Document LovgY0ZNKvRGy11aMxQq3woZd
T<tr- XTl/P
CONTP.OI, OF AShCS'nC'K FIL`KR EMISSIONS FROM IHDUFTRJ AX A.NP COMVrt'CT M. SOURCES
i PLAINTIF||'S: 1 EXHIBIT
JM-168W^
William B. Reitze
Harold Romrr
Director - Fielu Set.____
Assistant coim ss ioni-i
Environmental Sciences '.aboratory Department of Air Rcnoerrc:
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York City, H. Y.
E. M. Fenner
D. A. Holaday
Director of Environmental Control Asaociatc Professor
leihns-Uanvl) ] o Corporation
Mount Sinai School of Medici:
Manville, N. J.
Hew York City,
Y.
Asbestos has been termed the magic mineral and it is truly just that. In the United States alone there arc over 800,000 tons used in thousands of different products. These products run the gamut from every day floor tile and brake linings to the more exotic heat shields for moon rockets. Asbestos, like almost all products used in our modern technology can, if improperly handled, producehealth hazards for those people occupationally exposed to it.
Asbestos related diseases have been known in occupa tional groups for some years. The first case of asbestosis (extensive pulmonary fibrosis) was reported by Montague Murray* in 1907, although it fcsr.'1. t..lil 1730 in Greet
2 Britain that Merewether and Price first identified ( asbestosis as a major health hazard for workers exposed . to the dust. Subsequent studies dealt primarily with factory populations. More recently, investigators have studied workers who handled asbestos products outside the factory environment.
Asbestos related disease among the shipyard workers 3 4-7
was well documented by Harries and others. Seiikwff
and coworkers have studied asbestos insulation applicators
ir. the construction trade. His work not only confirmed
asbestosis findings but pointed to an increase in in
cidence of bronchogenic cancer and pleural and peritoneal
mesothelioma.
These reports dealt with occupational exposure -
either factory or among certain segments of the construc
tion industry. During the 1950's investigators began
studies of.selected non-occupational population groups
and their relationship to asbestos related neoplasms.
89
10
Kiviluoto and Laamanen of Finland, Thomson and
Vagner** in South Atrica, Newhouse and Thomson11* in London
as well as investigators in the United States have pub lished reports suggesting a higher than normal rate of certain diseases among people living in the vicinity of some asbestos factories and mines.
While much speculative material has been published on the potential health hazards of asbestos in the ambient air to the general public -- those people not occupationally exposed to asbestos, and not living in the vicinity cf asbestos plants and mines -- the limited factual data collected leaves us with many unanswered questions. What is the present level of asbestos fiber in ambient air? What are the large sources of fiber emissions into the air? What are safe limits of
- 3-
asbestos fiber in urbirr.t air? When we speak of asbestos
fiber as a causal agent m neoplasms of what sire fiber
are we Kne^Vv'""' * r~ *-r - - -.V
, -...........
Studies are currently underway seeking 'nf-'ers to
these questions. Sore much needed information will not
be available for :ivt.i,,: jCa.i., In the meantime, it would be advisable as a precautionary measure to take
steps to reduce the amount of asbestos fiber that is
permitted to enter the ambient air. There are five major sources from which asbestos
fiber enters the air - (1) mining (2) milling (3) manu facturing (<) certain segments of the constr,ictie-n indnsrr
and (5) naturally occurring sources. The first four are created by modern man's technology and the last by nor
mally occurring changes in our environment.
First let us consider mining, and milling. Since
most of the asbestos mined in North America is taken from
open pit-mines, the problem of controlling fiber emis
sions into the ambient air is difficult to solve. Listed
in the charts below are the chief operations in both the
mines and mills and the chief methods of control cur
rently in use in North America.
4
HINIfiG OPEN PIT
3ri llir.g
Blasting
iatcriul Handling Shovclma
Material Handling
handling
Roadways
'
tfaste disposal
Small bag collectors
Water
No knm1" method for efficiently con trolling emissions to ambient air
Filtered air cab (protects worker only)
The ur.r of water to soak piles of ore is sometimes used
Filtered air cab (protects worker oniy)
Covered load - canvas
Road stabilization program - oil chemical water
Tailings are covered with earth iciuie&ration
Control methods in certain mining operations leave much to be desired. Methods for controlling emissions from blasting are virtually non-existent. Dust controls in material handling still need considerable development.
