Document 2mDBadMKpMXvYp2gzYak1zrr

AIRBORNE FIBER COUNTS for American BiI trite Rubber Company Trenton, New Jersey March I, 1972 Sampling 4 Counting by: Mr. P. W. McDaniel . Industrial Hygienist Union Carbide Corporation Reported by: Mr, J. L. Myers Marketing Manager "Calidria" Asbestos Union Carbide Corporation UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION Mining and Metals Division Niagara Falls, New York UQC 015971 A23874 AIRBORNE ASBESTOS FIBER COUNTS DESCRIPTION OF PLANT AND TESTS '. The Tests were conducted in an average size floor tile plant. Vinyl/asbestos floor tile was being produced, as well as "chips" and other flooring products. Asbestos and other dry materials such as limestone, pigments, resin, etc., are added to a charge hopper or blender. The mixture of raw materials is then dumped into a Banbury or similar type of high shear mixer. All asbestos involved during the tests was open fiber Canadian. In general the plant seemed very dusty and samples were collected from typical work areas which appeared to be the most likely sources of airborne asbestos. Local ventilation was in operation in equipment areas. Samples were collected under the direction of a qualified Industrial Hygienist on Millipore filter paper by the use of battery-powered air pumps. The samples were examined for fiber content by a qualified Industrial Hygienist using the micro scopic procedure recommended in the proposed OSHA regulations recorded in the Federal Register on January 12, 1972. TEST RESULTS It must be recognized that the following data represent a very small number of samples-taken over a short interval of time. No general conclusions can be drawn about average fiber counts or other dust levels. All samples except one had fiber counts less than the emergency OSHA standard of 5 fibers/ml greater than 5 microns. . Sample Location (1) Inside railroad boxcar during manual handling of bags of Canadian asbestos (2) At breathing zone of operators adding asbestos and other raw materials to Banbury charge hopper (3) Background on platform at blender (no operation) (4) Same as (3) while adding asbestos from bags (5) Aisleway between 2 Banbury lines (6) Aisleway in back of line (7) . At finished tile cut-out machine No. Fibers* 21.09 1.28 0.54 2.03 0.75 1.41 1. II *No. fibers75,A per ml. air A2387b UCC 015972 INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION 270 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017 to (Hamo) DiVision location Copy to Mr. J. L. Myers Mining and Metals Niagara Falls, N. Y. Db,# June 1, 1972 Origmoimg o.p#. Medical Department Answering fetter date Subject Mr. W. N. Johnson Mr. R. Marsden Mr. J. W. Rawlings Dr. J. J. Welsh/Dr. K. S. Lane Dear Mr. Myers: On May 24, 1972, Mr. R. Marsden (of King City Mining and Metals) and I conducted a study at American Biltrite Co. , Los Angeles, California to evaluate exposure of personnel to asbestos dust in selected operations involved in the production of vinyl floor tile. Air samples were collected at breathing level as close as possible to operating personnel at these locations for periods not less than 15 minutes per sample as generally recommended for OSHA Compliance studies. Fiber content of the samples was determined by phase microscopy in accord with the procedure specified in OSHA regulations. Effort was made to determine if a difference in airborne fiber concentration could be detected between the handling and dumping of pellets (UCC) into the mix blenders and the handling and dumping of open fiber (Atlas Co.) into the blenders. Unfortunately, the two blenders. A23876 % UCC 015973 > .1. , Mr. J. L. Myers 2- - June 1, 1972 which were side by side, were operated in an overlapping series time-wise so that there was never a period during which pelletized material was the exclusive new source of fiber. In addition the fact that open fiber had been handled most of the time prior to our tests made it unlikely that we would have been able to find a period during that day in which all the existing fiber came from pellets. To obtain this condition, I now think that pellets would have to be run alone for several days for comparison with open fiber used over a similar period of time. Our results do not indicate the presence of heavy concentrations of fiber in the air. There might be short intervals (5-10 minutes) during the loading of a blender when the concentrations near the operator may be higher, but weighted exposure of personnel would still be low. While there was much visible particulate matter in the work environment, it apparently was plasticizer, limestone or something else but not fiber. The fiber shown for locations other than the blender platform could have been from either source (pellets or open fiber). Very truly yours, 0it' 6 a!. >/$&***. PWM:lk Attachments Paul W. McDaniel Industrial Hygiene Engineer A 2 3 8 7.7 UCC 015974 A*\Pl<r 1.0 L I S " 72 . r< 4k> Location and Sample No. Blender Charge Platform In front of blender #1 (blending Atlas fiber) during charging of #2 with pellets (#1 DM) In front of blender #2 during same period as above (#1PM) "' In front of blender #1 during period following charging of #2 with pellets. (#2DM) In front of blender #2 during same period (#2PM) Bucket Location (ground level) Below blenders during blender operation and blender unloading to conveyor (#3DM) (#3PM) Blender Charge Platform In front of blender #1 during charge with Atlas open fiber (#4DM) In front of blender #2 during same period. Blender #2 running pellets. (#4PM) In front of blender #1 during loading of #2 with Atlas Fiber. (#6DM). In front of blender #2 during same period.' (#6PM). "~ Fibers 5 micron or more in length per ml of air 0.8 0.6 0.6 0. 