rubbermaid stock tanks not NSF approved

[Steven Chappell]

I have been locking into aquaponics, and have seen people online suggesting using rubbermaid stock tanks! checked with manufacturer tanks are not approved for human consumption. may leach chemicals BPA, and others into water. I don't understand it's O.K. for your livestock but not you! I dont think they should be using it for livestock! afterall don"t we eat the livestock?

[Anselmo Torres]

Agreed

[Meg Stout]

Since someone just asserted on one of my youtube videos (setting up stock tanks) that these are "known" to leach chemicals, I went looking. So fun to see one of the four links my google search provided leads me back here.

If you have tanks and wish to ensure they are safe for potable water, you can seal them with a product NSF approved for potable water. Two such products are ThoroSeal Waterproof Coating ® and Waterplug ®.

A second value of such coatings would be that they're probably not black, like the standard Rubbermaid stock tanks.

[TCLynx]

Just because something is NSF approved doesn't mean it doesn't contain or leach BPA or other pthalates.  There are plenty of "food grade" at least in the US products that DO leach those things so lets be clear that the NSF and FDA stamps just cost the companies more money but doesn't guarantee those products are free of things that can leach out and cause hormonal havoc in children and others with lots of exposure.

So the fact that the stock tanks don't have FDA or NSF approvals doesn't necessarily mean they have anything bad in them, just means that the company didn't pay the extra money to get them certified or approved (which they would then pass on to the consumers if they did.)

Now my understanding was that their structural foam is HDPE plastic which is generally of the safest plastics available but since they didn't get the extra approvals or certifications we don't know for absolute certain if there are any additives or colors that are "non" approved.

So, for our own personal use, at some point in time we have to make a decision for ourselves about what we will use.  There are potable water grade vinyl liners out there with NSF and FDA approval that will leach plasticizers, so lets decide for ourselves with what info we can find, I don't necessarily trust the NSF and FDA approvals as being the "be all, end all" of safety standards and not having those approvals doesn't necessarily equate to "unsafe" either.

[Robert Vockrodt]

I agree with you Vlad.

See my email to Rubbermaid:

I am a member of Aquaponic Gardening, a community website for aquaponics. A discussion arose about the leaching of toxic chemicals from your Rubbermaid 100-50 gallon containers which many members use in the aquaponics system.

 

"rubbermaid stock tanks not NSF approved

I have been locking into aquaponics, and have seen people online suggesting using rubbermaid stock tanks! checked with manufacturer tanks are not approved for human consumption. may leach chemicals BPA, and others into water. I don't understand it's O.K. for your livestock but not you! I dont think they should be using it for livestock! afterall don"t we eat the livestock?

Added by Steven Chappell on March 13, 2012 at 4:04pm — 9 Comments

 

see website:

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/profiles/blog/list

 

Please set the record straight for me on the use of rubbermaid stock tanks in aquaponics for human consumption regarding the leaching of chemicals.

 

Thank you.

 

Robert Vockrodt

We got that BPA in there, but no direct response.

Their email is [e-mail]

However, customer service will only give the scripted answer.

Someone else, give it a shot. Send a letter to the president. 

I'm afraid that since this is a commercial product, maybe someone with cattle should write a letter specifically for leached chemicals.

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Ok, so that really doesn't say anything. Of course they're not going to make any claims when it comes to "being used for anything other than its intended use". What company in there right mind would?

But does this necessarily mean that they contain BPA or other pthalates that will leach? I'm neither saying that they do nor, don't. But if this is all that the OP has too go on...that's pretty shaky.

I don't use any of these stock tanks, so it really doesn't effect me personally, but saying that they will leach BPA or other chemicals just because the company says they should be used other than how they're intended is just apples and oranges (even if it turns out to be true). Sorry.

Maybe someone should shoot off an e-mail (and exclude any human consumption crap), and just ask "are these stock tanks manufactured using BPA or other pthalates, and if so which one(s).

[Robert Vockrodt]

I wrote an email to Rubbermaid concerning the 100 and 50 gallon commercial stock tanks and their suitability for human consumption use and the leaching of chemicals. The following is the reply I received today:

Service Account CUSTSERV, RCP [e-mail]	08:38 (3 hours ago)
to me

Robert,
       Rubbermaid Commercial would like to thank you for your inquiry. Per our notes on our stock tanks:

"Stock tanks do not have any agency approvals. They are not FDA compliant and not recommended for food use. The Rubbermaid Structural Foam stock Tank is developed and intended for the watering of livestock.  We make no claim when it comes to being used for anything other than its intended use."

Hope this is helpfully.


Should you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us at             800 347 9800      .

Thank you,

Michelle D
Product Resource Support- TC Technical Support
Rubbermaid Commercial Products- A Newell Rubbermaid Company
3124 Valley Avenue
Winchester, VA. 22601
Toll Free    

[Steven Chappell]

Vlad! I understand that BPA is a common chemical, that is found in alot of materials, and found in a high % of the populations blood? However contact regarding this issue was Michelle D, Product resource support. TC teck support, 3124. Valley Ave. Winchester VA. 22601, Toll free # 800-347-9800.  Maybe she can shed more light on this issue! I'm just stating what I was told, Not NSF approved and no other certifications, only to be used for intended purpose, not for humam consumption!

[Vlad Jovanovic]

I think childrens toys and hospital equipment are probably the biggies...but kids/toddlers have been isolated through blood testing as one of the target groups with elevated levels...because they have a tendency to stick things in their mouths that they aren't supposed to...shampoo bottles etc...

I'm sure that you can appreciate why such a substance would tend to leach out over time, seeing how there is no covelant bond between the plasticizer and the plastic that it is mixed with.

My understanding has been that the rigid PVC pipes that we all use contains no such substances?

Non-toxic plasticizers exist, but they would drive up product cost (by an average of a couple of whole U.S cents per product) so industry in America has not opted to voluntarily phase out their use, and the government will unlikely ever make them. Unlike in a host of other countries where consumer protection mechanisms aren't implemented depending soley (it would seem) on how that will impact commercial industry (or at least less so) with no actual regard for the consumer or his/her safety.   

Though they are apparently quick to adopt a host of new "Food Safety" laws, that of course only benefit large corporate interests. Big surprise there.

[RupertofOZ]

Grrr...

[RupertofOZ]

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