ABSTRACT This review introduces a novel risk‐based management framework for asbestos cement (AC) pipes in drinking water systems, emphasizing maintenance practices and occupational health risks while harmonizing global regulatory and utility practices. Inhalation risks are well established, but WHO guidance indicates negligible risks from ingestion, not warranting regulatory limits. The framework addresses gaps in fiber release monitoring, standardizing protocols to minimize occupational exposure. AC pipes, deployed since the 1920s, persist in many systems despite phase outs. The study highlights deficiencies in fiber release under varying water corrosivity, advocating management of aging infrastructure through GIS tracking, non‐destructive testing (NDT), and phased replacement, informed by case studies from Australia and New Zealand. Airborne exposure underscores the need for standardized protocols. Public engagement and evidence‐based decisions are essential where immediate replacement is not mandated. This global synthesis integrates regulatory guidance, utility practices, and health data into an actionable framework.
Johannes Gérson Janzen (Sat,) studied this question.
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