Document Neqv8NDDRrpy5RQy3NjJZvq8R

wrg C1C84 Johns-Manville RESEARCH & ENGINEERING CENTER P. O. BOX 159 MANVIllE. N. J. 08835 TELEPHONE: 722-9000 AREA CODE 201 m April 16, 1969 Mr. Peter Kostlc Safety Administrator Dewey & Almy Chemical Division V. &. Grace's Co. 62 Whittemore Ave. Cambridge, Mass. 02140 Dear Pete: Attached Is a copy of the report Issued by the State of California Department of Public Health concerning an industrial hygiene survey they made at the Beverly Hills High School construction site. During this survey they studied the application of your fire retardant material "Monocote" to structural "I" beams. I would appreciate If you would call me with your comments, after you have had a chance to read this report. Very truly yours. EMF/ems Attach. Edmund M. Fenner, Director Environmental Control C1CQ6 ' SXAft OP e*ltfOWWHBUJW AHB WBJAM AOtKCT DEPARTMENT OF PUBUC HEALTH ; Bureau at Occupational Health' 1449 Temple SC., Suite 106 Loa Angeles, California 90026 MUMS UAOAM, 6mm rbcbvhj tx, NOV 22 19ft November 22, 1968 r; California Zcnolite Company 738 Colorado Boulevard r. Los Angeles, California 90041 Dear Sirax i; Enelosed Is a copy of the report of our industrial hygiene study of exposures to asbestos dust at the Beverly Hills High School eenscruotien *Xe* this study vaa aade at the. request of Che California Division of Industrial Safety. ft'- V . vT'/.' . . ' ;> i:\ *i \ v The operation studied involved the application of a cementitious ` fire retardant material, Monocote'*', to structural M1N beams by means of a pneumatic plaster gun assembly. .Atmospheric concentrations of asbestos* - containing dust were found to be low on a count basis. However, on a weight . . basis, exposures were found to exceed our suggested Threshold Limit Value for asbestos dust. Therefore, because of the added carcinogenic properties of asbestos, recommendations for additional personal protection are offered in tills report. We wish to thank Messrs, lay kothfalder and Doyle D. High far tlielr cooperation during the conduct of this study. Very truly yours, Thomas H. Mllby, H.D., Chief Bureau of Occupational Health I 9. HPB/ld ' Hector P. Mejer, M.D. , D.I.H. Medical Officer jlAlt Of CUKOKNtfc-HCAUM AMO WtVAIl ACXNCY ONAUt Urf*' DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH 1449 Temple Struct, 4106 Los Angeles, California 90024 * t' . 4 '' . 4* Vv-.* V.j . . l ' v. -' * i0; \* . : *;; Report. of an Industrial Hygiene Study sc Bsvorly Hills High School 241 South Moreno Driva Bavarly Hills, California Study Ho* t S-2058 Report data* Hovoabar 22, 1948 Study requested byi California Department of Industrial Halations v. Division of Industrial Safaty Study eonduotad by* ' California Dapartaant of Public Health ... " * Bureau of Occupational Health & Environmental Epidemiology . . ` Mr* Paul E. Caplan, Industrial Hygiene Engineer **J* *'*-*' .L . ,*t ' .; lo* Angeles County Health Dapartaant V. ' ". . Division of Occupational Health :l S; ' . . V \ Hr. Mark Bent, Industrial Hygienist ** H l` Vi-i* i and eV : .. :r---.--: \V4*V;- .a . . * - California Dapartaant of Industrial la 1stions iV/j * Division of Industrial Safaty V . .. Mr* Jarooa Eisan, Industrial Hygiene Engineer :}'y- 4 .. * 4 * 4to^, ` , * *-: . *. in company withi , ** ,/;*. V* ?**#*. V* . > *4 * * . *. L t. . . CaliforniaZoaolita Company Mr* Hay Hothfelder and Mr. Doyle D. Nigh . : -;v C". !- * *" , California Division of- Industrial Safety % V Mr* John A* Elliott, Safety Engineer V -.- - . '* P.'.v and .% , ........ V > * . Orange County Plastering Association Mr* Ed Hadoaacher t 4- On September 12, 1968, an Industrial hygiene study of exposures to asbestos dust vas conducted at the building construction site of the Beverly Hills High School. The operations studied involved the application of a cementitious fire re sistant notarial, tfanocota (&), go structural beasts by means of a plaster gun assembly* Relative to the pulmonary fibrosis hasard, atmospheric concentrations of asbestos- containing dust wore found to be low. However, because of the added eareiaogenlo properties of asbestos, recommendations for additional personal protection are offered in this report. General Operations At this nev high school building construction site, a fire-proofing material, Monocote^11', manufactured by the California Zonolite Company, vas applied to structural "X"^beams, as a vet slurry, by means of a pneumatic spray gun. During this application, the spray gun operator received an inhalation exposure to the oloud ' of dust and spray vhlch bounced off the surface being eoated. The