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Transite asbestos water pipe (C) InspectApedia.com reader rickyAsbestos Contamination in Buildings or in Textiles from Asbestos-Contaminated Water
Persistent asbestos hazard?

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about asbestos hazards left on building surfaces or in clothing from use of asbestos-contaminated water supply

When a building's water supply contains asbestos fibers, is there a residual asbestos hazard on building surfaces, in building air, or left in clothing after laundering?

This article describes the potential hazard of asbestos-contaminated surfaces or fabrics, sources of that contamination, and the potential hazards as well as remedies.

Page top photo: asbestos cement transite water supply pipe in poor condition may shed significant levels of asbestos fibres & particles into the water supply. Water whose asbestos content is considered "acceptable" by some standards might, as some researchers suggest, result in unacceptable levels of surface or airborne asbestos contaminants in buildings or in fabrics or clothes washed in such water.

This article series lists & describes forms in which asbestos was used in building materials & products, including providing a master list of the forms in which asbestos was used, a list of known asbestos-containing materials, and links to detailed articles about individual asbestos-containing products & materials found in buildings and in a wide range of products used in both home and industry.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Asbestos Hazards in Buildings from Asbestos-Contaminated Water

Asbesgtos cement water pipes being instgalled - Johns Manviille Corp in Rosato Asbestos cited & discussed at Inspectapedia.comAsbestos hazards may be present on building surfaces such as a bathroom or shower floor/wall and asbestos may be left in textiles after washing with water that contains even "acceptable" levels of asbestos in the water itself.

Waterborne asbestos concentration higher than 40 ∙ 106 f/L generates an air concentration higher than 1 fibre per litre [f/L], the alarm threshold limit set by World Health Organization for airborne asbestos. (Avanteno 2022)

Photo: Asbestos cement (Transite) water pipes being installed, Johns Manville Corp. in ASBESTOS HISTORY & PROPERTIES [Book online] D.V. Roasato, engineering consultant, Newton MA, Reinhold Publishing Co., NY, 1959, Library of Congress Catalog No. 59-12535.

How Much Asbestos is Left on Building Surfaces by Evaporation of Asbestos-Contaminated Water?

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

The following discussion with one of our Spanish speaking readers, given here in English, can be read in Spanish - se puede leer esta página en español

en CONTAMINACIÓN CON ASBESTOS EN EDIFICIOS Y TEJIDOS POR AGUA

On 2023-03-06 by Jesús -

Reading this article: CLOTHES DRYER ASBESTOS I have a thought:

Apparently it is more or less accepted that drinking water can have up to more than 1 MFL (million fibers per liter of water) of asbestos, depending on the areas studied.

So, if the water is used to shower, wash clothes, wash glasses and cutlery, the floor, etc., when it dries, all these fibers would remain on the surfaces, the floor, the used towels, the dishes..

So, all the houses and objects that are washed with water would be contaminated by asbestos? - Thank you!

On 2023-03-07 by InspectApedia Editor - What is the level of asbestos contamination inside a building from a contaminated water source...?

Ingilis Clothes Dryer - does it contain asbestos? (C) InspectApedia.com@Jesús,

Thank you for the interesting question that we understand to be asking the following: What is the level of asbestos contamination, measured in fibers per square meter of surface, by evaporation of water that contained the current allowable level of asbestos contamination, and how dangerous is that? Asbestos standards vary by country.

For the U.S., the US EPA's MCLG and the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL / mg/L) ) for asbestos in drinking water (where the fiber is > 10 micrometers) are both set to 7M (7 million) milligrams of fiber per liter of drinking water. The hazard for asbestos in drinking water is thought to be an increased risk of developing benign intestinal polyps.

But you're right, that standard does not address the possibility of airborne asbestos from the remains of such water that might be left on a bath tub or shower surface. We think, but do not know, that that is because those agencies have not considered such remains as a significant hazard.

