests widespread health issues that align with lead poisoning symptoms: cognitive decline, reproductive problems, and various neurological disorders among the Roman elite, who had the most access to piped water. While some historians debate the extent of lead's role in Rome's decline, the evidence for widespread lead exposure and its health impacts is compelling [4].
Plastic Infrastructure: Replacing the Old with the New
Today, we find ourselves in a potentially similar situation with plastics. In the United States and Europe, plastic has become the material of choice for water infrastructure, largely replacing the lead and copper pipes of the past. According to the Plastic Pipe Institute, over 90% of new residential water service lines installed in the US use plastic materials. Water storage has similarly shifted toward plastic, with both municipal and residential systems increasingly using plastic tanks. The bottled water industry represents another significant source of plastic contact with drinking water. The International Bottled Water Association reports that Americans consume an average of 47.1 gallons of bottled water per person annually, with approximately 72% of Americans regularly drinking bottled water [5]. In Europe, the consumption rates are similarly high, with countries like Germany and Italy averaging over 50 gallons per person annually [6].
Recent research challenges the long-held belief that plastic materials in water infrastructure are inert. A 2023 Environmental Science & Technology Letters study found that plastic pipes release both microplastics and nanoplastics into drinking water [7]. Key findings highlight the extent of this contamination: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes can shed up to 10,000 plastic particles per liter, plastic storage tanks contribute 2,000–8,000 particles per liter, and even single-use water bottles release 100–700 microplastic particles per liter. Additionally, plastic straws have been identified as a significant source of microplastics, further underscoring the widespread presence of plastic contaminants in our water supply.
The relationship between plastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) adds another layer of complexity to our water infrastructure concerns. PFAS, often called "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment and human body, intersect with plastic water infrastructure in several ways. Many plastic pipes and containers are manufactured using PFAS compounds as processing aids.
Research published in Environmental Science & Technology has demonstrated that PFAS can migrate from plastic pipes into drinking water, and that the rate of PFAS leaching increases with pipe age, water temperature and exposure time [8]. This PFAS exposure adds to the cumulative burden of plastic-related contamination in our drinking water, creating a complex mixture of potential contaminants that may interact in ways we don't yet fully understand.
Health Implications
While the research on health impacts continues to evolve, recent findings have become increasingly concerning. A groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine found that microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate at higher levels in the brain compared to other organs like the liver and kidneys [9]. This preferential accumulation in brain tissue raises serious concerns about potential neurological impacts and adds urgency to understanding the long-term effects of plastic particle exposure. Some initial studies also indicate that nanoplastics can penetrate cell membranes causing disruption of cellular functions, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. While the long-term effects remain uncertain, the combination of microplastics, nanoplastics, and PFAS in drinking water creates a complex exposure scenario with potential health risks that are still being studied. Understanding and mitigating these emerging threats is crucial for public health protection.
Recent research has unveiled that microplastics are significantly impairing plant photosynthesis, leading to reduced crop yields and posing a substantial threat to global food security [10]. The study estimates that staple crops such as wheat, rice, and maize could suffer yield reductions between 4% and 14% due to microplastic contamination, potentially placing an additional 400 million people at risk of starvation over the next two decades. Microplastics damage soil structure, obstruct sunlight, transport toxic chemicals, and interfere with plants' water and nutrient absorption, collectively diminishing chlorophyll levels essential for photosynthesis. This issue extends to aquatic ecosystems, with projections indicating a decline in fish and seafood yields by 1 to 24 million tonnes annually. These findings highlight yet another devastating consequence of plastic pollution, reinforcing the urgency of addressing microplastic contamination on a global scale.
Taking Action: What Can You Do?
Now you must be asking yourself, is there any way to avoid PFAS? Based on current research, here are the top methods consumers can use to reduce their exposure to micro and nanoplastics (MNPs), ranked from least to most effective in terms of exposure reduction:
Avoiding plastic straws
Using natural fiber clothing
Reducing plastic food container usage
Installing faucet filters
Using stainless steel, aluminum or glass water bottles
Installing whole-house water filtration, such as reverse osmosis
While completely eliminating MNP exposure may not be possible in today’s world, adopting even a few of these methods can significantly reduce your risk. Starting with simple lifestyle changes and gradually incorporating more advanced solutions can help build a sustainable approach to minimizing exposure.
Echo River is an active investor in technologies and companies innovating solutions to the plastic crisis. Our portfolio includes efforts to reduce single-use plastics in packaging and shipping, such as Reath, that tracks and the reuse of everything from plastic shipping pallets to food containers. The scourge of single use plastic containers led us to invest in re-imagining the beverage market with an initial investment in Uravu Labs that offers 100% renewable drinking water from atmospheric water generation in reusable glass containers in India.
PORTFOLIO UPDATES
Uravu Labs
Beer brewed from air? Yes, really! Bangalore’s beer scene just got a sustainable twist! Uravu Labs, in collaboration with The Bier Library, has crafted the world’s first beer brewed with water FromAir®—turning humidity into pure, drinkable water. With global water demand set to outstrip supply by 40% in five years, this innovation saves six glasses of groundwater per pint, proving that sustainability isn’t a compromise—it’s an upgrade!
Epic CleanTec
Epic CleanTec now operates more greywater reuse systems in San Francisco than any other company, with recent expansions into Los Angeles, Texas, and Hawaii! Notable projects include deploying OneWater™ at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, operating the largest in-building blackwater reuse system at Salesforce Tower, and securing first-of-its-kind approvals for building-scale greywater reuse in Hawaii. Epic’s regulatory leadership is paving the way for broader adoption of water reuse systems across the U.S.
Epic CleanTec’s OneWater™ project was featured in Freethink’s “Hard Reset” documentary series. Check out the video to learn more!
Aclarity
Aclarity was recognized by the Cleantech Group as a top 100 Global Cleantech company and even awarded the Rising Star Award, which is awarded to this year's highest-ranked company making the list for the first time. Water and public health are being recognized in Cleantech, and these worlds are finally connecting!
Aclarity has also been shortlisted as a top three finalist for the AUTM 2025 Better World Project Award, which recognizes technology transfer professionals worldwide who support impactful innovation through the commercialization of academic research. Read Aclarity’s story here and cast your vote anytime before October, 2025.
Reath
Reath, a leader in sustainable packaging, has launched a new Packaging Comparison Tool, which highlights if any packaging contains harmful materials or additives, like PFAs, that can get into our drinking water. This tool helps businesses accelerates their decision making process when it comes to implementing sustainable changes in their packaging and supply chains.
Digital Paani
Uplink, the World Economic Forum's innovation platform, has named Digital Paani as one of the top 10 startups addressing water pollution! Learn more about the Tackling Water Pollution Challenge here. Congratulations Digital Paani!
JOBS AVAILABLE AT OUR COMPANIES
CREW Carbon
CREW Carbon is expanding its team and currently looking to hire a Science Team Lead, Project Engineer, and Senior Biogeochemistry Modeler. The positions are located in New Haven, CT and Brooklyn, NY. Apply here to join the team driving innovation in engineered carbon removal!
INDUSTRY UPDATES
Biodiversity in England’s rivers improved as metal pollution was reduced.
“Our study provides strong evidence that concentrations of zinc and copper have the biggest influence on invertebrate species richness, so future attempts to increase freshwater biodiversity are unlikely to bear fruit without further reductions in these metals.” - Professor Andrew Johnson
India to harness ocean waves for electricity generation
"With a vast coastline of 11,098 km spanning nine states and six other union territories, our untapped potential of ocean energy has been estimated at 40,000 MW," - Hardeep Singh Puri (Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister)
Comments