Asbestos-contaminated water

For most of the 20th century, asbestos had been used in municipal water, wastewater and stormwater systems. Although ingestion is not the main mode for asbestos related diseases, asbestos in the water supply at certain levels poses a health risk to the general public. According to the World Health Organization, most of the population in the U.S. consumes drinking water contaminated with asbestos, but in concentrations low enough that it is unlikely to cause health problems. There are studies that connect asbestos in water to airborne asbestos and asbestos on surfaces after asbestos has dried from municipal sources.  However, when asbestos levels in drinking water rise above the maximum safe limit (7 million fibers per liter or 7 MFL), water suppliers are required to notify customers within 30 days of violation. Knowing whether you are at risk beforehand and having the knowledge to deal with contaminated water could prevent you from lifelong health issues such as malignant mesothelioma and other cancers in gastrointestinal tract.

How does asbestos get into water?

Many water system pipes built in the early to mid-1900s included asbestos in the concrete and cement (A/C pipe). According to WHO, many thousands of kilometers of A/C pipes remain in use globally. These pipes can degrade due to weather, earthquakes, demolition or corrosion. As pipes degrade, the asbestos fibers used in the construction materials may leak into the water supply.

Although A/C pipes in contact with drinking-water are considered the main exposure source of asbestos in drinking-water, other sources of asbestos contamination are also present. Asbestos fibers do not dissolve in water or evaporate into the air so small fibers may be carried by wind or water for long distances before settling in soil or entering the water supply. Common sites of asbestos contamination include landfills and construction sites. Large-scale disasters such as fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes expose building materials and present the opportunity for asbestos fibers to be released into natural water sources. Naturally occurring asbestos can also accumulate in high concentrations during events such as landslides. Rainwater that collects on industrial waste, asbestos roofing or pipes may also contain asbestos and may become part of the drinking supply.

How to test for asbestos in drinking water?

Asbestos in drinking water is regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency. However, state certification is required to perform asbestos in drinking water analysis in practically every state in the US. The method of choice for quantitative determination of asbestos in water has traditionally been transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with identification by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and selected-area electron diffraction (TEM/SAED) following the US EPA 100.2 method. The analytical sensitivity by this method is 0.2 MFL for asbestos structures over 10 µm in length.

Eurofins Built Environment Testing laboratories have performed asbestos in drinking water analysis for many years, and  currently represents nearly a quarter of the accredited labs that are accredited