For others who may not know these abbreviations:

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety and are non-enforceable public health goals.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology and taking cost into consideration. MCLs are enforceable standards.

Source:

How Much Asbestos is Left on Bathroom Surfaces from Asbestos in the Water Supply?

The volume of asbestos particles left behind from water meeting that US EPA goal would be much less because only a fraction of one L of water would be left on a typical bath tub or shower surface when the water has been turned off and the fixture has drained. And we would need to have objective data that reported on the actual percentage of fibers that remain on surfaces as such water dries.

Then we would need to have objective data on the portion of those surface-deposited fibers that become airborne, over a specific time period, and within a specific volume of space, and finally

We would need to adjust that airborne asbestos level for the effects of dilution of that original air (for example in a bathroom) by the movement of other building air, ventilation, fresh air intake, the effects of a bathroom exhaust and similar factors.

Finally, we would need to have an estimate or measure of the amount of time people spend in that space to compare that with a permissible exposure level or PEL such as that we have from US OSHA: OSHA's PEL (Permissible exposure limit) for asbestos in the workplace is 0.1 fibers/cc of air (8-hour TWA).

Here is an EPA statement on this matter:

EPA AND NIOSH POSITIONS ON ASBESTOS

In an effort to calm unwarranted fears that a number of people seem to have about the mere presence of asbestos in their buildings and to discourage the decisions by some building owners to remove all ACM regardless of its condition, the EPA Administrator issued an Advisory to the Public on Asbestos in Buildings in 1991.

This advisory summarized EPA’s policies for asbestos control in the presentation of the following “five facts”:

  1. Although asbestos is hazardous, the risk of asbestos-related disease depends upon the actual exposure to airborne asbestos fibers.
  2. Based upon available data, the average airborne asbestos levels in buildings seem to be very low. Accordingly, the health risk to most building occupants also appears to be very low.
  3. Removal is often not a building owner’s best course of action to reduce asbestos exposure. In fact, an improper removal can create a dangerous situation where none previously existed.
  4. EPA only requires asbestos removal in order to prevent significant public exposure to airborne asbestos fibers during building demolition or renovation activities.
  5. EPA does recommend a pro-active, in place management program whenever asbestos-containing material is discovered.

It's worth noting that in the U.S., another agency, NIOSH, argues that there is NO safe limit for airborne asbestos fibers - again, this is for the workplace not for private homes.

Continuing:

On 2023-03-07 by Jesús - What happens to asbestos fibers after evaporative drying?

Thank you very much for your answer!

Sorry for the language barrier.

I wasn't just referring to the water left in the bath or shower.
It also remains in clothes washed with that water. What happens to asbestos fibers after evaporative drying?
Same for glasses, plates, etc... .

Also for the water with which the floor of the whole house is cleaned and also dried by evaporation.

There are probably no studies for it. But taking into account the high amount of fiber in the water considered "acceptable", it is something that could be interesting to assess.

Thanks once again.

On 2023-03-07 by InspectApedia Editor - what is the level of hazard of asbestos deposited on textiles & of laundering such fabrics?

@Jesús,

We agree, Thank you for your interesting question.

Don't worry about the language barrier - right now, I am writing from our home in Mexico.

Here we continue to search for studies on this subject.

For example:

and finally for now

On 2023-03-08 by Jesús - it is clear that there is an impact on the air depending on the [level of asbestos] fibers in the water.

Greetings from Spain! Thanks for translating the article.

The result of the study seems logical, and it is clear that there is an impact on the air depending on the fibers in the water.

I want to congratulate you for your interest in responding to the comments and for the excellent information that this page provides.
Congratulations!

On 2023-03-08 by (mod) (DF)

@Jesús,

Thanks for your generous words. Working together helps both of us.

Thank you again for an interesting question - one that merits further research but from the numbers we have at hand. - Editor DF

Saludos

Daniel F.

Research Summary: Asbestos Hazards from Asbestos in Water

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