Document G5Ev4G1d3vM4rgv140krbm63r
FILE NAME: Ceiling Tiles (CT) DATE: 2001 Sept DOC#: CT001 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Unpublished Internal Report
CONWED CEILING TILES BY
DR. WILLIAM LONGO
INSTALLING CEILING TILES Work Practice Study
September, 2001
Materials Analytical Services, Inc. Suwanee, Georgia
Revision #0
Raleigh Office: 616 Hutton Street Suite 101 Raleigh, NC 27606 (919)829-7041 FAX (919) 829-5518
Atlanta O ffice 3945 Lakefleld Court Suwanee, Georgia 30024 (770) 866-3200 FAX (770) 866-3259
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RESULTS
Ceiling Tile Installation
During the installation of the ceiling tiles, Worker 1 (William Longo) was exposed to levels of airborne asbestos fibers of between 0.23 to 0.70 fibers/cc as measured by PCM. Worker IS(Richard Hatfield) had an exposure level that ranged from 0.34 to 0.92 fibers/cc when also measured by PCM.
The PLM analysis of the 10 ceiling tiles used in this confirmed that each of the tiles used in the work practice contained either chrysotile or amosite asbestos. In some cases, both types of asbestos were found. A summary o f the results are shown in the following table.
BULK ASBESTOS ANALYSIS CEILING TILES
file 1
TyS^f^s|^s|Q-' L Chrysotile
pif ;>. 2%
Tile 2
Chrysotile
1%
Amosite
4%
Tile 3
Chrysotile
2%
Tile 4 Tile 5 Tile 6 Tile 7
Chrysotile Amosite Chrysotile Amosite Chrysotile Amosite
Chrysotile
1% 4% 2% <1% 2% <1% 2%
Tile 8
Chrysotile
2%
Tile 9
Chrysotile
2%
Amosite
1%
Tiie 10
Chrysotile
2%
The clothing worn by the two workers performing the installation procedure were found to be contaminated with respirable asbestos fibers. The two fabric samples tested showed a range of 185.4 million asbestos structures to 240.3 million asbestos per square foot.
Cleanup
During the cleanup phase of this study, the worker performing the activity was exposed to levels of airborne asbestos fibers of between 0.90 to 3.20 fibers/cc as measured by PCM.
QUALITY CONTROL
Phase Contrast Microscopy
MAS is a participant in AlHA's asbestos Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) program for asbestos fiber analysis for the last 12 years and has passed each and every round during that time. Additionally, MAS exchanges air samples with outside laboratories and has developed intra and inter-counter precision for the laboratory.
For the PCM air samples analyzed ih this study, 10% blind recounts were performed and the results were within the confidence limits as specified by NIOSH.
Transmission Electron Microscopy;
j
!
MAS is accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)
to analyze asbestos air samples by transmission electron microscopy.
;
For the TEM air samples analyzed in this project, 10% blind recounts were performed.
Rate of Error
The rate of error for this study is based on the PCM analysis and is determined as follows:
Ceiling Tile Installation 1) Area Samples 2) Personnel Samples
Average f/cc 0.46 0.48
Average fimm2 132.33 28.73
The coefficient of variation determined at this laboratory for this range of fiber counts are 0.1676 for the area samples and 0.1722 for the personnel samples. Therefore, the area air samples' upper and lower limits are 0.38 f/cc and 0.54 f/cc, for the personnel samples, the upper and lower limits are 0.40 and 0.56 f/cc on average.
Ceiling Tile Cleanup
Average f/cc
Average f/mm2
1) Area Samples
1.00
128.0
2) Personnel Samples
1.75
45.3
The coefficient of variation determined at this laboratory for this range of fiber counts are 0.1676 for the area samples and 0.1722 for the personnel samples. Therefore, the area air samples upper and lower limits are 0.925 f/cc and 1.08 f/cc, for the personnel samples, the upper and lower limits are 1.67 f/cc and 1.83 f/cc on average.
For the TEM analysis, all blind recounts (installation and cleanup) were within the required 95% confident limit as prescribed by the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST).
CONCLUSION
MAS conducted a study to determine the release and potential human exposure to airborne asbestos fibers during the installation of asbestos containing ceiling tiles; this study was then followed by a cleanup work practice. The installation phase of the study shows that even when a small number of ceiling tiles were installed, significant amounts of asbestos fibers were released into the breathing zone of the two workers who were performing this activity. Additionally, during the cleanup work practice it was found that the worker exposure level was in excess of OSHA's excursion limit of 1.0 fiber/cc.
The ceiling installation portion of this work study was 45 minutes in length and only involved the installation of 10 tiles. Under normal circumstances on a construction project, one would expect much larger areas to be tiled and therefore, much higher asbestos exposures to the individuals than demonstrated in this study.
