Asbestos in drinking water?
Microscopic asbestos fibers were used in all kinds of industries and trace amounts can still contaminate water sources. Understand the risks.
Asbestos is a broad term encompassing six categories of naturally occurring minerals: chrysotile asbestos, amosite asbestos, crocidolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, and tremolite asbestos. Each form has highly flexible fibers that are resistant to corrosion, electricity, and heat. For this reason, asbestos was commonly used in industry for many years.
Asbestos exposure can contribute to a variety of cancers and health problems.
Today, it’s publicly known that asbestos is extremely unsafe to one’s health, and when a person is exposed to it, it can cause chronic lung conditions, as well as many different types of cancer including cancer of the liver, kidneys, ovaries, colon, and intestines, to name a few. These days, most people think about the dangers of inhaling asbestos-filled dust, especially on construction sites, and take proactive measures to avoid being exposed. However, drinking water filled with asbestos isn’t something that’s a common concern.
Asbestos in Water
Many people may not even think about the possibility of asbestos being in their water; however, this is often the case, and it can be a serious health risk. In fact, trace amounts of asbestos are so frequently found in water supplies that studies have shown it is a good idea to install a reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system to prevent disease.
Trace amounts of asbestos are found in the air and water, especially near and in cities.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people in the United States routinely drink water that has a small amount of asbestos. Generally, this is such a minute amount that it’s not considered a health risk. However, the issue arises when asbestos fibers from cement and concrete water pipes get into the water supply in larger quantities. In addition, asbestos dust and fibers that are stirred up into the air can settle into water and be easily ingested.
Research into the dangers of asbestos in water began several decades ago, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 which allows a maximum of 7 million fibers of asbestos per liter. Testing measures are continually advancing, and recent study examined the feasibility of using releasable asbestos sampler (RAS) equipment for laboratory tests as an alternative to activity-based sampling (ABS), and using these tests to see if soil and water is contaminated with asbestos.
Cement Pipes and Asbestos
While it may be evident that cement is just about everywhere in this modern world, most people don’t realize that up to 70 percent of the world’s asbestos is found in concrete. The reason for this is that asbestos strengthens concrete, making it both highly durable and fire-resistant, and surprisingly, it is still legal to use asbestos in cement in the United States for this reason.
Degradation of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) can release harmful asbestos fibers into the air, ground and water.
As the cement pipes deteriorate, infrastructure weaknesses and asbestos contamination occurs. Degradation and disrepair of pipes is a huge problem. In fact, cement degradation by calcium leaching is the main reason that asbestos fibers are released into water.
There are many historical examples of these risks. For instance, a study was conducted titled “Asbestos in Drinking Water and Cancer Incidence in the San Francisco Bay Area,” which found that asbestos fibers were present in drinking water in Duluth, Minnesota in 1973. It was then people began to realize that the respiratory diseases and various types of cancers experienced by residents in the area could be linked to asbestos contamination. In another example, in San Francisco Bay, 353 water samples were analyzed for asbestos. The research team used the results from these tests to determine that the water was causing high incidents of asbestos-related illnesses among Californians living in the area.
Avenues of Exposure and Proper Disposal
When it comes to waterborne risks, there are essentially two main exposure routes. The first is when asbestos is present in large amounts of drinking water and/or food. In addition to directly being ingested, this water may be used in everyday ways such as bathing, cooking, gardening. The second is when contaminated water evaporates and asbestos is released into the air. It has also been found that asbestos can migrate from the air into water. More specifically, studies have shown that asbestos fibers settle from the air into rocks and soil, which then leaches into water supplies. This becomes a large risk to people who are living in communities where asbestos mines once stood or where asbestos factories were once in operation.
Taking shortcuts on asbestos disposal can lead to asbestos contamination of the air and water.
Buried asbestos may also contaminate water supplies. Should asbestos be detected on a property, there are no federal laws that make burying it illegal. However, burying the fibers in soil can lead to them migrating into buried pipes. Thus, homeowners should never opt to bury asbestos to “get rid of” it. Instead, it’s best to hire a licensed professional to properly dispose of the contaminant so this doesn’t become a risk.
When it comes to removing asbestos, it is important to know about the asbestos disposal laws in the United States in general, which is governed by state law. This means, the laws may vary depending on where one lives. For example, the state of California has very strict requirements which surpass those in many other states. Anyone who is looking to dispose of asbestos can reference the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for more information.
In Conclusion
Asbestos continues to be a danger to the environment, and there are Superfund areas throughout the U.S. which have been identified as particularly dangerous areas warranting constant government oversight, One of these sites is Swift Creek in the state of Washington, which is constantly being dredged to remove any potentially dangerous sediment build up, including asbestos. After a landslide on Sumas Mountain, a portion of the Sumas River was contaminated with asbestos, and this poses a constant threat to the health of nearby communities. There are many other areas nationwide that have similar issues.
One of the ways that asbestos continues to contaminate is in drinking water supplies. Trace amounts in the water supply may be harmless, but higher levels are concerning. Because ingesting asbestos can be downright dangerous, it’s best for homeowners to consider investing in the proper water filtration system. This will help ensure that the supply is kept as safe as possible, reducing the risk of asbestos-related diseases.
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https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/12/748
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653521024498
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389421024961