Document 10NeBgnG7m2vKn33xmYvBbpX

PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT ASBESTOS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION (Limited by Guarantee) 68 GLOUCESTER PLACE, LONDON WiH jHL, ENGLAND Telephone: 01.486 3558/9 Telegram: Intag London Telex: 598618 INTA G 7 December 1982 AIA/20/1/11/1/HAS WITH COMPLIMENTS Copy of report from WHO on the use of asbestos-cement pipe for drinking water distribution systems. cc AIA/NA AIC/UK CNA (for Mr. Costa) IAUA RAACA SPAA VOFZP CIAB for information: AlC/lndia Mr. Y. Alexandre (for BCAP) Mr. R. Corner SAAPAC Direct*Mr* . van dcr Hot (Bdpum); Dr. K. Cue; Sir Neville Staci (Secretary) Ref. tie. 1392454 Eh^laad ftc?uteml office u above \ CAP CO JEN 0013045 WO RLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION KOk'DIALE '$ LA SANT= kef: *100 Date: 1, Pe U ( . 1`ta.Vr * -i- h * To: Director General Department of I-ublic Utilities Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs Riyadh,'Saudi Arabia.. -OP2 Recently you requested that I review the health-.hazards involved P<n pafe pcpcr is based upon sy own knowledge, review cf reference m at-e-rc *{ available, and material obtained iron the Eastern Mediter-sY&htan. Regional Office of the Verlc Health Organization. -'fket**elusions are essentially that: A* Occupational health hazards t&~ exist for workers due to Ka*<.<we asbestos ia asbestos delivery (to the factory) and in pipe biChuf&CTtirintj. These can ie greatly reduced by the use of proper bvta-su-res. . 3.. A Jew potential hazard nay exist for workers due to airborne asbestos during installation and maintenance of astestos-oenen't pips'. 'TtoS' cn be reduced even lower by the use of proper procedures. ' 3. There should be no.significant hazard due bo drinking water which has passed through asbestos-cement pipe if it is not a corrosive wuter which can attack cement and release asbestos fibers.' Cozi engineering practice indicates that corrosive water can coo.se s=rio--s pipe destruction and greatly reduce the life of the ripe, hut there is no reason to restrict the use cf A/C pines if the' respectfully /,' /.// / Donald J .Hernandez Sanitary nnrineering Advise* SM/c cc/001' Copies tc: Regional Director, EMHO, VUG V?C, Riyadh. CAP CO JEN 0013046 HEALTH HAZARDS INVOLVED IN THE USE OP ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPE IN THE KINGDOM Or SAUDI ARABIA BY DONALD J. HERNANDEZ . WHO SANIPAHY ENGINEER ADVISOR WITH THE KINGDOM 0? SAUDI ARABIA MINISTRY OP MUNICIPALITIES AND RURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES ? H THA.NI 1402 (1 FEBRUARY 19S2) CAPCO JEN 0013047 ABSTRACT V* Asbestos is known to cause disease in nan when inhaled in large quantities, and is a well known occupational health hazard. Certain occupational hazards are present in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with respect to asbestos delivery and pipe manufacturing. .Lesser potential hazards nay also be present in the installation and maintenance of asbestos cement pipe. Ingestion of water passed through asbestos cement pipe should present no significant health hazard, and there is presently no reason to restrict the use of A/C pipes if the transmitted water is non-corrosive to cement. Good engineering practice also indicates that asbestos cement pipe should not. be used to transmit corrosive waters. CAP CO JEN 0013048 CCKTSIrls TITLE --------abstract** r CONTENTS V A. INTRODUCTION B. BACKGROUND ON USE OF ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPE C. HEALTH HAZARDS ATTRIBUTED TO ASBESTOS D. POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS IN SAUDI ARABIA 1. Mining and Processing of Asbestos 2. Asbestos Delivery and Pipe Manufacturing 3. Installation and Maintenance of Asbestos Cement Pipe 4. Ingestion of Water Passed Through Asbestos Cement Pipe E. CONCLUSION 1. Mining and Processing of Asbestos 2. Asbestos Delivery and Pipe Manufacturing 3. Installation and Maintenance of Asbestos Cement Pipe 4. Ingestion of Water Passed Through Asbestos Cement Pipe REFERENCES APPENDIX - Correspondence with Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO, regarding ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPE. PAGE i ii 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 ** 5 5 5 5' 5 6 A-1 CAP CO JEN 0013049 H r-. A1 ,'i'n fUwiiUjjCt a... v w.