There is a growing concern in the medical and scientific communities regarding the health and safety risks of non-asbestos pressure pipe. During the Court Proceedings which rejected a ban of asbestos in the U.S., the Environmental Procession Agency (EPA) admitted that vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) used in PVC is well known human carcinogen that causes angiosarcoma of the liver and possible brain cancer. VCM is known to leach out of the pipe and into the drinking water. Furthermore, PVC pipe in developing countries may contain lead as a stabilizing agent.(8)

"While there is no evidence showing that ingested asbestos is a health risk, the EPA's own studies show that ingested vinyl chloride is a significant cancer risk that could cause up to 260 cancer deaths over the next 13 years" (9). In the terms of risks of ductile iron (DI) the EPA raised serious concern regarding the population cancer risk for the production of DI pipe citing these and other reasons the U.S. Court of Appeals overthrew the ban of A/C pipe and other asbestos products for the simple reason that it "actually may increase the risk of injury that Americans face."

(8) Lamm & Levine, Asbestos Cement Pipe: Is there any reason to make it available in other countries.
(9) U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of appeal, final opinion: Corrosion Proof Fittings The Environmental Protection Agency, Oct, 1991.