Document Lg5OYVdVb50NGgVzJ66GObRN7

SciE^CE 2 March 19901 Volume 2+7 Number 4940! Aawrtean AMocfetton lor th* Advanctownt of Scionoo Science Mfwt Hi rudn u locum (oc to* protontolion nd diieuuion ot import*!* tstuet roloted to the edvancemom oI (cieoco. including me presenlition of minority oc con tacting pcxnti Of view, nmec man by pu&kthing only molecial onuducbeconMniuthoibeencooctiod Aecocdingty. sH ctidoo publittied in Sdmco-cnctuding oddociott. newt and comment, and book ceviewt--ace signed and redact the indi vidual mows ot the authoct and not oOicial points ot view adopted by the MAS or Ihe institutions with which the au thors are alikatad fvbiahac: Richard S. Nicholson Sdbar: Oanet E. Koshland. Jr. Nano CdMar: Elks Rubinstein Managing Editor: Patricia A. Morgan Oafmy edhort: PhAp H. Abaison (engineering and Appted Seimoat): John I. erauman (Phyticel Sciences) EDITORIAL STAFF AasietaM Managing Editor: Monica M. Bradford enter EdNora: Eleanors Butt. Martha Coleman. Barbara Jaany. Katrina L. Kalner. Phillip D. Szuromi. David F. Voss Amclati Editors: Keith W Brocklehurst. R. Brooks Hanson. Pamela J. Hines, Kedy LaMarco. Linda J. Miller LeStors Cdhor: Christine Gilbert eek Reviews: Katherine Livingston, editor Conntouting Editor: Lawrence l. Grossman ChM Production Editor: Ellen E. Murphy EdRIng Oapertment: Lois Schmitt, head. Mary McDaniel. Patriot L. Moe. Barbara P. Ordway Copy Dealt: Joi S. Granger. Margaret E. Gray, MaryBeth Sherrte. Bevecty Shields Praductlon Manager: James Landry Assistant Production Manager: Kathleen C. Fithback AH OfeecSor: Yolanda M. Rook refilloa and Production: Holy Bishop. Juke Cherry. c-hatme S. Siskot ana Analyst: W*am Carter NEWSSTAFF Cervaefondanl at Large: Barbara J. CuMon Deputy News Editors: John M. Bendkt. Jean Marx. Coin Norman Nano and CommantHMtarxh Nawa: Mark H. Crawford. Csnmncf Holden. Richard A. Karr. Eliot Marshal, Joseph RMea. Robert Pool Leeks Roberts. Merjorie Sun. n. Micnp wwgrop urapaan Coneepondent: Jeremy Charles West Coast Correspondent: Marcia Barnaga UMNESS STAFF CtwntoMon Director: John G. Colton FuMItotent Manager: Marlene Zenden uekvaee Sts* Menegtr: Oeboran Rivera-Wienhoid CteeiWsd Adverttalng Supervisor: Amie Charlene King AOVBITISINa REPRESENTATIVES Otreetor: Eert J. Scherego TriHRc Manager Donna Rrvera TMHe Manager (Recruitment): Gwen Center AdvaHieing Salaa Manager: Richard L. Charles Marketing Manager: Herbert L. Burkkmd ' Employment Salaa Manager: Edward C. Kekar Salsa: New York. NY 10036: J. Kevin Henebry. 1515 Broad way 1212-730-1050): Scotch Plains. NJ 07076: C. Richard CaAe. 12 Unarm Lane (201-869 -4673): Chicago. IL 60914. Jack Ryan. 525 W. Higgins Rd. (312-685-8675): San Jose. CA 19112: Bob Brindley. 310 S. 16th St. (406-996-4690). Dorset. VT 05251: Fred W. OieHenbach. Kent HA Rd. (602-667-5561): Oemescus. MO 20672: Rick Sommer. 11318 Kings Valley Dr. (301-972-9270): U.K.. Europe: Nick Jones. +44(0647)52918. Teles 42513: FAX (0647) 52053. Mtormellon tor contributors appears on page XI ot Ihe 22 December 1969 issue. Editorial correspondence, including requests tor permission to reprint and reprint orders, should be sent to 1333 H Street. NW. Washington. DC 20005. Tele phone 202-326-6500. Advertising correspondence should , -nt to Tenth Floor. 1515 Broadway. New York. NY 10036. none 212-730-1050 or WU Telex 068062 SCHERAGO. o.- r-AX 212-382-3725. The Asbestos Removal Fiasco emoval of asbestos from buildings could cost as much as SSO to S150 billion. The Rcontent of asbestos fibers in the air of buildings containing asbestos is harmlessly small and essentially the same as in outdoor air.