Document DOaYG4LpGgK4mY7N1Y99YJnB

Jul. 6 '89 15:22 0000 _LltU"b.u. c. I- &EPA United Slates Environmental Protection Agency Office of Public Affairs (A-107) Washington DC 20460 Environmental Backgrounder rinjc. a November 1988 Overview : SR **,teo Mu I5B E tto 6 I :siis! Health Concerns 4 AibMtot is the nM of * group of naturally occurring minerals that separata Into strong, microscopic fibers that are heat-resistant, odorless, and very durable. These qualities have aade asbestos extremely useful in construction and Industry. Between 1900 and 1980, some 90 million tons of asbestos were used commercially in the United states. It was used most widely from the end of world War ZX until tha early 1970s, when Its use began to decline, asbestos use in this country decreased from 340,000 metric tons In 1984 to 84,700 metric tone In 1987. Asbestos has been used in construction for thermal and aoouetloal insulation, fire-proofing, roofing end flooring felts, vinyl floor tilss, pipe insulation, osmsat piping, and as daooratlon on exposed surfaces, it also is used in friction products such as brakes in trucks and automobiles. The potential for an asbestos -containing product to release fibers depends on several factors, including the location of the asbestos and how friable (easily crushed or pulverised) It is. Friable asbestos is liksly to emit microscopic fibers whan it is disturbed. The fibrous or fluffy spray-applied asbestos materials used in many buildings are generally more friable than materials such as vinyl floor tiles. Asbestos tends to break down into a dust of tiny fibers that remain suspended in the sir for long periods of time end can be easily inhaled. Because of their durability, these fibers can remain in the body for years, in general, asbestos-related diseases have a latency period of 20 to 40 years after exposure. We are currently seeing asbestos-caused diseases in soma worksrs who were exposed to asbestos during World War IZ. lung cancer is the most frequently seen asbestoscaused disease and is mors likely to occur if the HWBU10000244 Jul. 6 ' 89 15:22 0000 ALLIED-SIGNAL/UftSH. .D. C. < TEL202-662-2675 PAGE 02 expoaed ptrson it a motor. Mesothelioma, on incurable oanoar of tto ehoat and abdominal membranes, can alao ba caused by the inhalation of asbestos, so far, mssothelioma has been associated with exposure wily to asbestos. Other cancers, mostly of the digestive tenet, have been attributed to asbestos Federal Approach Asbestos also causes asbestosis, a chronic disease of the lungs that makes breathing progressively more difficult and can lead to death. Because of the ovendkelaing scientific evidence regarding the adverse effects of asbestos on public health and the environment, SPA has taken a series of actions since 1972 to eliminate public exposure to asbestoe. these include a ban on sprayed and troweledon uses of asbestos, a ban on the use of asbestos to wrap pipes, regulations on the removal, transport, and disposal of asbestos, and the establishment of a program requiring every primary and secondary school in the country to inspect for asbestos by May 9, 1989. EPA proposed a ban and phase-out of most uses of asbestos in 1988 and plans to take final action on that proposal in early 1989. (For a complete chronology of past, current, and planned efforts, see the section on EPA Action.) The Law The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSOL) gives epa the authority to prohibit or limit the amount of any chemical substance os mixture that can be manufactured, processed, or distributed in commercs if EPA finds that it pnsanta an unraasonabla risk to public health or the environment. Substantial scientific evidence about the health affects of asbestos has rssultsd in a vids variety of EPA actions. Tha asbestos school Basaxd ahitemsnt, Act (asbaa) of 1984 authorises EPA to provide aid to financially needy schools to abate severs asbestos problems, epa has made federal loans and grants available to help both public and private primary and secondary schools with abatement of friable asbestos, sines 1985, epa has distributed over $180 million in fadarml funds for asbestos abatement projects in tbs nation's schools. Zn 1989 EPA will distribute another $47.5 million for this purpose. The Asbestos Basaxd Emergency Response Act (abera) , which was signed into law in October 1988, called for SPA to issue regulations by October 1987 requiring all primary and secondary schools in the United States to inspect for friable and