Asbestos is a carcinogen known to cause illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. When people think about asbestos they tend to think about it in an occupational sense. There were certain jobs that were known to expose people to asbestos. These jobs commonly include:
- Construction
- Shipbuilding
- Insulating
- Steel making
However, what about the asbestos in water and air that exists around all of us? If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you were exposed to asbestos, likely in large quantities. A 2023 report shows that there are high concentrations of asbestos in natural bodies of water. This is called Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA). Asbestos in the water and air can cause serious health conditions if breathed in. Typically, the more asbestos a person inhales, the greater chance there is for that person to develop an asbestos related disease. However, it is important to note that even breathing in a small amount of asbestos can lead to negative health effects.
Types of Asbestos
Asbestos can be grouped into six different categories. These categories are as follows:
- Chrysotile
- Crocidolite
- Amosite
- Anthophyllite
- Tremolite
Chrysotile asbestos is most commonly found in the industries previously mentioned. It is highly resistant to fire, so it was useful to use for any occupation in which the worker would be exposed to heat.
Banning Asbestos
Many countries, including just recently the US have placed bans or heavy regulations on asbestos use. This includes banning the manufacturing and importing of any products that contain asbestos. In 1972, Denmark became the first country to ban asbestos within its borders for waterproofing and insulating. Most of the countries in the European Union have completely banned asbestos use.
Asbestos in water and air is still prevalent and many countries have put in place reference limit values for the concentrations of asbestos fibers in both environmental and occupational settings. Despite this reference limit, many who are knowledgeable about asbestos believe that there is no safe limit for asbestos and breathing in just a single fiber is dangerous to one’s health.
In the United States, the EPA set a limit for an allowable amount of asbestos in water that contained asbestos cement that had been decomposed or where there was an erosion of a natural deposit. This limit was 7 million fibers per liter for asbestos fibers that were longer than10 um.
It has been confirmed that asbestos can exist in drinking water. However, it cannot be confirmed that ingested asbestos (instead of inhaling it) causes diseases.
Where is Asbestos in Water and Air?
Asbestos exposure can occur throughout the environment. Different areas in which asbestos may be present include:
- Soils
- sediments
- Natural water sources
- Rocks
- Airborne asbestos in rural areas
There are many ways to be exposed to asbestos. If you worked with it daily or worked or lived around it, it is possible that you could develop an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma. On our website, we aim to help you navigate the process of a mesothelioma diagnosis by providing treatment options, hospitals in Pennsylvania to treat at, legal help, and much more. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, please contact us at (800) 505-6000 for more information or fill out our contact form.
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