# Asbestos in buildings, unless damaged, does not shed fibers. The removal process releases asbestos fibers which could result in more cancer in the workmen than would have resulted in the usual occupants had die asbestos been left in place. A puzzling defect in federal legislation and regulations is an arbitrary lumping together ofdisparate minerals and calling the lot ofthem asbestos. As a result, chrysotile, a serpentine mineral, is tarred with association with the dangerous amphibole crocidolite. The two minerals differ in composition, color, shape, solubility, and persistence in human tissue. Chrysotile is a white mineral with composition MgiSi+OiofOHjg. It tends to be soluble and to disappear in tissue. Fibers tend to be curly and excluded from the periphery of the lung. Crocidolite is blue, has the formula Na2(Fc,+)2(FcJ+)jSigC>22(OH)i, and is relatively insoluble. It persists in tissue. Its fibers are long, thin, and straight and penetrate narrow lung passages. About 95 percent of the asbestos in place in the United States is chrysotile. Another puzzling defect in federal performance is failure to give sufficient weight to epidemiological experience relating to chiysotilc mines in Quebec. These mines have been operating since before 1900 and have produced about 40 million tons of chrysotile. In keeping with the lax practice of earlier days, mining operations were accompanied by large amounts ofchrysotile dust. Wives ofminers were heavily exposed; the)' dwelt in homes near the mines. Four epidemiological studies ofthe Quebec chrysotile mining localities show that lifelong exposure of women to dust from nearby mines caused no statistically significant excess disease. The Environmental Protection Agency has fostered die view that a single fiber can cause cancer. This hypothesis is unproven. Wc live on a planet on which there is an abundance of serpentine- and amphibole-containing rocks. Natural processes have been releasing fibers throughout Earth history. We breathe in about 1 million fibers a year. Another puzzle is a lack ofexpeditious effort by the EPA to obtain rigorous measures of indoor and outdoor levels of fibers. It is only recently that appropriate measurements have been made using transmission electron microscopy. Use of this equipment permits identification and quantitation of asbestos fibers. One would think that in a S50- to S150billion program the first priority would be an accurate assessment ofthe problem. This lack of concern about determining die frets of exposure is also reflected in EPA policies with respect to schools. Public and private schools arc required to inspect for asbestos and to inform parents if asbestos-containing materials are present. Schools must submit a plan detailing how they will deal with damaged asbestos. They can be fined SS000 per day for failing to meet deadlines. The EPA has recommended bulk sampling and visual inspection to determine a course of action rather than measurement of airborne levels of fibers. The removal process releases fibers into the air, sometimes creating greater concentra tions of them than before the abatement work began. Remedial workers are being exposed to high occupational levels. EPA itselfestimates that one halfofall asbestos removal projects are done improperly. Panic has not been confined to schools. Building owners broadly have been ripping out asbestos. Ifanything, the rush to remove asbestos is accelerating. EPA requires that asbestos be taken out of buildings before they are demolished or renovated. In addition, some owners have noted that the presence ofasbestos has made it difficult to lease, sell, or insure asbestos-containing buildings. The Environmental Contractor has published an estimate that this year S7 billion will be spent on asbestos abatement--an increase of more than 30 percent during 1989. The estimate for 1993 is SI 1.5 billion. The credibility' of EPA has already been damaged. Unless policies are modified, the sums wasted in abatement and litigation will proliferate. Regulations should be modified to take into account the greatly differing hazards ofthe various asbesriform minerals. Standards for indoor air should be based on actual measurements of types and amounts of fibers. --Philip H. Abelson 2 MARCH 1990 +B. T. Mossman ct el.. Science 247, 294 (1990). EDITORIAL IOI7