5
Crushing
Ore drying
Miliinq
-
Classification Air Separation
Packaging
Solid waste disposal
MILLING
Bag Filter* - a cyclone may be used ok o aiiiui; Cwi*ww'.cr
Bag Filter - a cyclone may be us< d as a primary collector
Baq Filter
Baq Filter Baq Filter
Tailings are covered with earth reforestation
* Filters usually enclosed in a negative pressure baq house.
The technology to effectively control asbestos mil
ling emissions is on the shelf. Bag filters with an ef
ficiency in excess of 99% are readily available. Recent
discussions regarding the relationship of bag house ef
ficiency and fiber size have pointed up the need for more
data from the medical community regarding the biologic
activity of the submicron asbestos fibers.
Much of th"
o* srbestc* fiber from manu
facturing operations result from efforts to improve work
ing conditions within the plant. The material collected
from the work place must be disposed of in such a way as
to prevent its escape to the ambient air.
The chart below list* some major operations which arc- comnor. to production lines using asbestos.
MANUFACTUP'*'1". Asbestos cement products - floor tile - friction material, plastics. etc.
Dry and/or Wet Mix
Pressing Moulding Forminq Drying t
Curing
Finishing
Packaging t
Shippinq Warehousing
-
Bag opening Bag dumping Bag disposal
Wet stock Wet furnish Wet furnish
Little or no dust generated during operation
cutting grinding sawing, planing xoutinq bagging
Boxing
Raw material Finish product
Enclosure or hood to bag house. Wet scrubbers are also used for. dry mix
No dust Slurry - no dust Slurry - no dust
*1
Enclosure or hood - to bag house Primary cyclone may be used
Pickup point to bag house
Vacuum sweeper to disposable bag
With few exceptions the negative pressure bag house is perhaps the unit wi choice tor asbestos fiber control in a manufacturing process. A high efficiency (991+) is necessary for adequate control.
MANUFACTURING Asbestos Textile
Carding Willowinq
Enclosures, hoods or pick-ups vented to bag house
Weaving Fpinning
Twisting
Certain operations may be performed while the fiber is moist thereby reducing dust.
Material handling Bag opening
Bag emptying Bag disposal Bins Bobbins Spools
Enclosure or hood to bag house
----
-
---
--
In textile manufacturing emission control is slightly different in that much of the dust can be supressed by use of water in the weaving, twisting, and spinning phases. Asbestos textile processing is still the most troublesome of the manufacturing operations involving asbestos. CONSTRUCTION USES
The bulk of the asbestos used in the world is consumcd by the consti-ct-.... industry. Steam pipes and boilers re insulated with a calcium silicate material containing 5-15% asbestos fiber. An asbestos fiber containing cement is used to plaster boilers, breechings and reactor ves sels in chemical plants and oil refineries. Asbestos con taining board is used aboard ship for fireproof bulkheads.
In aplte of the fact that the construction trades use many dozens of asbestos containing products, the use of most of these products (those with asbestos "locked-in" by plastic or cement) Cuucnbutes very little to ambient air pollution.
6 Selltoff has pointed out that use of asbestos con taining material creates a severe health hazard to the insulation worker. This occupational hazard is largely due to the fact that the material becomes airborne, in an enclosed area. On the other hand, this very fact works against asbestos fiber entering the ambient air. Often, when an attempt is made to reduce asbestos health hazards in the work place, such as air removal from a ship's compartment or an insulation fabrication shop, the dust ia not collected but released into the ambient air. Any time asbestos containing material is removed from a work place, extreme care should he taken to prevent its escape into ambient air. Bag house collectors are available which collect dust from fabrication shop machinery and deposit it in a disposable plastic bag. Perhaps one of the greatest sources of asbestos fiber emissions to ambient air from certain construction applications arises from poor house keeping on construction sites. Sawdust and scrap from the cutLing and fitting of calcium silicate block arm pipe covering are scattered about building sites. The material is then ground underfoot or truck tires and carried away.
A small portion eventually becomes airborne. Control
methods for this type of emission demands care, common
sense and good housekeeping practices rather than
sophisticated d-jst ..
L^-ipf/*:nt.
