I am becoming obsessed with toxic metals and plumbing.
I have a 3/4 (nibco) copper cross fitting that is cast out of a copper alloy that contains 8-9% lead. I would like to use this fitting in a residential project but the lead content haunts me. Things to consider.
1) Old house with brass water piping.
2) Cross fitting has only around 2-square inches of wetted surface.
Maybe I'm foolish to worry about this small fitting in light of the old brass present throughout the house. Some say that over time, old brass becomes plated with minerals sealing in the lead.
Idea: Plate the inside of the cross fitting with lead free solder (tin,copper bismuth, & silver), sealing off the lead. Sounds good.......however bismuth & silver has been shown to be toxic to human health. Will they migrate out or are they tightly bound in the solder?
Have any of you gone down this road? I'd like to resolve this and move on!
Thanks
I have a 3/4 (nibco) copper cross fitting that is cast out of a copper alloy that contains 8-9% lead. I would like to use this fitting in a residential project but the lead content haunts me. Things to consider.
1) Old house with brass water piping.
2) Cross fitting has only around 2-square inches of wetted surface.
Maybe I'm foolish to worry about this small fitting in light of the old brass present throughout the house. Some say that over time, old brass becomes plated with minerals sealing in the lead.
Idea: Plate the inside of the cross fitting with lead free solder (tin,copper bismuth, & silver), sealing off the lead. Sounds good.......however bismuth & silver has been shown to be toxic to human health. Will they migrate out or are they tightly bound in the solder?
Have any of you gone down this road? I'd like to resolve this and move on!
Thanks