Document Eq2arzzLZM9nGaOzOgZDJK9NV

FILE NAME: Flooring (FLR) DATE: 2001 Oct DOC#: FLR015 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Email from Jonathan Klane RE Floor Tile Analyses - PLM vs. TEM Re: [OEM] floor tile analyses - PLM vs. TEM Subject: Re: [OEM] floor tile analyses - PLM vs. TEM Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 14:26:05 -0400 From: "Jonathan Klane" <keith0304@prexar.com> To: <jacksonm@pnw.med.navy.mil>, <SPAJ235@lni.wa.gov>, <degilman2@yahoo.com>, <occ-env-med-l@mc.duke.edu> Hi al1 ! While I don't wish to engage in a back and forth debate on whether 50+% asbestos is possible, I will add my $0.02 on possible differences - take it for what it's worth. My guess regarding these widely disparate differences in percentages of asbestos content in floor tiles is due mostly to differences in analytical techniques. Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM - an optical form), while quite good for most applications often falls short in identifying and accurately approximating asbestos content in floor tile samples. It has been demonstrated (and required by NY State regulation) that Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is more accurate for floor tile samples. There was a study written up in the "Applied Occupational & Environmental Hygiene" journal of the ACGIH titled "Quantification of Fiber Releases for Various Floor Tile Removal Methods" dated Sept. 1996. The study was performed by the Univ. of Texas. In the study, they reported duplicate analyses between the two methods as follows: PLM 4-6% vs.TEM 16-23% PLM 10-15% vs. TEM 24-29% PLM 10-15% vs. TEM 24-36% PLM 7-10% vs. TEM 23-34% There has been much anecdotal evidence along these lines as well including non-detects by PLM vs. >1-20+% by TEM. I used to perform PLM analysis myself ages ago and always dreaded floor tile samples due to the inherent difficulties. Recently in my own home I sampled two types of floor tile. One was positive by PLM (~5%) and one was non-detected. I sent the ND out for TEM and it came back as 12% asbestos. By the way, I too have seen the 1 gallon container of "non-asbestos" mastic (the term asbestos does not appear although no claim is made on it) that lists "chrysotile mineral fibers" on it. My client chose not to put this asbestos-containing patch on their otherwise non-asbestos roof. Frankly I find this apparent purposeful obfuscation disturbing to say the least. Thanks for "listening", Jonathan Klane, M.S.Ed., CIH, CHMM, CET Klane's Education Information Training Hub "Take a step in the right direction" keith@wtvl.net (KEITH) ---- Original Message----From: jacksonm@pnw.med.navy.mil <jacksonm@pnw.med.navy.mil> To: SPAI235@lni.wa.gov <SPAJ235@lni.wa.gov>; degilman2@yahoo.com <degi1man2@yahoo.com> ; occ-env-med-1@mc.duke.edu <occ-env-med-l@mc.duke.edu> Date: Thursday, October 25, 2001 1:40 PM Subject: RE: [OEM] floor tile exposures Jeff is right on in his observation. Re; [OEM] floor tile analyses - PLM vs. TEM I, too, have looked at hundreds floor tile samples. The asbestos containing tile usually run between 1% and 3%. Occasionally the resilient back on vinyl sheet is found to be higher. I cannot see the value tile containing 30-90% asbestos - too friable to be used for floor tile. R. Mikel Jackson Industrial Hygiene Department Naval Hospital Bremerton Bremerton, WA 98312-1898 Phone: (360) 476-3394 jacksonm@pnw.med.navy.mi 1 (Code 16B2E) ____ PIease_remove_thi s_footer_before_replyi ng_____ Occ-Env-Med-L mailing list Broadcast address: Occ-Env-Med-L@mc.duke.edu Overview of this forum: http://mai 1man.m e .duke.edu/inai 1man/1 isti nfo/occ-env-med-1 To manage your subscription (choose: on, off, digest), go to http://subscribe.occhealthnews.net Today's Sponsor (not responsible for content): h t t p ://www.medlockconsulting.com Medlock Consulting, a premiere search firm specializing in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Medlock Consulting's professional background includes over fifteen years in the recruiting industry, including ten years specializing exclusively in the recruitment of occupational medicine physicians. Medlock Consulting has successfully completed assignments for Fortune 500 corporations, hospitals and clinics. [OEM] floor tile exposures Subject: [OEM] floor tile exposures Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 06:04:26 -0400 From: "dse" jegilman2@yahoo.com> To: "Occ-Env-Med-L" <occ-env-med-l@mc.duke.edu> Here are some relevant exposure and epi data. I am aware of perhaps 5-10 other meso cases. The tiles are (that's right - are 50-90 percent asbestos). These can still be purchased at your local do it yourself places. They are banned in Europe. David Egilman MD Clinical Associate Professor Department of Community Health Brown University Telephone 617-438-7676 www.egilman.com degi1man2@yahoo.com Am Rev Respir Dis 1971 Oct ;104(4): 576-80 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Floor tile installation as a source of asbestos exposure. Murphy RL, Levine BW, al-Bazzaz FJ, Lynch JJ , Burgess WA. : Lange DH, Thomulka KW. Related Articles Air sampling during asbestos abatement of floor tile and mastic. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2000 Apr;64(4):497-501. No abstract available. PMID: 10754045 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 2: Lange JH, Lange PR, Reinhard TK, Thomulka KW. Related Articles A study of personal and area airborne asbestos concentrations during asbestos abatement: a statistical evaluation of fibre concentration data. Ann Occup Hyg. 1996 Aug ;40(4): 449-66. PMID: 8806215 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 3: Julius PJ. Related Articles How to safely maintain asbestos-containing tile. Health Facil Manage. 1990 Oct ;3(10): 58-60. No abstract available. PMID: 10107149 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 4: Brummer B. Related Articles Influence of counts after Appl Environ PMID: 788638 possible disinfectant transfer on agar contact sampling. Microbiol. 1976 Jul;32(1):80-4. [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Staphylococcus aureus plate 5: Murphy RL, Levine BW, al-Bazzaz FJ, Lynch JJ, Burgess WA. Related Arti cl es Floor tile installation as a source of asbestos exposure. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1971 Oct ;104(4): 576-80. No abstract available. PMID: 5094056 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Re: [OEM] floor tile exposures] Subject: Re: [OEM] floor tile exposures] Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 19:55:16 +1100 From: "Claudz" <jleigh@bigpond.com> To: "Barry Castleman, ScD" <bcastle@bcpl.net> yes see meso register report 2001 www.nohsc.gov.au 11 cases in 15 years where this was only exposure , plus one where this exposure plus another exposure. ive also been in one civil case of this type, settled. ---- Original Message --- From: "Barry Castleman, ScD" <bcastle@bcpl.net> To: "Leigh, James" <jleigh@bigpond.com> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2001 5:08 PM Subject: [Fwd: [OEM] floor tile exposures] > Hey Jim, > > Your mesothelioma register showing people who worked with vinyl asbestos > flooring? > > Barry