What major consequence results from water damage to asbestos-containing materials?

Water damage to asbestos-containing materials can lead to the exposure of asbestos fibers, posing a significant health risk. When these materials are compromised by moisture, they may weaken and break down, effectively releasing harmful asbestos fibers into the air. This exposure can result in inhalation of fibers, which is dangerous and associated with several serious health conditions, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

In contrast, the understanding that asbestos fibers are rendered harmless or that water enhances the material is misleading. Water does not make asbestos any safer or beneficial; rather, it typically exacerbates the situation by causing more degradation of the material. Likewise, while water might help to prevent erosion in some contexts, in the case of asbestos-containing materials, it does not apply because the concern is more about the integrity of the asbestos and the subsequent health hazards rather than erosion of the material itself. Thus, the most accurate consequence of water damage in this context is indeed the exposure of asbestos fibers.