soray contained a mixture of voter, vermiculite, gypsum, and asbestos. The Monocote(X) mixture vas * formulated outside the building, by dumping several bags of the dry mix into the hopper of a mixer, adding vater and then mixing. In turn, the resultant slurry vas pumped under pressure through a hose to the point of application. Sampling Procedures Work atmospheric exposures fco the Monocote.S0n0/ mixture vere evaluated by collecting air samples simultaneously by 2 different methods: vith all-glass midget impingers and with high volume filter paper samplers. The impinger samples vere analyzed for dust concentration bv count, using the Standard light-field technique, recommended by the Asarican Conference of Governmental HygienistsCl) (ACCXH). High- volume samples vere analyzed bv weight. :bv gravimetric techniques. All samples vere taken: at the operator's breathing zone during 2 different normal vark procedures: indoor spray application and outdoor batch mixing. ' ft) Material samples of dry Monocote' mixture and vet slurry vere collected directly from a bag and from the discharge of the pneumatic spray gun, respectively. These vere analysed for asbestos content by the X-ray diffraction technique in the// Air and Industrial Hygiene Laboratory of the State Department of Fublio Health, Analytical Results Chemical analyses results of material samples are shown la Table X, .. . - /.'.> r.-\.A.v:% r .r>.! -?'** ` ',:C' v-. fc, v?;< ... .v,.. ..... ... ' V 7 . V -1 '. : ' '' . f Scud/ No* ,S20M No. ;l 2 TABLE I Composition o Material Samples Location and Tvoe of-amole Asbestos content - % Remarks Dry mix, directly from bag of "Monocota" * *. '' . ix '. Close to "stated" composition of California Zonolite Corp. Vet slurry. directly from pneumatic spray gun less chan 1 Apparently, the presonce of Che asbestos is "masked" by the gypsum or vermlculita. Results of the atmospheric samples, taken at the main eonstruetlon alto and at tho hopper loader, are sham in Tablo II* . Toxicology and Hygienic Standards ' * * - *' Lons, continued excessive Inhalation and lung deposition of asbestos can i result in a severe form of pneumoconiosis known as pulmonary asbestosis.2*3,d In it, the most marked damage is an irreversible scarring or fibrosis of the lung tissue; asbestos bodies being found there and also In the sputum* Advanced pulmonary asbestosis is a crippling and fatal disease. Relative to this dust*s pneumoconiotic effects, the AGGIH has set a TLV* for asbestos of five million particles per cubic foot of air (mppcf). Recently, in addition to typical pulmonary asbestosis, ie was established that branchial carcinoma, pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas (cancers of the lung and of the lining of the lungs and abdominal cavity, respectively) are also associated vith exposures to certain kinds of asbestos dust. Evan more recently, malignancies of other organs---ovaries and intes tinal tract--have tentatively been .similarly linked:. In the 1968 "Transactions of the ACGIH"1, attention is called to the very real probability that the TLV of 3 mppcf is inadequate to give complete working lifetime protection against all forms of asbestos-produced disease* Thus, the ACGIH now recommends a lower time-weighted "Threshold Limit Value (TLV): As defined by the American.Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the TLV refers to the time-weighted average airborne concen tration of a substance, and represents conditions under which it la believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse effect* It should be used as a guide in the control of health hazards, sad should not be regarded as a fine line between safe and dangerous concentrations* Study Mo* S-2QM 4* TLV oa a count: basis oC 2 mppcf* vieh a "Ceiling" TLV of 5 mppcf--Che latter noc co bo exceeded ever for shore periods of time* (Moca: eha exact dose-and-effect .rolacionship relative to eha eancarous effaces of asbestos has not been determined yae. Currently* occupational hygienists, toxicologists and physicians continue Chair research td*-do Carmine that relationship.) v .