*. a..** ...' _.._ ^ ,, ... A5BES70S-CE21EMT ?IK IN Tilt' KINGDOM 0? SAUDI ARABIA v A. INTRODUCTION In recent years the Kingdon of Saudi Arabia has been advancing rapidly in all areas with special emphasis in the industrial, agricultural, and social sectors. In all of these areas the provision of safe, adequate water supplies is one of the critical needs. In order to provide such supplies the Kingdom has undertaken an extensive program involving water resource development, and construction of treatment plants and distribution systems. The proper design of distribution systems is dependant upon many variables including economics, geological formations, topography, size of area served, chemical characteristics of the water to be transported, and the physical and chemical nature of the soil in the area. Consideration of these variables often results ii the use of water pipe made from a number of materials, including iron, steel, plastic, cement, and asbestos-cement. All of these materials are currently being used in the Kingdom, and are also being U9ed throughout other areas of the world. Many of these pipe materials have potential health problems related to their use, but if properly used, all of these materials are considered to be acceptable for the transport of water. (1,2,3*456). However, a question has recently arisen within the Kingdom regarding possible health hazards to the conaumer due to the use of asbestos-cement (A/C) pipe. This paper is intended to address that question. In addition it will look at occupational health hazards which may be present due to the asbestos. B. BACKGROUND ON USE OF ASBESTOS-CEMENT FIPS Asbestos-cement pipe has been used extensively (7*8) and was first use.' to a significant extent, in Europe in the late '1920's, primarily in Italy. Although it is manufa ctured with various percentages of asbestos, a typical pipe nay have 80% cement and as high as B0% asbestos.(3) The asbestoB fibers are not free, but are an intimate part of the cement, being bound in the cement in much the some manner as a reinforcing bar. (2) CAP CO JEN 0013050 This pipe "was introduced into the United StateB of America (U.S.A) about 1951 arc steadily gained acceptance. It i6 particularly desirable because of is resistance to scaling and corrosion, it's lijtfit weight, and cost. Hie American Water Vork3 Association (AVv/A) approved its first standard for A/C pipe in 1933. (1) Since that date the standard(s) has been expandec. and improved a number of times and there are currently standards dealing with the pipe itself, pipe selection, and pipe installation. Since its introduction into the U.S.A. there have been more than 350,000 kilometers (4,8) (200,000 miles) of A/C water pipe installed, and curre ntly approximately one third of all water pipe sold in the USA is A/C pipe. (8) This extensive use is also being exper ienced in many other countries. c. health hazards attributed to ASBESTOS Asbestos is n generic term, (9) includes a number of fibrous silicate materials, end is not a specific chemical compound. Small deposits are found vrorid wide with the largest deposits in North America and South Africa. It is used extensively in many industrial materials and fibers are commonly found in water, bcinp introduced naturally or due to industrial operations. (9) In addition it is often found in soft drinks and other beverages. It is an accepted fact that most major forms of asbestos can cause disease in man if inhaled in large quantities.(6,9**10) This usually occurs due to occupational exposures (9) such as mining, crushing, and product manufacturing. Because of this known hazard the Occupational Safety ;,nd health Administration (OSHA) in the U.S.A. has established regulations (6,9**10) to protect workers against airborne asbestos. Exposures not to be exceeded are: 1. Eight hour time weighted average: two fibers longer thsn 3y per cubic meter of air (It was planned to reduce this to 0.5 fibers.) 