Document RJGGYZ8J4YN6nvkrmvgpyy9YE

August. 1 9E31 i .< ! , .V. A | : .. IK ] I '/] j:,-l t .JL'j .V nU ] / 4 ,; i '.i UJ: -...-V - } : J. : `I * L.3 City, County and State i i EPA Region Six Comments on Safety of Asbestos-Cement U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region Six. headquartered in Dallas, Texas, has staled that no conclusive evidence links the ingestion of asbestos in drinking water to gastrointestinal cancer. In an official response to questions regarding the potential health ef fects of asbestos in drinking water Mac A. Weaver, acting chief ofthe Water 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 re lated 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 PUBLIC WORKS for August, 1931 water might represent a measurable' risk to public health. No conclusive scientific evidence has yet linked gastrointestinal cancer incidence with ingestion of asbestos through drinking water." Weaver added that the presence of asbestos fibers in drinking water may result from naturally-occurring sources in the ground water or from asbestos-cement pipe when highly corrosive waters are conveyed. I i ' | ! ! CAP CO JEN 0011899