Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring mineral fibres found in rock. For decades, asbestos was used as a building material in homes and other buildings.
Asbestos was also commonly used to make asbestos-cement pipes from the 1940s to the 1960s in Canada. The use of asbestos-cement pipes has been largely discontinued since the 1970s, but some remain in drinking water systems across Canada.
As asbestos-cement pipes reach the end of their lifespan or are exposed during construction, they are typically replaced with alternative pipes.
Always take precautions when handling deteriorating pipes to protect against inhaling asbestos fibres released into the air. For more information on safe handling of asbestos, visit WorkSafeBC – Safe Work Practices for Handling Asbestos at: www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-safety/books-guides/safe-work-practices-for-handling-asbestos?lang=en.
Asbestos may enter water sources through runoff of mining tailings, improper disposal of asbestos waste, or through source water contact with asbestos-bearing bedrock. Standard community water treatment processes can remove naturally occurring asbestos before it reaches the drinking water system.
When asbestos-cement pipes deteriorate, some fibres could be released into the drinking water distribution system, causing people to ingest (drink or eat) it or breathe in (inhale) airborne water droplets.
According to Health Canada and the World Health Organization, there is no consistent, convincing evidence that ingested asbestos through water is harmful to human health. For this reason, drinking water from asbestos-cement pipes is not considered a significant health risk.
While it is also possible that water droplets from the shower or humidifiers may contain asbestos fibres, exposure to these types of droplets is not considered a significant health concern.
Many studies have found strong evidence indicating that inhaling asbestos fibres can cause cancer and lung diseases.
For information on health risks of inhaling asbestos, visit HealthLinkBC File #32 Asbestos: When should I worry?
Health Canada and the World Health Organization have each independently reviewed existing evidence several times in the last decade and maintained their position that ingesting asbestos in drinking water does not pose a health risk. If you drink water containing asbestos fibres, you eliminate the fibres, mostly through feces.
B.C. typically references Health Canada's Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality as the standard against which to measure water quality. Currently, Health Canada has not set a maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) to monitor asbestos in drinking water.
The BC Ministry of Health works with Health Canada and the BC Centre for Disease Control to stay informed on emerging evidence to see if there is reason to change position or to create guidelines. They continue to monitor for new evidence on potential health effects from ingesting asbestos.
Health Canada
For more information about asbestos in drinking water, visit Health Canada – Asbestos in drinking water: www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/asbestos-drinking-water-infographic-2021.html.
World Health Organization
For information about the development of drinking water quality guidelines, visit World Health Organization – Asbestos in drinking water: www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-HEP-ECH-WSH-2021.4.
Local health authorities
If you have concerns about the quality of your drinking water, contact the local environmental health officer at your health authority:
Call toll-free in B.C., 8-1-1, or 7-1-1 for the deaf and hard of hearing to get personalized assistance. Speak to a navigator who can guide you to reliable health information or connect you with a health professional. Translation services are available in over 130 languages.
