Asbestos in drinking water sounds like fake news. Nobody believes this.
Moreover, the public does believe the official position of the central government
In other words, it is only when inhaling asbestos particles that health is at stake.
Also on the internet, many authors indicate that drinking water containing asbestos particles is not dangerous. Is this really the case?
In it you will find explanations about the Dutch pipeline network. First, there are actually 35,000 km of asbestos cement pipelines in use. Secondly, these are 60 years old and can leak. And thirdly, they do take all safety measures in case of leakage.
Danger to public health?
What about the public health hazard, the health risks of drinking asbestos particles?
At least two studies have been done on human health effects. Moreover, the studies focus on years of consuming hefty amounts of asbestos particles through drinking water.
Two studies are leading the way. First, a study in A group of lighthouse keepers in Norway and secondly at a group of Woodstock residents, New York.
Research asbestos particle drinking Norway
Lighthouse keepers in Norway often lived in isolation, sometimes living on islands, and also had their own drinking water supply. Rainwater fell through an asbestos cement roof into a well. In summary, an inspection in 1980 found that the asbestos was less adhesive-bound than assumed. There were 1.8×109 up to 7.1×1010 asbestos fibres per litre of water found in the wells.
Investigation into asbestos in drinking water New York State
In Woodstock, an inspection of drinking water in 1985 found values of up to 300×106 asbestos fibres/litre found. All in all, this was the main reason for the creation of the Woodstock Asbestos Exposure Registry (WAER).
1852 people drank asbestos-contaminated drinking water in Woodstock during 1960-'85. Their exposure was estimated. It was also assessed whether they developed cancer in the period 1980-'98.
In summary, an increased risk was found only for pancreatic cancer in men; not for other cancers.
The 726 lighthouse keepers were found to have an increased risk of stomach cancer and, to a lesser extent, colon cancer.
All in all, drinking water with asbestos gives a slight increased risk on cancer of the stomach, pancreas or intestine.
Author: Gert van der Laan, clinical occupational medicine physician
Below are the two sources confirming these figures. Asbestos in drinking water can therefore potentially cause harm to health. Either the RIVM ignores these studies or it is below the static limits and standards to worry. Of course, everyone knows that asbestos is linked to our lungs and that asbestos nano particles are so small when inhaled that you cannot see them and cannot feel them. So this is an area that has not been very well researched. Of course, the studies below are quite limited. Nor will there be many volunteers to participate in drinking asbestos for the purpose of a scientific study.
Kjaerheim K, Ulvestad B, Martinsen JI, Andersen A. Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and exposure to asbestos in drinking water among lighthouse keepers (Norway). Cancer Causes Control. 2005 Jun;16(5):593-8.
Browne ML, Varadarajulu D, Lewis-Michl EL, Fitzgerald EF. Cancer incidence and asbestos in drinking water, Town of Woodstock, New York, 1980-1998. Environ Res. 2005 Jun;98(2):224-32.
text source: https://bouwprofsnederland.nl/profiles/blogs/asbest-dat-kan-je-toch-eten
Asbestos in drinking water is potentially so harmful.
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