10
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A sbestos c o n ta in in g b u ild in g m a te ria ls
SPHAV APPLICATIONS During the 1960's the use of asbestos in fireproof
ing spray application has increased yruatly. The use of fireproofing spray has many advantages for the designer the builder, and the consumer. The designer is able to design U building more pleasing Lo the eye, Luc builder saves construction time and the consumer public enjoys a 6afe, economic building. Advantages arc accompanied by disadvantages. The application of sprayed mineral fiber containing asbestos as presently done in the United States contributes large quantities of asbestos fiber into the. ambient air each year. The spray applica tion of insulation is described in detail in a paper by Reitze, Nicholson, and Selikoff13 now in press. Briefly,
the method is as follows: A commercially prepared dry mix is emptied into a hopper and pneumatically conveyed to a nozzle. At the nozzle the material is mixed with water and the resultant material sprayed upon the sur face to be fireproofed.
In another application method the material is mixed with water and the slurry is pumped to the point of application. These materials are applied to structural steel members of high rise buildings, columns, spandrels, bar joists, etc., as well as the steel ueuking between floors. In most cities throughout the United States readily visible quantities of asbestos containing
- 12 -
material are added to the ambient sir during this spray
application. Since May of 1970 when New York City
introduced stringent regulations governing the spray
operation, great ,
been made it, be-
potentially effective control procedures.
Paragraph 2 of the orders issued by the New York
Citv Commission of Air tcesources read as follows:
2. The entire floor, or the part of the floor to
be insulated shall be enclosed with, plastic or
other approved tarpaulins in a manner which shall
preclude the escape of asbestos-containing material
from the enclosure. All interior open areas,
such as elevator shafts, stairwells, etc., shall
be enclosed in a manner which shall prevent the
escape of asbestos-containing material from Uie
working area. "Stack effect' of the shafts,
stairwells, etc., shall be considered in providing
proper enclosures. An enclosure will be considered
satisfactory only if visible insulating material cannot escape from the enclosure.**
Canvas or plastic is used to enclose building perimeters, stairwells and elevator shafts. Special tarps have been made on a customized basis to accommodate the different column and spandrel placement. Wnstc suterial is promptly shoveled or vacuumed into plastic bags for disposal.
1J
. Oth<r me* hr,dr fr r control of emissions fror _ pr.iy art- currently being wr r>.cd or.. A method of pre-damping the : j I :; r..:'.?riiii . developed by Turner-Howel 1 Company in i ng i .in:, 1 r. ?;r:i r.tly being studied for possible od.ip 1 u: : <: ft. A-e.-iTar methods. Manufacturers arc alterin; fore.u 1 acior. ir. order to reduce asbestos fiber content. .
Nevertheless, despite these advances, i! must be considered that methods cf controlling asbestos filer emissions from construction sites are still in the developmental stage. COST
Cost of asbestos fiber control varies greatlyThe type of control units needed in milling and manufactur ing, i.e. - bag house, carries a moderate to high cost particularly in initial investment. However, one should not lose siyht of the fact that many collection units also serve to collect product and material that can be returned to the manufacturing process. Cost of con trol in the construction industry is far more difficult to determine. Many of the control procedures are very simple in themselves b'- ---------`'c;1 involve 'ci-V. proof ices the supervision must be close and constant. The cost of control in spray application must be viewed in proper perspective. The comparison of costs between a spray job with proper control messvrcs and one without such measures does not reveal the entire picture. When evaluating spray control costs, the cost of a steel and
reinforced concrete building which use* no Bpray should
properly serve as a base line.
EMISSIONS FROM NATURAL SOURCES If we werfi -v. 1 ^ .-'Htain 10n* --. ' --* :rrc t--.'
asbestos fiber from entering the ambient air from mining,
milling, manufacturing, or construction processes it may
bo that wo would still have fLor from natuially occur
ring sources entering the atmosphere. When we test for
man-made sources of fiber pollution, we must consider the background levels which nature might contribute to
the ambient air.
In the United States asbestos fiber occurs in al most all of the 50 states. When Mr. Henry W. Johns,
founder of the Johns-Manville Corporation, needed material
for his roofing business in 1879 - the asbestos fiber
he used came from workings in one of New York City's
boroughs. Asbestos fiber outcropping can still be found
in the confines of New York City.
