The problem with asbestos is that its a mineral that does not degrade over
time and is most dangerous if it gets into the lungs. You can eat it and it
will get passed through your digestive tract unchanged.
The asbestos cement is less dangerous as its not in fibre form. Its ground
down into very tiny pieces.

Brian

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"Chris Hogg" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 26 May 2017 12:20:53 +0100, charles
wrote:

In article ,
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Talking to the water company installing new water mains/meters for the
new build here, it seems my water main in the street is asbestos!!!


http://www.fwr.org/pipeline/dwi0822.htm


so drinking asbestos doesn't harm you apparently.

So why don't they just hose down asbestos when thy pull it out of
buildings? And then chuck it in a pond to get rid of it?

Because the water pipe is made of "asbestos and cement". The asbestos
fibres are bonded inside the cement. Wall boards were also made that way.

Yebbut over time, probably a good many decades, and with many millions
of gallons of water passing through the pipe in that time, the cement
component will slowly erode or dissolve, probably both, and the
asbestos particles will gradually be released. Not in high
concentration, or all at once, but they'll be there, nevertheless.

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Chris