We live in a house built in 1910- in the last couple of days we have noticed an extremely strong solvent/glue like smell coming from the downstairs toilet room. We have narrowed it down to a boxed in area that contatins an old lead water pipe whiche has some white staining on it. We are not 100% sure if it is this pipe smelling or something leeching through the drainage system in that area- has anyone got any suggetsions of the cause of this small and whether there any safety issues?

Thanks

97 year old lead pipes are subject to wear out and develop leaks. Yours sounds like a closet bend. I would have it replaced with PVC.. Good luck tom

Thanks for your answer---
I have now had a surveyor assess the situation and he has found the smell all around the house where the drains run- indicating that someone/ some factory is discharging solvents/chemicals into the sewage system!