"'se areas of the
world where serpentine rock abounds, such as the
Appalachian Ridge, are particularly rich in asbestos. All serpentine rock contains minute quantities of
asbestos fiber. Asbestos from these naturally occurring sources
may enter the ambient air in several ways. Exposed
rock surfaces are subject to wind and water erosion. Rock slides may contribute asbestos fiber to the
ambient air. Finally, when serpentine rock is crushed
and used for road construction, it may contribute to the
fiber found in ambient air.
15
SUMMARY Asbestos is not only extremely useful but in some Sleds highly essential to our life. But. like n.st other agents used today, asbestos can, if improperly handled, produce adverse effects upon our health. With certain exceptions the technology to control asbestos fiber emissions into ambient air is available; it only need be applied. The most notable exceptions where practical solutions still need considerable develop ment are - (1) open pit mining, (2) certain segments of the construction industry.
ABSTRACT
The body cf 1 r. f orn-i * i c" presented ir. this pjpcr : . directed
to enginer-rr. <-ngicjr'd ir. industrial control or govvirentai
enforce'*''r.t act i v: t;r . ohn rhief flourepf; of
emi s s i onr.
ing, manufacturing a:.d ccrtuir. segments of the construction
industry arc discussed and currently accepted methods of
control are given. While present technology ir. aicqurtc -
if properly applied - for milling and manufacturing operations,
much mere work must he don* t-.o develop adequate pollution
`
controls for open pit mining and certain types of construction
work. One of the newer sources of emission in the- construe > -....
industry - spry application of asbestos containing material -
< i- detail. The problem ot asbestos released to
ambient air from naturally occurring sources is mentioned.
The conclusions reached indicate that with time, effort, money and a lot of ingenuity, the amount of asbestos fiber released to ambient air can be substantially reduced.
biblioc;<a: ::y
1. Murray, H.M., 1 *07 In Report of the Departmental Committer on Compensat ion for Industrial Disease. Minutes of r.v i Oi-nc' , Appendices and index: c.d. 3495, c.d. 3496 Wyman and Tun:;, London, England.
2. Mereweth^r. F..P.A. -.J n-'-e r.w., ]9m o . -* -- v-*r-*r of Asbestos Dust on the Lungs and Dust Suppression in the Asbestos Industry, Her Mnqestys Stationary Office
3. Harries, P.G., 1968 Asbestos Hazard in Naval Dockyards. .K...n..n.... E,E-,,,.r. U..7..~. 1 1 . 1 1, e*,, rV
4. Selikoft, l.J., Churg, J. and Hammond, E.C., 1964 Asbestos Exposure and Neoplasia. J.A.M.A. 188:25-26
5. Sclikoff, I.J., Churg, J. and Hammond, E.C., 1965 Relation Between AsLcstoo Exposure and Mesothelioma. New tng. J. Kcd. 272:560-565
6. Selikoff, I.J., Churg, J. and Hammond, E.C., 1965 The Occurrence of Asbestosis Among Asbestos Workers in the United States. Ann. of the N.Y. Acad, of Sciences 132:129-155
7. Hammond, E.C., Selikof, I.J., Churn, ,i, 1965 Nosnbsi.i Insulation Workers in the U.S. With Special Reference to India Abdominal Neoplasia. Ann. of the N.Y. Acad, of Sciences 13?: 516-525
9 K'"4 lotto, r.tisu, 1565 rieural Plaques and Asbestos: Further Observations on Endemic and other Non-Occupational Asbestosis. Ann. of the N.Y. Acad, of Sciences 132:235-239
9. Laamanen, Aruo, L. Noro, V. Raunio, 1965 Asbestos Air Pollu tion. Ann. of the N.Y. Acad. Sciences 132:240-245
10. Thomson, J.G., 1965 Asbestos and the Urban Dweller. Ann. of the N.Y. Acad, of Sciences 131:196-214
11. Wagner, J.C., 1965 Epidemiology of Diffuse Mesothelial Tumors: Evidence of Air Association From Studies in South Africa and in the United Kingdom. Ann. of the N.Y. Acad. o Sciences 132: 575-578
12. Newhouse, Muriel L. and Thomson, H, 1965 Epidemiology of Mesothelial Tumors in the London Area. Ann. of the N.Y. Acad. Sciences 132:579-588
13. Reitze, W.B., Nicholson, W.J., Selikoff, l.J., 1970 Applica tion of Sprayed Inorganic Fiber Containing Asbestos: Occupa tional Health Hazards. In press
14. New York City Department of Air Resources Regulations, 19/0, In The Matter of the Spraying of Asbestos- Containing Materials Commissioner's Order
coMiso;. or anu.n n:ov inijistuial and cca^lkcial soruo.r,
V.: 111 ,in n. I;ci t /c
Di r^t i ! - 7icl;! Sivulics
r.nvi iojw-* M
* ! :.`.^rctory
iU>unt Sinai School of HudiCine
r. r.. Kcitiii'r Director of Environr.c.Unl Control Ju!ui-a!.t(ivi 11 Corporuiion tlanvillc, K.J.
