Asbestos Exposure in the Water Supply and Excess Cancer Mortality

Exposure to hazardous asbestos has been a problemexposures) was evaluated. Excess mortality due to
for over a century. The common form of exposurecancer of the stomach (males), pancreas (females),
typically came from the workplace. However, that hasand lung (males) was observed in the two
changed as asbestos has been found in the watermunicipalities with known high exposures. The
supplies of various municipalities. One interesting studyexcesses among males have been due to
is called, “Cancer mortality in relation tooccupational exposure to asbestos. The absence of
asbestos in municipal water supplies.” Byexcess mortality due to pancreatic cancer among
Wigle DT - Arch Environ Health. 1977males suggested that the excess among females
Jul-Aug;32(4):185-190. Here is an excerpt:was not due to waterborne asbestos. The study
“Abstract - The mortality experience oftherefore did not reveal evidence of excess cancer
twenty-two municipalities in Quebec grouped bymortality that could be attributed to exposure to
evidence of exposure to asbestos fibers in waterasbestos in drinking water.
supplies (known high, possible high, and probable low