NASSCO: Purdue's CIPP Report Flawed
The National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) has released its response to the Purdue University study, Worksite Chemical Air Emissions and Worker Exposure during Sanitary Sewer and Stormwater Pipe Rehabilitation Using Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP), published July 26, 2017 in the Environmental Science & Technology Letters, a publication of the American Chemical Society (ACS). According to NASSCO officials, association guidelines and specific quality and safety protocols were not utilized during the testing performed, nor referenced in the study by the University, and a valid program should be performed by an unbiased third-party testing institution fully knowledgeable and aware of relevant testing protocols.
The association is particularly concerned that the Purdue University team found certain other organic chemicals in the steam exhaust and other release points of CIPP installations where steam was used to heat the curing resin, and the lack of information confirming that a baseline study was performed before the steam discharge was tested. Previous testing performed by other organizations has clearly indicated that chemicals found in the CIPP installation/cure water could not have possibly been contributed by the installation process, and most likely, the chemicals were contributed from the existing background levels. Also, the quantity of organics discharged and impact, if any, on workers, the general population, and the environment has not yet been determined.
NASSCO also claims that on Feb. 23, 2016, Purdue University’s Dr. Andrew Whelton declined a request to meet with the association to share information and discuss the research topic, as well as the disputed data. However, the association acknowledged that Dr. Whelton attended an ITCP class in January 2017 where the CIPP process was presented for inspection personnel.
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