li.'.rold howrr Asaiainnl Cotin. KMnntr T:, ` r .. -*)u New York City, N.Y.
D. A. Jioloday Aasoelato Professor Mount sinoi school of V.edjcino New York City, N.Y.
-VrtL , y^o the nagic mineral arid it 1b irt lrv ^V\\V>^
^ ,, aiono there arc over 800,000 ton
Css^
roducts. Tho products run the gam-
MJkv
brake linings to the more exotic
v^S ...bottos, like almost all products
technology can, if improperly handled, produce
health hasards both for those people working with it as rol1 as
the general population in araaa where asbestos la carelessly
handled.
Asbestos related diseases have been known in occupational ,
groups for some years. The first case of asbostosls (extensive pulmonary fibrosis) was reported by Uontaguo Hurray 1 in 1906.
Early studios dealt primarily with factory populations. More
recently, Investigators have studied workers who bandied asbestos
products outside the factory environment.
Asbestos islated disease among the shipyard workers was well
2 3*6
documented by Harries and others. Sollkoff
and covcrkcrs
have engaged In soma very cownrahensiye studios of the construc
tion trodoa. Hi a work not only confirmed aabeatoala finding! but
pointed to an Increase in incidonce of bronchogenic cancer and
-2 -
There are live major sources from *hich asbestos fiber enters Cs/rSOuun
* the air - <1) mining (2) milling (3) manufacturing (4)^construc-
tion ty^rtas and (5) naturally occurring source
__ ^
The fir*l fr>r
are created by modern man's technology and tho laat by normally
occurring changes In our environment.
First lot us consider mining, end nulling. Since nor.t of the
ssbostoi mined in North America is taken from open pit mine0., th<
^ #
.
I
'^i0
pr^l'lo;:. <>i controlling f;h<r cruj*si>ns Into tho er.M M a; r li difficult to solve. LiMi/d j r, the charts below arc the chief operations in both the- r-; r.cs an,f Rills and the chief methods of Cor' roi c.iM`n;!iy in vise in K'< Ih Amorjra.
rl as l i;,,,'
orr.aii oa^ collectors v.'alcr
V. kno.-.r, r.tif/i'! for efficiently contjollin;; emissions to ambient air
Material Handlinn Shoveling
Filtered air cab (protects worker only)
The use of water to soak piles of ore is sometimes used
Itaterl al Handl ing Filtered air cab (protects worker only)
Hand)ing
Covered load - canvas
Roadways
Road staballzatlon program - oil chemical tor
Waste disposal
Tailings are covered with earth - reforestation
Control nethods in certain alnlng operations leave such to AAJs
be desired. Methods for controlling emissions from blasting
virtually non-existent. Dust controls In material handling still
need considerable development.
Crushing Ore drying Mi 1 4 lig
Bag Filler - n cyclone nay be used
collector
a primary
Dag Filter - a cyclono nay be ubctl as a primary
Collector
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 --P, * -- kvf
Cl nr.nlflcalio;. Air Separation Bag Filler
PjcltDKJns
Pag Filter
Solid waste disposal
Tailings ore covered with earth - rcforcslaiion
Filters usually enclosed in o negative pressure bog house.
The technology `to effectively control csbestoc Billing emo tions is on the shelf. Das filters with an efficiency In excess of 90% ore roodily available. Recent discussions rccardinc the relationship of bag house efficiency and fiber size have pointed up the need for sore data iron the nedical cooaunlty regarding the biologic activity of the subolcron asbestos fibers.
Much of the emissions of asbestos fiber froa aanufacturing opsrations result froa efforts to improve working conditions within the plant. The material collected froa the work place Bust be disposed of in such s way as to prsvent its sscspe to
Tho chart below lists too* major operations which are common to production linos using aabostos.
