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EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS FROM DRINKING WATER IN THE UNITED STATES
Citation:
Millette, J., P. Clark, AND M. Pansing. EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS FROM DRINKING WATER IN THE UNITED STATES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/1-79/028 (NTIS PB300444), 1979.
Description:
Over 1500 asbestos analyses of water supplies in 43 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia were evaluated in order to assess the exposure of the United States population to asbestos in drinking water. It was cocluded that the large majority of U.S. water consumers are not exposed to concentrations of asbestos fibers avove one million fibers per liter. In a few areas people are exposed to concentrations up to one hundred million fibers per liter. The majority of persons receiving water from asbestos-cement pipe distribution systems are not exposed to significant number of fibers from the pipe. In areas of aggressive water, however, water consumers using asbestos-cement mains may be exposed to high concentrations of fibers. This report presents data on the exposure to waterborne asbestos fibers. Other projects are currently assessing the health effects fof ingested asbestos and will be described in later reports. A listing of a computerized waterborne asbestos data base is included as an Appendix.