2. Ceiling concentration: less than ten fibers longer than 10// m per cubic meter of air. Diseases which can be caused (6,8,9) include skin corns, fibrosis of the lung (asbestosis), carcinoma of the lung, ; o-nanr rrr-r.thelior.a of the pleura and peritoneum, and CAP CO JEN 0013051 increased incicrnec has often found .-imonr certain occupational workers and it nus beer, hyr.z-thesi ted thit these workers ereathed in the asbestos libers whies then became entrained in saliva and/were swallowed (ii.fi.tf). Therefore, the cause was due to heavy concentrations of airborne asbestos. However, in the U.d.A. and other countries, this led to the question as to whether the use of A/C water pipe introduced asbestos fibers into the water, ana whether these fibers night also be causing cancer of the directive system.(9,11). D. j-OTHHTIAL Ili-lAITit ilnSAiiUS IN SAbPl AhAiilA When considering possible health hazards due to asbestos cement pipe one car* consider the following areas (9,*10) mining and processing, asbestos delivery and pipe manufacturing, installation and maintenance of the pipe, and consumption of the delivered water. *1. Mining and Processing of Asbestos. This is probably cue most hazardous arta with respect to health of the worker, and is extremely hazardous. Proper techniques must be used to minimize the hazard. 1 a m in formej theft no mines are open in the Kingdom cf baudi Arabia, so t-.js hazard should not exist. 2. Asbestos Deliver*/ and line i.-anufacturimt. Normally large quantities of asbestos are delivered in bulk, smaller quantities in bay.s. Kotb methods can be hazardous to the worker if not properly carried out. *lcc>, the manufacturing process can be hazardous as asbestos fibers may be airborne and inhaled in large numbers unless proper precautions are taken. 3. Installatiou and maintenance of Asbestos Cement Pipe.Very little esbestos-cement duct is present during the shipping and handling of A/C pipe, and consequently there is little or no h> alth hazard to the worker (10). There could be significant dust generated locally in the cutting, muchining and tapping of a/C pipe. (10) However, these are limited operations and .a worker is not continuously exposed to them for an entire eight hour day. There are recommended met-tods for conducting all cf these operations, (2,10) and if they are reasonably adhered to there is essentially no health problem for the worker. (10) Use of r-rener.methods will also CAPCO JEN 0013052 4. Ingestion of Water- ??>>: fed i'nron.^h Asbestos Cement Upe. It was initially believed thvt. /C pipe stabilized and was not subject to attack. However, it is rbw accepted that oggresive wafers can attack ta/C pipe,.; (2, 5,4,56*78) dissolve^ the cement,' and release. asSostbs'fibers'r The number of such *...' fibers taken.in by the ingestion.of.such waters, as compared ..7." to the number taken in by occupational workers is relatively insignificant'-(l.l) V y--. ^~ ft~ ~` V-,::vrftftT'- Many'studies have been'mude -in'-an attempt to correlate' increased dise'ase- incidehcc- withi the .consumption of water . ..kxJ;--.-.:vvv c--- t' which, has- passeti_Jthrouch' asbe^.os-cemen.t~ pipe." As'yet,1 no >z& 'sirnificant;V6rrelationj1iusVbeeff^founa?^.i32X^*>.:"40^*1^V^^4'L States 'Envlron'meri La1" rot'ec tibn.^AvtencS'i ( U3Ex*A) St at e .\Of_i;~ ;r-;rrr~ Connecticut Study' (12) stated preliminary findings' of the epidemiological study"did' 'nbt'"shb'K "any excess in', cancer-'/;-'-. iucidence for stomach,. colch, or rectum..in. Connecticut town ships during 1955-1975 ti:.;.t,.could, .be.ireia.ted to. the use of - :.sbestos-cement pipe ' for drinking'water.` '.";;_V. * / An iiWWA"commit tee"'('11) evaluated .`tne problem of asbestos in water and determined', "iio firm "ovi-jencc shows that .the proper use of asbestos-ceaent pine noses a hazard to health by reason of ingestion of asbestos fibers. Calculations comparing the'probable ingestion exposure ih occupational groups to that likely to occur ash result of ingestion of' potable water from asbestos-cement pipe systems suggests that the probability of risk t health from the use of such systems is small - approaching zero."