The clothing worn by the workers were found to be contaminated with asbestos dust. This contamination is yet another potential source of exposure through re-entrainment of the asbestos dust from such activities as the brushing of the clothing or during typical laundry activities.
I
INSTALLING CEILING TILES
Asbestos Air Analysis Results ; /t ' INSTALLATION
I. BACKGROUND AIR SAMPLES
Samte No. A-O-A (NE) A-O-B (SE) A-O-C (SW) A-O-D (NW)
Sample D e scro tio n IWA Background IWA Background IWA Background IWA Background
PCM Fibers/cc < 0.002 < 0.002 < 0.002 < 0.002
TEM Str/cc (All)
< 0.007 < 0.007 < 0.007 < 0.007
TEM Fibers > 5 um/cc
N/A N/A N/A N/A
II. PERSONNEL AIR SAMPLES
Sam le No. P-1-A P-1-B P-1-C P-1-D
) P-2-A P-2-B P-2-C P-2-D
Sample D e s c rip tio n Personnel WLR Personnel WLL Personnel RHR Personnel RHL
Personnel WLR Personnel WLL Personnel RHR Personnel RHL
PCM Fibers/cc
0.23 0.35 0.36 0.34
0.70 0.41 0.49 0.92
TEM
S tr/cc (Ail) 11.46 16.14 6.63 6.60
TEM Fibers > 5 um/cc
< 0 .6 0 1.80
< 0 .6 0 < 0 .6 0
4.78
0.48
6.17
0.95
7.24
<0.48
4.85
0.97
Samle No.
III. AREA AIR SAMPLES
Sample D e scro tio n
PCM Fibers/cc
TEM
TEM Fibers
Str/cc (A lii > 5 um/cc
A -1 -A (N E ) A-1-B (SE) A-1-C (SW) A-1-D (NW)
A-2-A A-2-B A~2~C A-2-D
A-3-A ) A-3-B
A-3-C A-3-D
IWA Area IWA Area IWA Area IWA Area
IWA Area IWA Area IWA Area IWA Area
IWA Area IWA Area SWA Area SWA Area
0.13 0.05 0.12 0.12
0.62 0.52 0.46 0.5B
0.72 0.81 0.63 0.77
1.55 1.08 1.96 1.30
1.63 2.18 2.68 2.03
1.32 2.65 1.83 1.30
0.24 < 0 .1 2
0.12 < 0 .1 2
<0.10 0.28 0.37 0.68
0.12 0.48 0.11 0.12
INSTALLING CEILING TILES Asbestos A ir Analysis Results Continued
wt
Samle No. FB-1 FB-2 FB-2
Samle No. PWl-2 FRH-2 FWL-2
> FRH-2
IF. FIELD BLANKS
Sample Descrioiion
SPGM Fibers/mm2
TEW TEM Fibers Sfrlmrn2(All >S umico
IWA Area
<7
IWA Area
<7
0.0 0.0
NHI/AA
IWA Area
<7
0.0
N/A
V. FABRICANALYSIS
Sample Description
Asbestos
Asbestos
Strucfares/ft2 Struetures/ft2
Fabric Control
0.00
0.00
Fabric Control
0.00
0.00
Fabric Fabric
185.4 million 200 thousand 240.3 million 259 thousand
CEILING TILE CLEANUP
i CLEANOP
Asbestos Air Analysis Results
/. BACKGROUND AIR SAMPLES
Samle No. A-O-A (NE) A-O-B (SE) A-O-C (SW) A-O-D (NW)
Sample DescrDtion IWA Background IWA Background IWA Background IWA Background
PCM Fibers/cc < 0.001
< 0.001 < 0.002 < 0.001
TEM Str/e lA in
< 0.005 < 0.005 < 0.005 < 0.005
TEM Fibers > 5 um/cc
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Samle No. P-1-A P-1-B P-1-C P-1-D
Samle No. A-1-A A-1-B A-1-C A-1-D
Samle No. FB-1 FB-2
II. PERSONNEL AIR SAMPLES
S am ple DescrDtion Personnel RHR Personnel RHL Personnel RHR Personnel RHL
PCM F ib e rs /c c
1.05 0.90 3.20 1.83
JEM S tr/cciA in
6.86 7.61 11.25 6.80
TEM Fibers > 5 um/cc
< 0 .8 6 1.69 3.46 0.85
III. AREA AIR SAMPLES
Sample D escriotion
PCM Fibers/cc
TEM Str/ce A10
TEM Fibers > 5 um/cc
IWA Area
0.93
3.59
0.51
IWA Area
0.74
2.23
0.34
IWA Area
0.90
2.05
0.17
IWA Area
1.37
3.25
0.68
IV. FIELD BLANKS
Sample D e scrD tio n
PCM
TEM
Fibers/mm2 Str/mm2 (All)
TEM Fibers > 5 um/cc
IWA Area
<7
0.0
N/A
IWA Area
<7
0.0
N/A
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