MAXUFACTUJtlKG
Acbcslos Cwenl products
Dry and/or Vat mix
Dag opening Bag dumping Bag diapoial
4*wm>j- tile - friction matorinJ * piaMica, ca.
Enclosure or hood to bag house . Wet scrubbers aro also used for dry mix
Pressing l~uld*r.g Forming -
Wet atock Wet furnish Wet furnish
No dU* Slurry - no dust Slurry - no dust
Drying A
curying
Little or no dust generated during operation
Finishing
cutting grinding saving, planning routing
Enclosure or hood - to bag house Primary cyclone may be used
Packaging
Bagging
Pickup point to bag bouse
Shipping
Boxing
Haw material Finish product
Vacuum sweeper to disposable bag
With tear exceptions the neestlve pressure beg house is perhaps the unit of choice for asbestos fiber control In a eanufacturlng process. A high efficiency (99V) is necessary for adequate con-
U(mv:
Spinr.::) rvistir.;-
-6
HAN wAi i NG
A- M.-mn***. *T< \1 1 lr : .-..i 1- ...res, huod:. or pictmns vrni fi t.. bjj
} Ct.Ttuin operations r.a'1 be jK.-r/orraed *hk)* b
j fiber m moist thereby reducing dual. i
lr. textile manufacturing emission control Is slightly dif ferent in that much of the ih*M cm b" surf****-*e*J- by u^c cf . in the weaving, twisti.xg, and spinning, phases. Asbestos textile processing is still the most troublesome of *he nsn.ioper ations Involving asbestos.
CONSTRUCTION USES The bulk of the asbestos used in the world is consumed by tho
construction Industry. Steam pipes and boilers are Insulated with calcium silicate material containing S-15% asbestos fiber. An asbestos fiber containing cement is used to * breeching* and reactor vessels in chemical plants and oil refin eries. Asbestos containing board is used aboard ship for fire proof buiwheads. In spit* of the fact that the construction trades ust many dossns of asbestos containing products, the use of poet of these products (those with asbestos "locked-lr/' by plastic or cement) contributes very little to ambient sir pollution.
Sollkoff ha* pointed out that uao of asbestos containing
atcrlal croatca a aevero health hazard to tho Insulation worker.
Thia occupational hazard is largely due to tho fact that the
material become* airborne, in an enclosed area. On the other hand,
this very fact work*
..Lv.vut nocr entering me amoicni
air. Often, when an attempt la made to roduco asbestos health
hazards In the work placo, such as air removal from a ship** com
partment or an Insulation fabrication shop, the results are
disadvantageous to the ambient air. Any time asbestos contain
ing material Is removed from s work place, extreme care should
be taken to prevont its escape Into ambient air. Bag house
collectors are available which collect dust iron fabrication shop
machinery and deposit It In a disposable plastic bag. Perhaps
oj\ of the greatest sources ol asbestos fiber omissions to ambient A3
sir from construction application.arises from poor housekeeping KA
on construction sites. 6aw Ht ar.d scrap fiom the cutting and
fitting of calcium silicate block and pipe covering are scattered
about building sites, the material Is then ground underfoot or
truck tires end carried away. A small portion eventually become**
airborne. Control methods for this type of emission demands care,
coaaon sonso and good housekeeping practices rather than sophis
ticated dust collecting equipment.
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sri-\Y app:.t;.: During tho 1^00'$ lie use of asbestos in fireproofing spray
appl) ca t lor. 5.ns increased greatly. The use of f 1 reproof ir.j spray has r.nr.y advantages for thu designer, the builder, and the consumei'. The designer Is able to design a building more pleas ing lo Ihe rye, 1 he builder saves construction . . ' *"! 11consumer public enjoys a safe, economic building. Adv:.ntj;.( arc accr.mpan,cd 1 y disadvantages. The application of sprayed mineral fiber containing asbestos as c**''**"*'' y done in the United States contributes large quantities of asbestos fiber into the nr.bicnt air each year. The spray application of insulation is described in detail in a paper by Rcitze, Nicholson, and Selikoff ** no>-
in press. Briefly, tho method is as-follows: A conuaerc: r.l ly
prepared dry mix is emptied into a hopper and pneumatically
conveyed to a nozzle. At the nozzle the materiel is cixcq witn
water and the resultant material sprayed upon the surface to be
, fireproofed.