..::.'':';1 - A recent paper from the Eastern'Mediterranean Hegional Office (World wealth Organization) (2)' states; .v\ .-V-. -... -j\; "The asbestos fibers of A/^C pipes Vre usually ' surrounded by:H-vft lement pipe'transmitting a 'coirasiye water'could be' very low (7) CAP CO JEN 0013053 . CONCLUSION Every chemical known to man can conceivably cause some form of disease if it'is. misused. Therefore, very few studies of chemical hazards-con make, the unqualified statement that .. "No health hazard exists to~man in the ur.e of this chemical,".;.. However, from a practical standpoint we can reach the point 1;- Mining arid process'rig of:Asbestos presents no health. L.. hazard, since reportedly this is no carried out. in the Kingdom. 2. ' Asbestos Delivery and Tire Ksnufsecuring presents a ; distinct healtii hazard to the worker involved in this process,;; and proper precautions must betoken. - 5. Installation and Hsir.tenance of Asbestos-Cement Pipe presents a minimal potential health hazard to the worker, due to potential dust (and fiber) feneration. However, if proper procedures arc followed (2,10), no health hazard should exist. 4. Ingestion of Water Passed Through Asbestos-Cement Pipe should present no sirnificant health hazard. As summarized by the Eastern Jicditterranean Hegional Office (rfHO), (2) "Therefore there is presently no reason to restrict the use of A/C pipes if the transmitted water is hcn-corrosive to cement." Good engineering practice (7,^0) indicates that asbestos-cement pipe should not be used to transmit "corrosive water, as it can ' cause serious pipe destruction and greatly reduce the life.of -r the pipe, but there is no reason to restrict the use of A/C pipes if the transmitted water is non-corrosive to cement, '/f-jhi:--. Therefore, the use of A/0 pipe. for' the transmission of. :* A&.fs; non-corrosive"water is good engineering practice and. should present'nonsignificant health hazar-d to the ue erV^^;."^:V~ CAPCO JEN 0013054. RtFBffEr.CFS i. 7 Official Correspondence From Eastern Mediterranean : ' ' Regional Office,' WHO, dated 14 December.-1981,.;. *Subject^ASBESTOS CEMENT PI?'> to AuthorHf r^r^.y. ~v - . _Y V1 2." 'Official.Correspondence From Eastern Mediterranean ` 'iiiisD 'iw" wiiTHii' supply,-*" Vof 126T KoVj;** water/: -' " :* V,. . Engineering and . Managementv (harch :1981)v:-: :-.c;v . :*c * ~ ` **" Anonymous, "PIPES IN THE Tiil'nD WORLD, OCTOBER 1981.'/Y'/rY -U'TVv.V WORLD. WATER, 1r '' ' * ; * - V,: . - .!..*...... 5. Buiii/OW, RALPH W. ETAL. .'."The"Behavior of Asbestos-Cement Pipe Under Various Water Quality Conditions: A Progress Report." JOUH AWA, 72:2:91 (Feb 1980) *. at? '.Y- 6. MCCABE, LSLAND J. ETAL. "HEALTH EFFECTS AND PREVALENCE OF AoiiESfOS FIBERS IN DRINKING WATER." (Preprint Copy) Proceedings of AWWA annual Conference June 24-29 1979. .. \ . 7. AWWA Standards Committee on Asbestos-Cement Pressure ` . : *................. -- -.l - PIPE IS IH THROUGH 42 IN, FOR* WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS," - . 7-V*=' JOUR AWWA, 67*8:46*2'(aug, 1975) :; . V. Y YvYY; ' ...... 'Y - ^ ' Y- - . Y - - : '* ' ` . YYY~:-y liALLEN BECK. WILLIAM H. ETAL. "Is Chrysolite Asbestos'1 " Y--YV; VYYYYYY'.'' !v- CAPCO JEN 0013055 9. COOHtuK, kGBjiKT Ci:. li'T/'J.. "iublic health Aspects of Asbestos Fibers in Drinking Water." JCUR AWVA 70:6:338 (Jun 197H). 10. Committee Report "Use of Asbestos in Water Utility Construction," JOUR aWWA 70:^:217 (Apr 1978) 11. Committee Resort, "a titudy of the Problem of Asbestos in Water" JOU* A.-h.'A 66:9:3'I5 (Sep 197*0. 12. USKPA and Orate of Connecticut, "exposure to Asbestos Fibers in Water Distribution Systems," AWWA Annual Conf., Anaheim, Calif (May 1977). 13. WHO .international Agency for Research on Cancer, "Evaluation of the Carcinogenic idsk of Chemicals to lian: Cone Inorganic and Grganoraetallic Compounds," Vol 12, I RAC honogranhs 1972. CAPCO JEN 0013056