Lead stabilizers have proven their cost performance particularly for PVC Pipes and cables. Increasing restrictions are being enforced on the usage of lead products on account of their toxicity to central and peripheral nervous systems. The new laws are expected to reduce the maximum allowable concentration of only 10 ppb in drinking water. Heavy metals like lead are expected to be banned by the year 2003 by European commission.

Tin stabilizers have already been used for PVC pipes in several regions like North America and Japan. European countries have some reservations about the effect of tin migration and are therefore studying Ca Zn and organic stabilizers in pipes as well as cables. These stabilizers are presently more expensive and technically not completely comparable to lead stabilization. The developments are likely to be completed in the next few years, when it will be known that which alternate stabilizers will be selected to replace lead stabilizers in PVC Pipes as well as cables. It is however certain that lead stabilizers will be replaced by alternate products.