.
In another application method the material is mixed with
eater and tho slurry is pumped to the point of application.
' Those materials are applied to structural ateol members of high
rise buildings, columns, spandrels, bar joists, etc. as well as
the atael decking between floors. In most cities throughout the
United States readily visible quantities of asbestos containing
, material ere added to the ambient air during this spray applica
tion. fines May of 1970 when Sew York City Introduced stringent
rcul*tio** Iovamini the spray operation, treat progress ha
been made In developing potentially effective control procedures.
Paragraph H of the orders issued by the Sew York City
.
Cooelesion of Air Resources reads as follows:
10
2. The entire floor, or tho part of the floor to be
insulated ahull bo enclosed with plastic or olhor ipprowd
tarpaulin* in * manner which shtll preclude tho o*cspo
of AsbcstOA-containinc msloria) from the enclosure. A).
- interior open area*, auch as elevator shafts. *t*ir<lls,
otc., shall bo oncleacd In a Banner which shall prevent
the escape of asboalot-contolning Material from the work
ing area, "stack effect" of
shafts, stalrwo)!*, etc.,
shall be considered in providing proper enclosure*. An
enclosure will be considered satisfactory only If vlaiblo insulating material cannot escape from tho enclosure. *"*
Canvas or plastic Is used to enclose building perimeters, stair wells, snd elevator shafts. Speclol tsrps have been mado on a customized basis to accomodate the different column and spar. irel placement. Waste material Is promptly shovelod or vacuumed into plastic bags for safe disposal.
Other methods for control of emission* from spray are current ly being worked on. A method of pre-damping the fibrous material, developed by Turner-Newel) Company in England, is currently being studied for possible adaptation to Amorlcan methods. Manufacturers ere altering formulations in order to reduce asbestos fiber content,
Nevertheless, despite these sdvsnces. It must be considered that methods of controlling asbestos liber emissions from con struction sites are still In the developmental stage. CO&f
Cost of ssbestos flbor control varies greatly. The type of control units needed in milling snd manufacturing, l.e. bag house, carries a moderate to high cost - particularly in initial investment. However, one should not lose sight of the fact that
many collection unit* also aorve to collect product and materiel
that can be roturrfd to the manufacturing proceaa. Coat of con
trol In the construction industry la tar more difficult to
dotcnainc. Many of tho control procoduroa are very aiaplo in
thonsplvcs
i'iiit they lavolvo work p>
tVc sup-.
vision must bo close and constant. The coat of control in spray
application oust be viewed In propor perspcctl'c. The compar
ison of costs between a spray jod with proper crntrol measures
and ono without such measures does not reveal the entire picture.
When evaluating spray control costs, tho cost of a rninforccd -t* tn*^
. concrete building which memo no spray should properly aorve ss
a base line.
EMISSIONS rPOM KATUBAL SOURCES
. If we wero eble to obtain 1(10% control and prevent eeboatua
fiber from entering the ambient eir from mining, milling, manu facturing, or construction processes it say be that we wuuio
till have fiber from naturally occurring sources entering the
i atmosphere. When we test for man-made sources of fiber pollution,
wo must consider the background .levels which nature might con
tribute to the ambient air.
In the United States asbestos fiber occurs in almost all of tbs 90 states. When Mr. Henry *. Johns founder of the Johns
, - Kanvilla Corporation needed material for bis roofing business
` la 1S79 - tbs asbestos fiber ha used came froa workings in one
of Haw Tork City's boroughs. Asbestos filter outcropping can
' still bo found in the confines of Hew York City. Those areas of
rj -
the or)d tthcro '?rpor.t in< rock Mtom::;*, such as the Apylachiob Rid;:c, arc particularly rich in cibcstofi. All serpentine rock contains tr.inuii- quai.l it ` of asbestos fiber.
Asbestos frow these n.aurally nrrurrin& sources rnv the ambier.t air ir. several ways. exposed rock surfaces are subject to wind am* voter erosion. I'nrk slides wav contribute asbestos fiber to the ambient oir, Vn. .llj^ whrn erpcr.tjr'''1 rock is crushed nd 3Cu for road construction, it nay contribute to the fiber found in onbient oar.
