Document NG7kqjKOyv0ROdx6BwKOdB5EV

FILE NAME Lab Exposure LAB DATE 2018 DOC LAB001 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Abstract - Article in Medical Journal From Huff James NIEHS G huff1@niehs.nih.gov Date June 15 2018 at 2:38:42 PM EDT To Undisclosed recipients Subject Evaluation of airborne asbestos exposure from routine handling of containing wire gauze pads in the research laboratory Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology Volume 96 July 2018 Pages 135-141 Evaluation of airborne asbestos exposure from routine handling of containing wire gauze pads in the research laboratory Ediberto Garcia a Daniel Newfang a Jayme P.Coyle a Charles Blake b John W.Spencer c Leonard G.Burrelli c Giffe T.Johnson a Raymond D.Harbison a a Center for Environmental and Occupational Risk Analysis and Management Department of Environmental and Occupational Health College of Public Health University of South Florida 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Tampa FL 33612 USA b Bureau Veritas North America Inc. 3380 Chastain Meadows Pkwy Suite 300 Kennesaw GA 30144 USA c Environmental Profiles Inc. 8805 Columbia 100 Pkwy Ste 100 Columbia MD 21045 USA Highlights Wire gauze pads heating media were measured and found to be comprised 75 85 chrysotile asbestos Routine use of pads generates levels of airborne asbestos below regulatory levels Asbestos was not found in personal breathing zone samples Repeated heating of wire gauze pads may reduce asbestos content over time Abstract Three independently conducted asbestos exposure evaluations were conducted using wire gauze pads similar to standard practice in the laboratory setting All testing occurred in a controlled atmosphere inside an enclosed chamber simulating a laboratory setting Separate teams consisting of a laboratory technician or technician and assistant simulated common tasks involving wire gauze pads including heating and direct wire gauze manipulation Area and personal air samples were collected and evaluated for asbestos consistent with the National Institute of Occupational Safety Health method 7400 and 7402 and the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act AHERA method Bulk gauze pad samples were analyzed by Polarized Light Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy to determine asbestos content Among air samples chrysotile asbestos was the only fiber found in the first and third experiments and tremolite asbestos for the second experiment None of the air samples contained asbestos in concentrations above the current permissible regulatory levels promulgated by OSHA These findings indicate that the level of asbestos exposure when working with wire gauze pads in the laboratory setting is much lower than levels associated with asbestosis or asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma