Document KRBY7pkm0yKVm7YnXkrbOnYYQ

'V . SOUTHWEST & TEXAS t '...; ,L Al;': -- iWAiij .//Ist'LoL-___ Published by Southwest Section ond Texos Section, Americon Wc*$r Works Associotion ot 306E. Adbms 617/773*1313 Temple. Texos 76501 ugust, 1981 : = j !. ; ! ] ; i | Vol. 63, No. 5 Asbestos-Cancer Study Finds No Link U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6, headquar-; tered in Dallas, Texas, has issued a statement that no conclusive evidence links the ingestion of asbes tos in drinking water to gastroin testinal cancer. In an official response to questions regarding the potential health effects of asbestos in drinking water Mac A. Weaver, Acting Chief-of the Watei Supply Branch, reported: "Based on our findings, we do not believe the citizens . . . are subject to' any measurable health risk from asbestos in their drinking water. "Because of the acknowledged! health problems related to asbestos! inhaled and/or ingested by workers in occupational exposure, it is' natural for people to extend this concern to other exposures. EPA and the scientific community have felt that extensive study is justified to determine if there is a level at which asbestos in drinking water might represent a measurable risk to public health. No conclusive scientific evidcnce has yet linked gastrointestinal cancer incidence with ingestion of asbestos through drinking water." Weaver added that the presence of asliestos fibers in drinking water may result from naturally-occurring sources in the ground water or from asbestos-cement (A/C) pipe when highly coriosive waters arc conveyed. i t l! CAP CO JEN 0011898