Document EdvxkDqZR7v9eV1O1wvgdZzgj

FILE NAME: Ford (FD) DATE: 1970 & 1973 DOC#: FD022 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Internal Air Sampling Memos & Test Results Indicating Asbestos Emissions File Name Ford Motor Company Scanned ? yes Source JMA: JMA: Start Year 1970 Stop Year 1973 Contents memo, test results Notes BC notes in file 7/5/98: Ford Motor Company Nov. 1970 documents refer to Ford efforts to substitute or control asbestos in making housing units for heaters and air conditioners. Ford brake tests in 1973 demonstrate asbestos emmissions in brake wear products. "Asbestos Emissions from Brake Dynamometer Tests," by A. Anderson, R. Gealer, R. McCume and J. Sprys. Environmental Control Department Research & Engineering Center November 17, 1970 0 o A W. P. O'Reilly - Cleveland Dist. Off, cc: A. C. Smith N. VC Hendry - Asbestos 1500 H . M . Ball - GHQ W. P. Raines - GHQ H. G. Donovan J . Goldfield File 4 C FORD MOTOR COMPANY PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 13, 1970 I contacted Dr. George Bauer today in accordance with your request. He told me that Ford was greatly concerned with the health hazards related to asbestos fiber usage and that he had been looking for substitute materials. He further stated that his search had convinced him that other materials were equally, if not more, hazardous than asbestos fiber and that instead of using a substitute, they should improve the dust control at their operations. He asked if anyone from Johns-Manvi IIe could visit their plant and advise them on dust control procedures. I informed Dr. Bauer that J. Goldfield and I expected to be in the Detroit-Toledo area sometime within the next two weeks and would visit their plant to review the problem with him and Mr. Leonard Evans, their Plant Eng 1neer. ' EMF/ems Cleveland Office November 13, 1970 E.M. Fenner - Finderne cc: N.W. Hendry - Asbestos H.M. Ball - GHQ H.G. Donovan, Research W.P. Raines - GHQ File FORD MOTOR COMPANY HARDWARE & ACCESSORIES 1A425 SHELDON ROAD PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN DIVISION ",1;o This plant manufactures the Heaters and Air Conditioners for all Ford vehicles and the housing for these units is a molded poly ester premix compound. For the past three years they have pur chased from us in excess of 2000 tons of Asbestos Fiber grade 7T15. Last month we heard through Dr. George Bauer, a chemist and their formulator for this item, that he was instructed to investigate possible substitutes for asbestos, and that if we had any comments on the subject, we, rather than he, should approach Ford about it. Last week, on the 3th of November, Noel Hendry and I visited there and brought up the matter with our contacts seeking their advice. Ihey felt that although the subject had come up, a presentation on our part would be premature at this time, and I believe Noel is to write them to the effect that we have such a presentation and would be glad to offer it at their convenience. Dr. Bauer was not present at this meeting. Now, on November 11th, Dr. Bauer has contacted our distributor (Mr. John Hastings of International Fibers) asking that someone from the J-M Environmental Control Department telephone him to discuss recommended asbestos dust levels. Their LCD feels the asbestos dust in their operation exceeds the allowable limits and if so, they wish to know how to reduce the dust. Dr. Bauer stated a dust level of 2 fibers per cc, which I think is a little low. At any rate, may I sugp.es t that you or someone in your group tele phone Dr. George Bauer at Ford In Plymouth, Michigan (Phone (313) AA5-0600) to discuss allowable asbestos dust levels? Then would you kindly drop a note to Noel Hendry and me informing us of what transpired? i f '' i .> o 1> Per <carch f< Development Center ay 22, 1973 'l ASBESTOS EMISSIONS FROM BRAKE DYNAMOMETER TESTS A. E. Anderson, R. L. Genler, R. C. McCano and J. W. Spys, Scientific Research Staff, Ford Motor Company. (Presented at the.1973 SAS1National Automobile Engineering Meriting, Detroit, May If., 1973) . SUMMARY by J. W. Axelson Dynamometer tests were made v/ith a production disc brake and all airborne wear particles were collected on 0.45 urn filters. Asbestos fibers were detected and measured by the use of transmission electron microscopy at 40,000X and positive identi fication was made by electron diffraction. Merit of the lining asbestos (99.95 percent) was found to be converted to a no n fibrous material by the high flash temperatures of the braking surface. Brake flash temperatures as high is 900C lia^e been observed on a test machine. They estimate .that about 28,000 tons of asbestos are used each year by the friction materials industry in the U.S. (J--M estimates about 45,000 tons) . Lo.ss than half of\ this,'or 12,000 tons, is estimated,to wear away. Throughout the paper they use a safety factor of 1.0 to make sure they are stating maximum quantities. For instance, they found that only 0.0023 percent of the 1 in.i.nq wear was released as asbestos fillers, but state this figure as less than 0.02 percent. Likewise, the concentration of isbestos fillers in the atmosphere f.yom brake usage was calculated as 0.007 x , ' 9.qms per cu meter* but was reported as 10 time 0.07 x l o gins per cu meter. 1 that or Some.of the pertinent data are given in the following table. These are actual values without multiplying by the factor of 10 as they did in the paper. Background isbestos in ambient test air 'Asbestos, fiber from brake in exhaust air Total asbestos fiber in exhaust air listima ted brake asbestos in urban air* Asbestos fiber from brake in airborn wear dust Asbestos fiber released from lining wear 1.9 x 1.3 x 3.2 x 0.007 10 9 g/m^ 10~9 g/m^ 1 0 ci/m^ x 10"<J g/rn3 0.005 percent 0.0023 percent ^Extrapolated 'from data on residence times for load particles. M a y .22, 1973 h .g-e 2 Asbestos Emissions from Brake Dynamometer Tests Local Detroit atmospheric concentration ranges from 0.5 to 13.-Lx 10' gms per ch motor so the calculated value of 0.00,7 x 10~0 gms per eg, meter is only a minor fraction of normal conditions accruing from all sources .inc]uding .natural weathering of. asbestos-bearing roc): and soi] , mining, farming a n d excava tin g. This leads to their final conclusion ased on this upper bound, the use o f 'brakes was judged to be not significant as a source of atmospheric asbestos". cc: 1 f J. R. M. Hutcheson - Asbestos N. W. Hendry - 3 West H G . Donovan - 3 West ' HI. M. Fenner - M North ' F >1. Solon - 1 West W. C. Strails - RaD Ctr S. Speil - R&d Ctr I t 5 i