Dangers of Asbestos Contamination in Drinking Water

Among the many crucial elements that you ought to evaluate when evaluating a camping water filter is whether it is able to efficiently take away highly poisonous and toxic agents in your standard water supply. As an example, will your drinking water filtration system clear up asbestos?

Asbestos is an amazing mineral composed of elements similar to that of sand. Asbestos-made materials are lightweight, flexible, and fireproof. Asbestos has been excavated and used since the late 1800s. It was also used in the World War II. After that, asbestos was used in the building and construction business. Asbestos is used for sound absorption, padding, and fireproofing. Also, it was used in the shipbuilding industry.

Although asbestos can help you in many ways, there is also a disadvantage. When you become exposed to asbestos, you are at great risk. Asbestos exposure can cause death to people. It can cause you asbestosis, which is a chronic lung disease that can create coughing, shortness of breath, and long-term harm to the lungs. Asbestos also causes lung cancer when you inhale too much of it. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in the thin membranes along the line of the chest and the abdomen. This is also caused by exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos cement pipelines can produce great amounts of asbestos fibers in your drinking water. The health risks can be traced from asbestos fibers in drinking water and into your food.

Asbestos is used in pipe line insulation so there is the probability of asbestos contamination in water lines. Experiments show that when you ingest asbestos, it can cause other cancers mostly found along the digestive system. Cancer of the larynx, pharynx, and the gastrointestinal tract can be caused by drinking water containing asbestos. Also, the kidney can be damaged when you drink in asbestos. Aside from pipe lines, asbestos can contaminate water through asbestos cement water remnants. However, it is not clear whether inhaled asbestos can moved throughout the body causing cancers in other body parts aside from the lungs.

There are methods that can reduce the amount of asbestos present in your drinking water. If the source of contamination is your asbestos cement pipe containing acidic water, you should correct the acidity of the water in your pipes. Standard or improved filtration processes are very effective in reducing the amount of asbestos in your water.

So, you should definitely check closely the make of camping water filter that you mean to buy. Make certain it filters out as well as removes undesirable substances like asbestos from your very own water to drink.

Source:  Benedict Carl Delgado

ASBESTOSIS

Asbestosis  is a breathing disorder caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Prolonged accumulation of these fibers in your lungs can cause scarring of lung tissue and shortness of breath. Asbestosis symptoms can range from mild to severe, and usually don't appear until many years after exposure.

Workers who were involved in mining, milling, manufacturing, installation or removal of asbestos products before the late 1970s are at risk of asbestosis. Examples include:

• Asbestos miners
• Aircraft and auto mechanics
• Building construction workers
• Workers removing asbestos insulation around steam pipes in older buildings
• Electricians
• Shipyard workers
• Boiler operators
• Railroad workers

In general, it's safe to be around materials that are made with asbestos as long as the asbestos fibers are contained to prevent them from escaping into the air.

The effects of long-term exposure to asbestos typically don't show up for at least 20 to 30 years after initial exposure. Asbestosis signs and symptoms include:

Shortness of breath. The main symptom of asbestosis is shortness of breath. Initially, the shortness of breath occurs only with exertion, but eventually it will happen even while you're resting.

Coughing and chest pain. As the disease progresses, you may experience a persistent dry cough and intermittent chest pain.

Finger deformity. Advanced cases of asbestosis sometimes result in a finger deformity called clubbing, where the tips of the fingers spread out and become rounder. Many other types of health problems also can cause clubbing.

When to see a doctorIf you have a history of exposure to asbestos and you're experiencing increasing shortness of breath, talk to your doctor about the possibility of asbestosis.

Reducing the level of exposure to asbestos is the best prevention against asbestosis. In the United States, federal law requires employers in industries that work with asbestos products — such as construction and shipyard industries — to monitor exposure levels, create regulated areas for asbestos work, and provide their employees with appropriate training, protective gear such as face masks, and decontamination hygiene areas. The laws also mandate regular medical exams to detect early asbestosis.
Many homes built before the 1970s contain asbestos in such items as:

• Building insulation
• Insulation for hot-water and steam pipes
• Soundproofing and decorative material sprayed on walls and ceilings
• Roofing and siding shingles
• Vinyl floor tiles

Generally, there's no cause for concern as long as these materials are in good condition and you don't disturb them or cause them to disintegrate. It's when they're damaged that there's a danger of asbestos fibers being released into the air. And asbestosis occurs only after repeated exposure to a large amount of fibers over many years.

Asbestos health effects

Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease. That risk is made worse by smoking. In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may take several years to develop following exposure. If you are concerned about possible exposure, consult a physician who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist).
Exposure to airborne friable asbestos may result in a potential health risk because persons breathing the air may breathe in asbestos fibers. Continued exposure can increase the amount of fibers that remain in the lung. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma. Smoking increases the risk of developing illness from asbestos exposure... read more

Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some time during their life. Low levels of asbestos are present in the air, water, and soil. However, most people do not become ill from their exposure. People who become ill from asbestos are usually those who are exposed to it on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact... read more

Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk Fact Sheet

November 8 2010 - Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk Fact Sheet from the National Cancer Institute can be found at ASBESTOS FACT SHEET

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