Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I did some searching on here, and read posts all the way back to 2006, but I haven't really found any definitive answers - maybe there are none to be had.

I'm thinking about the safety and health concerns of various components (mainly plastics) that are used in this field. I'm assuming that PVC piping is probably safe (relatively) since it's used as water lines in houses and as community supply lines. The water doesn't stay in it all that long though, like it does in an AP system. IBC totes and food barrels are probably a similar situation.

But what about rain gutters, vinyl fence posts, and PVC DWV pipes being used as grow towers? Or Rubbermaid-type containers, stock tanks, large plastic flower pots, and similar items being used as fish tanks? Or styrofoam being used in DWC?

Has anyone found any believable studies relating to this? Do any of you guys think about it? Do you just figure that what we're doing is safer than buying veggies sprayed with who-knows-what, or fish raised in very questionable conditions in various parts of the world?

I'd say the basic rules are to stay away from recycled plastics or anything 2nd hand from unknown sources.

soft plastics have plasticisers in them so stay away from them as well. old pvc also had lead stabilisers in them.

new virgin HDPE and PVC should be fine. i have a system with that in it and i had my produce tested in a lab for the 8 common heavy metals, pesticides and PCB's and it came up with nothing. i'd be interested to see someone get their fish tested as they accumulated heavy metals etc unlike veggies.