The world changed on 9/11; with the devastating collapse of the Twin Towers came a massive cloud of dust covering New York City. The dust blanketing the city was filled with hazardous asbestos dust fibers and other harmful contaminants. Anyone in the area, including first responders, relief and construction workers, and nearby residents, unknowingly inhaled and ingested this toxic dust.
Tragically, many rescuer workers at ground zero had such heavy asbestos exposure that they were diagnosed with incurable cancer called Mesothelioma within as little as two to five years. In that short time, there have been fatalities from the toxic effects of asbestos. Due to the heavy and long-term exposure, it is estimated that many of these courageous workers will be diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses in the coming years if they have not already been ill or succumbed to it.
This is one example of the devastating and far-reaching health issues of asbestos. An alarming discovery warns that asbestos is not just being inhaled, but we are dangerously ingesting it in our drinking water.
Asbestos is found in construction materials and your drinking water.
Asbestos, a highly toxic and hazardous chemical commonly used in older construction, has been discovered in private and municipal drinking water. It is frightening to think your home’s tap water could contain asbestos and even more disturbing to think you could be drinking it.
Most people have heard of asbestos and the health dangers that come with exposure to it. When you hear about asbestos, it is usually found in older homes, pipes, or buildings; to reduce exposure, the contaminated materials must follow specific protocols to ensure safe removal and avoid inhaling or ingesting this toxic contaminant.
New studies show water supplies are testing positive for varying amounts of asbestos in private and municipal drinking water reservoirs in many countries worldwide. It is well known that inhaling asbestos produces acute and chronic health conditions, and continued exposure can be life-threatening, but now, new concerns are emerging as to how much asbestos is being ingested and what health concerns come from tainted drinking water.
Clearly, asbestos should not be present in our drinking water. Knowing that asbestos causes harmful health issues, it needs to be added to the growing list of toxic contaminants that should not be present in our drinking water.
Continued exposure to asbestos can be harmful and potentially fatal, making it crucial to take appropriate measures to ensure that our drinking water is free from this hazardous chemical.
Facts About Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of strong fibrous strands; it is quarried or mined and can be spun or woven. Fire resistance has made asbestos a valued mineral over the years. Asbestos was widely used in industry and construction for firefighting suits, fireproof theater curtains, construction and building materials such as asbestos cement, pipes and wire coverings, insulation, soundproofing equipment, floor tiles, and paints.
Unknowingly, when the industry began using asbestos, it created fine particulate dust made of thin, sharp fibers. When these microscopic fibers are inhaled or ingested, they do not dissolve or break down; instead, they lodge in the lungs and other organs, creating inflammation the body tries to fight off. However, the body cannot fight it off or prevent the hazardous health effects caused by asbestos.
How Asbestos Enters Drinking Water
Although asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber, it may be released into drinking water sources from asbestos-bearing bedrock that comes into contact with streams and groundwater, improper disposal of contaminated household or construction wastes, and mining tailings runoff; however, one of the most significant contamination sources is the asbestos cement pipes installed between the 1940s and the 1960s.
The asbestos cement pipes were widely used in homes and commercial buildings and utilized in stormwater, wastewater, and municipal water distribution systems carrying drinking water. By the 1970s, asbestos cement pipes were discontinued due to the discovery of the devastating health effects of asbestos. However, many of these asbestos-contaminating pipes remain in various buildings and water distribution systems today, and as they degrade, hazardous asbestos leaches into the drinking water.
The lifespan of the asbestos cement pipes is approximately 70 years, which means many lines still in use are starting to crack and break down, causing more significant amounts of asbestos water contamination. Communities are seeing higher and more toxic asbestos concentrations in their drinking water, putting residents at increased risk for hazardous health issues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that much of the U.S. consumes asbestos-contaminated drinking water. Studies show that at certain levels, asbestos becomes a health risk; however, the WHO reports that the concentration of asbestos in most U.S. drinking water is low and may not pose serious health risks.
Asbestos has been used in cement pipes in drinking water systems since the mid to early 1900s, and current estimates show that 12-15 % of drinking water systems in the United States still contain these pipes. Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia also have reason for concern over aging asbestos cement pipes and consuming asbestos-tainted drinking water.
Who Is Exposed to Asbestos
Many who have worked with asbestos for extended periods, such as shipbuilders, boiler makers, insulation workers, building inspectors, excavators, contractors, and laggers, are at greater risk of developing asbestos illnesses more rapidly. Firefighters face the danger of receiving high-level asbestos exposure fighting fires and natural disasters. Certain trade workers, such as ceiling or floor tile installers, roofers, and plumbers, also have a higher risk of asbestos exposure. Although many countries have banned asbestos, many homes and buildings built in the 1980s or earlier still contain asbestos.
When renovating an older home or building, hiring professionals specializing in asbestos removal is essential to ensure the safe elimination of any materials containing this toxic mineral. Following proper protocols is crucial to eliminate the chances of contamination and exposure.