. SUMMARY
Asbestos is not only extremely useful but in some areas
highly essential to our life. _But, like most other agents used
today, asbestos esn, if lnproperly handled, produce adverse
effects upon our health. With certain exceptions the technology
te control
fiber emissions into ambient air is avail
able; it only need be applied. The
most notable excep
tions where practical solutions still need considerable devcl-- t CurCcicni J&sgjrrssrnt*.
opaent re - (1) open pit mining, (2 ^construction industry.
AnSTMCT
Tlii' hotiy of information presented in thia paper i* directed
to ci:,.iiicvrs o:pin industrial contr^' or nvern-.ent^i cn-
fu: ci
yCUviiu-s. The chief sources of fiber emissions arc
lisle.';
rvulwated. These sources, i.c. mining, milling, mann-
cs/?Crw* -AajaTroLTjb < c?ru
fori..: *r.^ andA r nr. *>t rjctinn,
dVac ussed ar.ti currently accepted
* v- y
r.eihod* of control are Riven. While present technology is
adequate - if properly applied - for milling and i..anuf actnn nj;
operations, much more *ork must be done to develop adequate
OL/fcwn
o
pollution controls for open pit mining and construction work. A
One of the newer sources of emission in the construction industry
sprav application of asbestos containing material - Is discussed
in detail. The problem of asbestos fibers released to ambient
air from naturally occurring sources is mentioned.
The conclusions reached indicate that with time, effort,
money and a lot of ingenuity, the amount of asbestos fiber releas
ed to ambient air can be substantially reduced.
DlhUOftRArifY
1. Murray, #4 19G7 Ir* Report of tht- D<*pai-t&.rnl al C0rjr.1t tee-
on Corr.p4naaUon for Industrial Disease. t^nules of Evidence,
App'*ndi cor ar.d
c.U. 3105, c.d. 3 ;ju Wyman and bona,
London, England
2. llarntf., P.C., JOGS Asbestos Hazard** in Naval Dockyards. Ann. Orcuy. Hyg. 13:235-145
a. Scllknff, 1.3., Chur;:, 3. and Har-j-nv.d, V..C. , if*ui As.i* avoa Dtposurc and KcoMasia. J.A.*1 A * an .yr
4. ScllkofX, I.J., Churg, J. and Hanv.ond, F. C. , 1005 Relation Setwoen Asbestos Cxpo.uj-c and Mesothelioma. No Lrt;. 3. M.u. 272:560-565
5. Sclikoff, I.J. , Churg, J. and Harr* and, L.C.,
fnc
Occurrence of Asbcstosis Among Asbestos Workers m the United
States. Ann. of the K.Y. Acad, of Sciences 132:13*`-155
6. Hamcond, E.C. , Sclikoff, I.J., Churg, J. , 19G5 Neoplasia Anon^
lnsulotlon Workers in the U.S, With Special Reference to Indiu
Abdominal Neoplasia. Ann. of the K.Y. Acad, of Sciences 132:
516-523
.
7. Klviluoto, Raimo, 1865 Pleural Plaques and Asbestos. Further
Observations on Endcsilc and other Non-Occupational Asbestosls.
Ann. of the K.Y. Acad, of Sciences 132:235-239
..
8. Lsssianon, Aruo, L. Noro, V. Raunlo, 19GS Asbestos Air Pollu tion. Ann. of the K.Y. Acad. Sciences 132:240-245
8. Thomson, J.G., 1965 Asbestos and the Urban Dweller. Ann. of
h* K.Y.
0* Sciences 132:196-214
10. Wagner, J.C., 1965 Epidemic-logy of Diffuse Ucsothelial Tumors: Evidence of Air Association Proa Studies in South Africa and in the Unitod Kingdom. Ann. of the N.Y. Acad, of Sciences 132; 575-578
11. Kewhouse, Muriel L. and Thomson, B., 1965 Epidemiology of Jfenothellal Tumors in the London Area. Ann. of the K.Y. Acad. Sciences 132:579-588
12. ftoitso, W.B., Nicholson, W.J., Selikoff, 2.J., 1970 Applica tion of 8prayed Inorganic Fiber Containing AK*t#'**
* * tlonal Health Hasards. In press
12. New York City Department of Air Resources Regulations, 1970, In lb# Hatter of the Spraying of Asbestos-Containing Material Cowlsalon*r's Order