Document 7OZq3XvzYNGX95DMXEJ2xBMej

AIRBORNE FIBER COUNTS for Paco Textures Company Los Gatos, California Date Sampled: June 12, 1975 Date Reported: June 30, 1975 Samples Collected By: H. B. Rhodes Union Carbide Corporation Samples Analyzed By: B. L. Ingalls Union Carbide Corporation Reported By:. H. B. Rhodes Union Carbide Corporation KM 01235 Union Carbide Corporation Metals Division Niagara Falls, New York KMX 00163 OBJECTIVES 3. To measure the airborne asbestos fiber counts during the mixing and spraying of ceiling texture spray. ' 2. To compare the asbestos fiber counts for products containing Canadian grade 7M05 asbestos and Canadian HPO. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION ' The tests- were carried out at two locations in Los Gatos, CA. In each case, ceiling texture formulations differing in the type of asbestos used were sprayed by the same operator under very similar conditions. The first series of tests was typical of the small, custom operation while the second was more representative of large "mass-production" type procedures and equipment. ' In the first sequence.(Pyramid Painting and Drywall), the operator added four 3-pound bags of Decotex containing 5.2% of J/M 7MQ5 Canadian -asbestos-into the top of a small "Spray Force" mixer-sprayer with a capacity of^90 gallons. Approximately half of the ceilings in a large sTngle-story house were sprayed with this mixture. The tank was then washed out and 4 bags of Decotex containing 4.1% of "Calidria" HPO Were mixed and sprayed. The mixture ran out before the spraying was completed and two more bags were mixed. Personal samples were taken on the operator during each main mixing and during each spraying sequence. The two bag supplementary mixing was not sampled. The wiper was sampled during each spraying. One area sample was taken in the opposite end of the house during the spraying of the Canadian .containing material.and the initial part of the Calidria containing operation. The second sequence was run at another location in Los Gatos with a large truck-mounted spray unit. Four bags of Decotex containing ^2% HPO were added to the mixer which was already partially filled. The ceilings in a complete house were sprayed. A 12-bag blend, of the same-Decotex blend containing^2.5% Canadian 7M05 was then mixed and sprayed on the ceilings of a second house. These blends contained an additional pound of styrofoam and were thicker than that used in the first location. There was some problem with the spraying of the Canadian containing material'and working pressure was reduced from 120 to ^70 psjg. There was still more fine overspray than with the Calidria based product. - Personal samples were collected on the spray operator during each mix -and during each spraying sequence. Personal samples were collected on the "wiper during each spraying. KMX 00164 SAMPLE EQUIPMENT AND TEST PROCEDURES Sampling and dust counting were carried out in accordance with OSHA Regulation 1910.1001, using the Bayer., Zummalde and Brown method for counting asbestos fibers by phase contrast microscopy (Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health, Feb. 1969). ' Battery-powered air pumps (M.S.A. type), calibrated to 2 liters per minute, were used to collect personal breathing zone and environmental samples on Miliipore membrane filters of 0.8 micron porosity. t . Fiber counting was performed on a Nikon phase contrast microscope at 400X utilizing a Porton reticle for sizing and field definition. Two results have been reported for each sample - they are: 1. Total Fiber - Any material longer than 5 microns, having an aspect ratio greater than 3:1. This number will include the asbestos fibers as well as other particles which meet the fore going criteria. If tremolitic talc is present in the sample, the tremolite "chips" and anthophyllite impurities (if present) would also be in this category. 2. Chrysotile. Asbestos Fiber - Any fiber longer than'5 microns, having an aspect ratio greater than 3:1 which, in the judgement of an experienced operator could be chrysotile asbestos. COMMENTS .. ` ^e OSHA regulations permit a maximum limit of 5 fibers greater than 5 microns in length per cubic centimeter of air.sampled on an 8-hour, timeweighted average -(TWA)v This .allowable*level-will be reduced to 2~fibers/cc on July 1, 1976. The formula C^-j + C2T2 + CnTn describes the'TWA where C = fiber count in fibers/cc and T = time. ' - The regulations also stipulate a ceiling concentration of 10 fibers/cc greater than 5 microns which is not to be exceeded at any time.. TEST RESULTS . The details of sample collection and resultant fiber counts are listed in the attached table. ' OO'i5 SUMMARY OF FIBER COUNTS Sample No. .' Air Sample . Time Minutes _______ Operation Description_________ Airborne Fiber Count (fibers/cc >5u) Chrysotile Total Asbestos First Tests - Pyramid Paint B-08 8:26-8:36am 10 Personal sample. Operator (Ray 3;7 Struve) mixing 4 bags of Decotex ceiling spray. Contained^5.2% of Canadian 7M05, limestone, California talc, kaolin clay and polystyrene aggregate. Actual handling of asbestos took<^2 minutes. Remainder of time used in wetting and mixing. . 3.2 B-02 8:40-8:56am 16 Personal sample. Operator (Ray 1.8 Struve) during spraying Canadian containing blend. Spray on for^12 minutes. (Canadian asbestos) 1.6 B-03 8:56-9:04am 8 Personal sample. Operator (Ray 3.4 Struve) mixing 4 bags of Decotex ceiling spray. Contained^4.1% of "Calidria" asbestos HPO. Other ingredients same as for sample B-08. 2.7 B-05 9:04-9:19am 11 Personal sample. Operator (Ray Struve) spraying texture containing HPO. . 0.9 -- 9:15-9:16am -- Operator mixed two bags of HPO based material. This operation was not sampled. No Sampled B-07 8:4Q-9:00am 20 Personal sample. Helper (Bill Under 1.0 wood) wiping overspray on walls. (Canadian asbestos containing spray.) 0.8 B-06 9:02-9:26am ' 24 Same as B-07. During spray of material containing HPO. 0.7 0.5 B-04 8:50-9:07am 17 Area sample. In opposite end of 0.6 house during spraying of Canadian containing material, between opera tions, and the start of the "Calidria" containing material. 0.4 KMX 00166 Nummary of Ftber Counts - Continued 2- - Sample No. Air Sample Time 1Minutes, Operation Description Airborne Fiber Count (fibers/cc >5u) Chrysotile Total Asbestos Second Tests A-67 1:30--1:53pm 23 Personal sample. Spray operator 1.8 (Bill Lowe) mixing 4 bags of Decotex containing 2.0% HP0. (More styrofoam than AM samples.). Other ingredients same as B-08. Actual dumping took ^3 minutes. ' 1.5 ` A-19 1:53-2:30pm 27 Personal sample. Operator spraying 1.2 one house (-*20 minutes spraying). 0.9 A-69 2:21-2:35pm 14 Personal sample. Spray operator 0.9 (Bill Lowe) mixing 12 bags of Decotex containing <*'2.5% Canadian 7M05 asbestos. More styrofoam than AM samples. Other ingredients the same. Actual dumping took ^10 minutes. 0.8 A-89 2:36-3:12pm 36 Personal sample. Spray operator 1.6 (Bill Lowe) adjusting sprayer and spraying second house with Decotex containing Canadian asbestos. About 27 minutes actual spraying. 1.0 A-97 - 2:00-2:34pm 34 Personal sample. Wiper (Bill Brede- 1.1 hoft) during spraying of HP0 contain ing texture (1st house). 0.8 A-100 2:25-3:.16pm 51 Personal sample. Wiper (Bill Brede- 0.9 hoft) during spraying t)f-Canadian asbestos containing texture (2nd house). 0.7 KMX 00167