Dangerous Health Issues From Asbestos Exposure
It was in the 1970s when reports of the harmful health effects of asbestos fibers began to surface. Once exposed to asbestos by inhalation or ingestion, the tiny fibers deposit and remain in the lungs, the gastrointestinal system, and other organs. Over time, the fibers form scar tissue, which causes the affected organs to stiffen, making it harder to supply them with air and oxygen.
Medical reports showed that workers with high volume and long-term asbestos exposure developed significant harmful health effects. Prolonged asbestos ingestion or inhalation can also lead to a rapidly fatal form of cancer known as Mesothelioma and other cancers, including lung, gastrointestinal, pharynx, colorectal, ovarian, and stomach.
Malignant Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer that progresses very rapidly. Although it is considered a rare form of cancer, the leading cause is repeat ingestion or inhalation of asbestos-contaminated products. Once the asbestos fibers are embedded in tissues that protect the vital organs, including the lungs, heart, and abdominal cavity, they cause irritation and DNA damage. Normal cells become damaged and turn into cancer cells and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma can develop in pleural (lung), peritoneal ( abdominal), pericardial (Heart), or testicular ( testes) organs.
Cancer known as Mesothelioma affects the abdomen ( peritoneal Mesothelioma) and the lungs (pleural Mesothelioma), causing symptoms such as:
Mesothelioma, in any form, is considered a deadly cancer. Although the amount of asbestos you ingest may be small, there is a latency period of possibly 10-20 years. So the asbestos-tainted water you drink today and over time will slowly harm you for years to come. If ingestion is light, it could take some years before severe symptoms arise, but with heavy ingestion, harmful disease, and symptoms can develop much sooner. It is estimated that approximately only 12% of people diagnosed with pleural Mesothelioma and 65% with peritoneal Mesothelioma will live for five years or longer. However, the life expectancy once diagnosed with Mesothelioma is generally 12 months with treatment. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, depending on the cell type and stage of cancer.
It is alarming to learn that recent studies show we may be drinking asbestos-contaminated water that can cause illnesses such as stomach and gastrointestinal cancers. In 1992, in the United States, the EPA added asbestos to its list of numerous contaminants in the Safe Drinking Water Act. It set the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 7 million fibers (>10 microns in length) per liter(MFL). Individual states also have the authority to set more stringent MCLs for asbestos. With that in mind, it is difficult to believe that many countries, including Europe and Canada, have not set safe and acceptable asbestos limits in their safe drinking water standards. These and many other countries contend that there are no known health concerns from drinking asbestos-contaminated water, so they have not developed any safe guidelines for acceptable drinking water levels.
As with many other types of cancer, early detection and treatment can improve prognosis and life expectancy. For this reason, it is imperative to have your drinking water tested for asbestos. Asbestos has been in use for many years, and only recently have we become more aware of dangerous levels of asbestos in our drinking water and its toxic health issues.
Is Asbestos In My Water?
Asbestos is made of tiny, long fibers unable to be seen by the naked eye. They are strong solid fibers not easily broken down by bacteria or chemicals. Asbestos fibers can be found in water naturally or from contamination. In water, the tiny fibers do not dissolve, break down, or evaporate, making it easy for them to contaminate private wells, surface streams, or groundwater.
Water chemistry affects the amount of asbestos that enters the water; generally, the more corrosive the water, the more asbestos fibers get released into the water. The first way to determine if your water contains asbestos is to contact your municipality to check their current drinking water tests and determine if your city could have asbestos cement pipes. If still unsure, next would be to have a detailed analysis of your drinking water performed by a professional laboratory. Finally, consider a home water purification system proven to remove harmful and dangerous contaminants such as asbestos, plus many others that your municipal water treatment plant may not thoroughly remove.
How To Remove Asbestos From Drinking Water
A POU or point-of-use system, such as a reverse osmosis water filtration system, is one of the best options for removing asbestos in your drinking water. The reverse osmosis process eliminates chemicals, sediment, and inorganic materials, including asbestos, by up to 99%.
A reverse osmosis water filtration system is the most common and affordable way to transform tap water into high-quality purified drinking water. Reverse osmosis works by pushing household water through a TFC Thin-Film Composite semi-permeable membrane that blocks the passage of contaminants. The semi-permeable membrane holds the pure water while 99% of the impurities are filtered out and flushed away.
A Whole Home Nanofiltration Filtration System is most effective at removing hazardous asbestos and other harmful chemicals from your lake or well water. Nanofiltration uses membrane technology to create clean water, removing up to 95% of the toxic asbestos and chemicals. An added benefit of the nanofiltration process is the removal of hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium so as water passes through the membrane, it is softened.
With increasing reports of asbestos in drinking water surfacing recently, it is more important than ever to ensure your household drinking water is pure and safe. Local water treatment may only reduce and not entirely remove asbestos. A professional water treatment specialist can recommend the perfect water filtration system to provide safe, fresh, pure drinking water free of asbestos and other hazardous chemicals and contaminants.
For more information about Excalibur Reverse Osmosis and Filtration Systems, please contact us.