non-friable asbestos by a certified inspector. Schools are required to develop and implement plana for assessing asbestos in school 2 HWBUI0000245 buildings and taking appropriate corractiva actions. Each school sust oaSIplete its Inspection and subnit a written asbestos nanagement plan to its stats ahera designee by October 12, IMS, or by Kay 9, 1989, if the school receives an extension to this deadline from their state. MBR1 authorises EPA to take enforcement action against contractors who lack the training and certification to properly engage in abateaent activities. The Asbestos Information Act of 1988, signed into law on Octobar 31, 1988, will requiro Manufacturers of asbestos or asbestos-aontaining aatarials to subait spacific information about their products to SPA for publication. Saving this information available at the initiation of a lawsuit will prevent delays caused by the search for the ectuel asbestos manufacturer. Manufacturers whose products are not present in a building that Is cited in a spacific came will be spared involvement In lengthy and costly legal proceedings. PAST EFFORTS 1972 Listed asbestos as a hasardous air pollutant. 1973 Sat a standard of "no visible amissions" for the milling of asbestos, the manufacturing of asbestos products, and tha damolition of buildings. Prohibited the spray application for moat uses of friable aatarials containing nora than one percent of asbestos. 1974 Issued water effluent guidelines for ssbeetos manufacturing point.sources and new source performance standards. 1975 Extsndsd tha "no visible amissions" standard to vasts collection and disposal. 1978 Prohibited most friable, sprayed-on asbestos. 1979 Initiated a technical assistance program to help schools identify and control friable asbestoscontaining materials. Announced Agency's intention to consider regulating commercial uses of asbestos. 1980 Listed asbestos as a hasardous vasts in proposed rules. Proposed rule for schools to identify and notify EPA of any friable asbestos in schools. Proposed a rule under TSCA requiring the reporting of production and exposure data on asbestos. 1982 Issued final rule on the identification and notification on friable asbestos-containing aatarials in schools. Issued final rule under TSCA requiring the reporting of production and exposure data on asbestos. 1984 conducted national survey of public buildings to determine the' extant of asbestos-containing materials. a HWBUI0000246 j u i. o o:? fis cfcniHO . iu^si otm-' wnsn. u\ u. i CLUw^-oe^-gB ro KHtafc 04 1985 1986 1987 1988 Made first distribution of annual ASKAA loans and grants to-financially nssdy schools. Proposed tha bah and phase-out of soat asbestos products and tha uses of asbestos. Distributed second round of ASKAA funds to schools. Began developing a regulation to carry out the newly enacted Asbestos Hazard Baergency Response Act. BPA used the "regulation negotia tion" process, which calls for Including all interested and affected constituencies In the actual developaent of the regulation. Proposed and subsequently finalized regulations for AHERA implementation which were distributed to public and private schools. Distributed third round of ASKAA funds to schools. Developed and finalized Model Accreditation Plan. Distributed grants totaling $15 million to states for AHERA inspections and management plana. Distributed fourth round of ASKAA funds to schools. Submitted report to Congress on asbestos in public and commercial buildings, which proposed a three-year program of increased guidance, technical assistance, and enforcement of current regulations. Provided training to AHERA state designees and EPA's Regional Asbestos Coordinators on proper AHERA implementation. Appointed an Asbestos Ombudsman at EPA headquarters to respond to citizen concerns, questions, and complaints about asbestos-in- schools issues. ____ Provided schools with AHERA implementation support in the form of guidance materials, a nationwide teleconference, and technical assistance. Approved over 400 training courses for accreditation of asbestos consultants. More Information EPA has established a hotline for citizens to call for further information or publications about its asbestos activities. This hotline can be reached on (202) 5S4-1404. citizens with concerns, questions, and complaints about asbestos-in schools can call the Asbestos Ombudsman on the toll-free number 1-800-368-5888. In the Washington DC area, the Ombudsman can be reached on 557-1938. 4 HWBUI0000247