* ; *> For silica--onothar subseance causing wnatmncenlosls. but vlth no . known carcinoganie effaces--the ACCIH has set TLVs aft count) and ana weight? basis. For asbestos* howsvor. no linic on a waithe basis'has baenvboeciM.ca'lly suggastad. /rat^auch a weight-has is Hygienic. Limit for asbaseos is nocassary due to eha difficulty in identifyGg^ics fibers during microscopic counting* Asbestos fibers have unique physical and toxicological properties: they'can subdivide almost ad infinitum* and* once inhaled* penetrate to the innermost pulmonary tissues ; and lining surfaeos. As wall* asbestos is fibrogenie and carcinogenic* A eonsar- ' vacivo viov would bo to consider asbestos at least as tox.ie as silica dust. Since voight-fcasie-TXA for pure silica dust has been set at 0.3 milligram patrouble aster of air (mg/M3)v an appropriate weight-baala TT-V SieMid--least--also be 0.3 mg/M3. This also takas .into account the factor that any dust in which *asooscos is identifiable should be considered as pure asbestos* (More than 3%) Discussion and Recommendations * *- The results of air sampling in the main spray application area and the hopper loading area should be compared with the above mentioned TLVs. It will be observed chat (1) by count, the average dust concentrations at both locations did noc exceed the TLV of 2*0 mppcf* and that by weight, all of the dust cmcentrations exceeded the TLV of 0.3 mg/>P# It appears, therefore* that exposures are suffi ciently high to warrant control of the inhalation of large asbestos dust particles** For the most effective control of this dust* respirators should be pro vided and worn: these respirators should be approved by Che U.S* Bureau of Mines for protection against pneumoconiosis-producing dusts* As mentioned, the exact dosage relationship between inhalation-exposure to asbestos and all forms of asbestos-produced disease'is not known precisely* particularly so with respect to lung and other cancers* Tha conservative approach* therefore* would be to reduce all inhalation exposures to a practical minimum* For this reason* we strongly recommend that any exposure to asbestos dust* both in hopper loading and in spray application* be minimised by the use of respirators approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines for protection against pneumoconiosis producing ." dusts* .' . Report prepared by *. / v.. .v ^ "` PEC/Id , - Paul E. Caplan Sr* Industrial Ryglane Engineer .i ' - > : * ..:. ,1* , [oft? -V -( ' : Atmospheric Concentration o Monocota ) Duse Looseiaa - "* Operation AttBM. appef Heasrks i.a. Insids bldg* < .,.. .a.1naasncaffold. Applying s Monocota by . . spray gun . t *** * * "Y 'V b. Inside bldg.' Applying r'l-' . on scaffold. Monocota -1 nan. V' by spray gun ! i. Av. exposure . t. X l* Peak exposure r i.o . 5r . * t: : OBZ^^ normal / =6.2 i-:\ '* operation. nossleac aadlua .speed 0.73 & 0.70 ; 0.8 ; 1.0 ': 3.1 4 . . 3.8 V /4,5 Jx2 OBZ, noraal operation, nossle ae medium speed ; ./j . a 2. Oucsida bldg#. \ by aixar '..hopper,' 1 f 1 van * Av. exposure Peak exposure loading hopper with 4 batches' of..Mo. n o cota! fw\` -*:;'". * 1 * 1 *;**, : 0.7 h:) 1.4 . *** ? 1.4 J 9.9;ve<-i7' .v..1:;/J 1.2 5.7;-_;i;; 1.4. . y,x.v OBZ, normal operaeion.. low wind * r*v^:oondlcloo 'I,*-. ;- S . *. ' -. i 4 ' ' I. Hygienic Seandards for /r*y*y ' Asbescos Duse (eoune basis) . ",.v Threshold Llaie Valua{v.)^ Threshold Liaie Value (peak)^ * 2.0 5.0 / \ - :*. 1.7' *. v - '.`cr if'-' * *V . u t .*. rfc:r. i ii/. . |.|.v--..V * 'I.i 1- f ;** V* 1,* . . VC . i. . % * . .* v. ! ^ .v:V.* *x*** /vi *;V' ^1*;; .li. ?*: *t/.4'" -. .'****r`l :r .. . ni-rrr.esced TLV iwaiahL-Uasiv)" .Cs- -V-..,,. . fV 0.3^ ? *s *: e . r (greater chan 3X asbestos) ' V.* I '* ..... %' y-rr'X (1) appef - Billion particles per cubio foot of air i=V- ' t^rvL'' .(2)' mg/H^ - milligram per cubic aster (3) OBZ - Operator *s breathing sane ' . . . ; ;* . j \ )?y?'*.V- \ V "*i ; V;' V .'*!'A^-v. vv'2  s-2038 L. . * 1 4. mit Y,;* : t t.* I . -- .* *-: -A REFERENCES V *^ 1 ` 1*. Transaecions of the National Confaranca of. . l i Govarnsancal Induscrial Hygienists, 1942, . *,.# ,**'.* r.' ?: . I'r'-' ! j ; . .. 2, DocuaanCaCian of Threshold Lisit Values, / *> : . *. . ' Rav. Edition. Cosalttaa on Thraahold v''./.- /.../-'::'" - Lisle Valuas, Asarican Confaranca of : ? :;;V". Govarnsancal Industrial HygianisCs, 1961. 3. Hyglanic Gulda Series - Asbestos, .. * Asarican Industrial Rygiana Association* . * . * 1 ` 4. Threshold Lisle Valuas for 1968, Adopted / V at tha 30th Annual Haating of tha VI*.- -i-v .. Asarican Confaranca of Govarnsancal ' Industrial HygianisCs. May 13, 1968* 3* ' Transactions of tha 30th Annual Maaeing : of eha Asarican Confaranca of Governmental. ; v* a * V . .* ' ' \ . .%... I .* .-V J.* . .v .. 1* ..'a**. "TO -V f ^ : '1 ` . . " ",! , :v.' V. ' '-* . : .. jv'/V/rVi 8;`:' / ' W V., -.XT':"-.' . -V-V'* :V Y V. ' ' ,v ' *****'* " v-`' /T:.W.-r...^ ' .. .;='. . 1 "* * m5'.,'o: rr.'.-v.a.; ,--y ` /' V; /: *V " . . . .*'. '* `r`- 1' i*'. ` t' ^ .' \\ * . . ' ' " . ***. *.* i / * . .i i > *.