Document LVG23rL6Dzo29D37xJ3byEw

Research ft Engineering Center March 30, 1972 File: 259 H. Jackson - UII ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROGRAMS The following is a brief summary of all the research programs that we have worked on for the past two years. A. In-House Research Programs 1. Respirator Dcvelooment Program This program to develop disposable single-use respirator? was started within J-M and later developed into a cooperative program with the Willson Company. Although somewhat inactive in recent months, the Willson Company will continue their work on a respirator using J-M glass MICRO-FIBER as the filter median. 2. TRANSITE Pine Test Loop This was a long-term study to determine the release of asbestos fiber from asbestos cement pipes under carefully controlled conditions Studied-were pH ranees covering 5 to 7 and hardness from 25 to 100. In all cases, a small but: measurable amount of fiber v;ns released into the water. There was no correlation between the liber release and the water chemistry indicating that erosion rather than corrosion is the principal mechanism involved. 3. Municipal Water Samples Water samples were obtained on a weekly basis from the source and from the distribution system in Malvern, F or.nsy Ivania and Glendale, Arizona, The source water from Malvern, Pennsylvania comes from serpentine-bearing rocks and contains signifi- |M1 II. Jackson - L)II March 30, 1972 Page 2 cantly more fiber than the source water from Glendale, Arizona. In both municipalities, there was a small but measurable increase in the fiber concentration after passing through the asbestos cement distribution system. The release of fiber was somewhat higher in the Glendale, Arizona system whose water is softer than Malvern, Pennsylvania. 4. River Water Samples Water samples from the Connecticut River and the Juniata River have been taken on a monthly basis for one year. The entire course of the Connecticut River is through asbestos-bearing rock areas, while the Juniata River flows through an area of Central Pennsylvania where no asbestos-bearing rock should exist. ,.,A1- ,, though this study is not yet completed, the results indicate that the fiber content of the Connecticut River is two to three times higher than that of the Juniata River. 5. Roofing Decradation Studies An environmental chamber to study 'the release of fibers from built up roofs was built by the Shelter Products Department, and is currently in use. No significant information has been obtained from this study to date. 6. Asbestos Release from COBRA Brake Shoes The Packings and Friction Materials Department tested the release of asbestos fiber from COBRA Brake Shoes under a variety of braking conditions on a dynamometer. Only a small fraction of the fiber originally present in the Brake Shoes is released as potentially airborne fibers. 7. A sbor, ton -bearing Rocks - Distribution in the United States The available mineralogical and geological literature, was reviewed to determine the various locations in the United States where asbestos bearing rocks do or could exist. This information is summarized in the form of a map showing known H. Jackson - DU March 30, 1972 Page 3 locations of asbestos minerals and probable areas in which asbestos-bearing rocks might be located. 8. Serpentine Quarry Dust Air samples wore taken before, during and after blasting in a auarry in southeastern Pennsylvania. That study indicated that the dust concentration before the blasting operation did contain a meas urable amount, of asbestos fiber and there could be, therefore, a fraction of fiber in the ambient air. . **> 9. Buildina Penn' 1ition Studies Air samples were taken during the demolition of two buildings covered with asbestos cement siding shingles. One of these buildings was in Easton, Pennsylvania and the other in Newburgh',""TJew York. In both cases, an almost insignificant increase in the amount of asbestos fiber was detected. 10. Asbestos-containing Coat The release cf asbestos fiber during the handling of a coat made with a fabric containing asbestos fiber was tested. The conditions used in this experiment was identical to those used by the Public Health Service in a similar test. In all cases, the fiber concetrations to which the wearer would be exposed were below the current TLV values. 11'. Polar Ice Core Samples . Samples of polar ice cores dated back to have been obtained from the Cold Reaion Research Labor.11 or i . Attempts are being made to deter mine the a.mount of asbestos fiber in these samples in order to establish the background levels of fiber 12. Fiber Analysis Techniques This is a continuing program in which we seek to improve the techniques for measuring the amount of asbestos fiber in the wide variety of samples we are confronted with. II. Jackson - Dtl March 30, 1972 Page 4 B. Cooperative Programs with Other Institutes or Companies 1. Inorganic Particles in Cigar Ash Thir was a brief study carried out in cooperation with the General Cigar Company to determine the nature and amount of diatomite and fibrous particles in cigar ash. The principal ingredient in which we were able to detect in the ash from a reconstituted tobacco leaf was some diatomite fragments. 2. Fibers in Talc To assist the Johnson & Johnson Company, we furnished information cn the identification of asbestos-formed minerals in talc. . .................... 3. McGill University Research Evaluation Program Our participation in this test was primarily in the furnishing of a fibrous dust for their study and a continued liaison on the test program. 4. Turner Brothers We have been working closely with Turner Brothers Associates jn England on various aspects of this problem. Considerable information relating to fiber analysis techniques has been exchanged and we have also cooperated in the analysis of samples from both laboratories. 5. Digestion of Lung Tissue As part of our cooperative program with the Mount hinui oroun, wo developed a technique for the digestion of luna tissue which would allow the lei-ovejy >d us her. ton and other minerals with the least amount of damage. 6. Asbestos _in_ Ambient Air All air samples collected by NAPCA in an isolated location in Frankfort, Kentucky were analyzed as part of a Round Robin Test. We found no significant amount of asbestos fiber in these samples and have not yet received any information on the results ob tained by other laboratories. H. Jackson - DH March 30, 1972 Page 5 C. Sample Preparation and Characterization for Medical Research 1. Dr. George Wriaht The majority of preparation used in Dr. Wright's program to determine the effect of fiber size and shape on fibrinogenic activities, were performed in our laboratories. These included natural chrysotile, synthetic chrysbtile, crocidolite and glass fiber. 2. Dr. flearl Stanton - National Institutes of Health Several fiber samples were prepared and characterized for Dr. Stanton's study-relating*W.-fch.e^crypgenic effects of fibrous materials. 3. Miscellaneous In addition to the intensive studies above, we have shipped samples to or characterized samples for the following medical researchers: Dr. W. E. Smith Fairleigh-Dickinson University Dr. Andy Reeves Wayne State University Dr. Ian Webster Pneumoconiosis Research Institute Johannesburg, South Africa Dr. R. E. G. Rendall I'm-'Utnocrm iur; i s Research Institute Johannesburg, South Africa Dr. Paul Gross Industrial Health Foundation J.J P. LEINEWEBER JPL/'mz cc: F. L. Pundsack S. Spoil