5 0. 3 0.4 1. 0 0^3 3. 4 1.9 A23878 UCC 015975 2- - Location and Sample No. Sweep Screen Area General area around screen (#5DM). Beside operator loading conveyor feeding hammer mill (#5PM)i Fibers 5 micron or more in length per ml of air J 1.0 2. 0 UCC 015976 A 23879 THE DISCOVERY CCr."\*:y June 14, 1972 Mr. Richard Alien American Biltr.ite Rubber Company 15300 Valley View Avenue La Mirada, California 90638 Dear Mr. AIlen: The attached sheet summarizes the results of the study conducted at your plant on May 24, 1972, to evaluate the exposure of personnel to airborne asbestos fiber. Air samples were collected at the breathing level as near as possible to operating positions for periods not less than 15 minutes per sample, as generally recommended for OSHA compliance studies. Fiber content of the samples was determined by phase microscopy in accord with OSHA procedures. All work was done by or was under the direct supervision of a qualified industrial hygiene engineer. The results do not indicate heavy concentrations of fiber in the air as all samples contained less than the OSHA standard of 5 fibers greater than 5 microns in length per ml of air. The seemingly high concentration of visible particulate matter in the work environment apparently was due to plasticizer, limestone or other dusty materials. . The nature of the operations did not permit a good comparison between.the dust generated by SG-100 pellets vs. conventional open fiber. However, the "Blender Charge Platform" data do indicate a marked reduction of airborne fiber while using pelletized asbestos. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you and we are pleased that the results seem satisfactory. We trust that your use of SG-100, or perhaps SG-101, will continue. Please let rne know if we can be of any further assistance. Very truly yours, I-K3i *e i i ny manager- cc: Mr. T. W. Beliakoff Mr. R. E. Byrne bcc: Mr. T. P. Norris Mr. J. W. Rawlings Kr-Filo UCC 015977 A2383C \ . SAMPLE RESULTS May 24, 1972 Location and Sample No.___________________ Blender Charge Platform In front of blender #1 (blending Atlas fiber) during charging of #2 with pellets (#IDM) In front of blender #2 during same period as above (#IPM) In Front of blender #1 during period following charging of #2 with pellets. (#2DM) In front of blender #2 during same period (#2PM) . Bucket Location (ground level) Below blenders during blender operation and blender unloading to conveyor (#3DM) . (#3PM) Blender Charge Platform In front of blender if I during charge with Atlas open fiber (#4DM) In front of blender 2 during same period. Blender 2 running pellets. (#4PM) In front of blender #\ during loading of #2 with Atlas Fiber. (i?6DM) In front of blender #2 during same period. (#6PM) Sweco Screen Area General area around screen (#5DM). Beside operator loading conveyor feeding hammer mill (#5PM). Fibers 5 micron or more in length per ml of air ' 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.3 3.4 1.9 ' 1.0 2.0 UCC 015978 A2388 1 KUKTH.-liS FIiO-D'BS BROOKLYN. NEW YORK 11215 t October 27, 1972 Union Carbide Corporation Mining & Metals Division P. 0. Box 579 Niagara Palls, New York 14302 Att: Mr. John L. Myers Dear Mr. Myers: Confirming our telephone conversation of October 25th, we a re most appreciative of your offer resulting from our conversation relative to the testing of asbestos du3t samples. We have this date forwarded to your attention ten (10) separate samples which we identified as follows: Sample Number ML* s of Air 1 2 3 4 5 B - 36 B - 37 B - 38 B - 39 B - 40 150,000 150,000 114,000 96,600 21,000 118,800 87,400 113,800 91,080 91,080 We would appreciate your returning to us the remaining unused portion of the samples when you are through with your tests. As I explained to you we are getting very wide discrepancies in our testing vs. our insurance company, the state and federal government tests. These particular samples were tested initially by us then by our insurance company and we felt that with your company's expertise in this matter we may. be able to resolve the discrepancies which have cropped up* We understand that you will be unable to ship asbestos in plastic bags until some time after the first of the year. We would appreciate A 2 38 3 2 UCC 015979