Document O3OxjJEke47oMB8MpKed4d8ee

-* v7 . >. s PLAINTIFF'S i 1BACKGROUND INFORMATION - J^|V^R<3^338^` PROPOSED NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS: Asbestos Rok*v`Vjr,i (VWcury cZ*r*ss jpt g. tf?, zT- j?/r***- e ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Office of Air Programs Research Triangle Park, North Carolina December 1971 TECHNICAL REPORT NO. 1 - AS3EST0S.................'.................................................................. Summary of Proposed Standards ............................................................................ .T Effects on Health ............................................................................................................ Nature of Asbestos Air Pollution Problem ................................................................ Development of Proposed Standards............................................................................ Economic Impact of Proposed Standards ........................................................ ... References ............................................................................................................................ 3. 3 3' 5 5 7 8 TECHNICAL REPORT .`JO. 2 - BERYLLIUM.................................................................................... Summary, of Proposed Standards..................... Effects on Ktaltli............................................................................................................ Mature of Beryllium Air Pollution Problem ............................................................ Development of Proposed Standards ............................................................................ Economic Impact of Proposed Standards .................................................................... References............................................................................................... 9 9 10 10 12 13 14 TECHNICAL REPORT NO. 3 - MERCURY......................................................................................... Summary of ProposedStandards ....................................................................................... Effects' on Health............................................................................................................. Nature of Mercury Air Pollution Problem ................................................................ Development of Proposed Standards .... ................................................................ Economic Impact of Proposed Standards ..................................................................... References ................................................. 15 15 15 16 18 18 21 APPENDIX. ATMOSPHERIC DISPERSION ESTIMATES ................................................................. 23 111 INTRODUCTION f i.j i.ltlT j'1 IWtiS UlaiKhj^ 'jwirJ .W J *, .< J b rf11 i *" . -. J '..'JT i r J t i VM 0 1.0 L/'..f.v0Cd national emission standards for asbestos, beryllium, and mercury. The proposed standards, publisncd in the Federal Register under Title 36 CF3 Part 62, are being ciscributod concurrently with this document. The information presented he-ein was p.-eoar.u "or tne purpose of facilitating review and comment prior to promulgation O'" the scat.oarus. Tr.e proposed natiji'cl emission standards -ere developed after consultation with approeriatc aaviscry co;vr,i ttees, indc-percent experts, and appropriate representa tives of tne Federal government. The '.'ctional Air Quality Criteria Advisory Com mittee r.as ruen consulted on air quality considerations, the assessment of adverse effects, and tr.e approaches and protective philosophy underlying the proposed standards, Members are outstanding scientists end/or administrators concerned with t.'.e r.ua'ity cf the environment and resident in universities, State or local govern- research Institutions, or industry. They are selected for their recognized expertise and/or interest in the establishment of air quality criteria or for their recognized expertise in the evaluation and interpretation of scientific evidence indicative of adverse and preventable effects of atmospheric pollutants. r.evio..- meetings were held with the Federal Agency, Liaison Committee and the national Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee. The proposed standards reflect consicercticr. of cements provided by these committees and by other individuals .saving knowledge regarding the control of these pollutants. Tr.e .National Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee is'made up of 16 persons w.-.c are knowledgeable concerning air quality, air pollution sources, and teonr.olocy for the control of air pollutants. The membership includes state and local control officials, industrial representatives, university professors, and engineering consultants. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator pursuant to Suction 117 (d), (e), and (f)-of the Clean Air Act of 1970, Public Law 91-604. In accition, persons with specific expertise regarding these pollutants participated in the meeting of the Advisory Committee. Tr.e Federal Agency Liaison Committee includes persons knowledgeable concerning air pollution control practices as they affect Federal facilities and the nation's corr.srce. The committee is made up of representatives of 19 Federal agencies. 1 ".ere stringent cr.:sji.';n 'v ror these doilutants. Further- stirrlorils thefnselveo -".y require revision from time to time t a.1 PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT TECHNICAL PizPORJ NO. 1 ASCESTGS i SUMMARY OF PUG/GfuD STANDARDS Because routine, tt: '.dardized ce-.iiniques f sampling and analyzing j.-.hestes emissions ore net aval iable, wo.ic ': <i t uriearos Tor asbestos are not given in terms of numerical values. Instead, i:.: slandards re expressed in terms of required central practices tnc 1 \r,\*. .m'-izsior:- :; an occu.: .:! e level. In part, control of atmospneric omissions would be ;JiA. ,: by: L'ti 1 it ing :;vns fir! '.;*ic filt.r: to clean rorctid exhaust -.-uses from asbestos mining miilinc, end manufacturing industries end from fabricating operations that involve materials containing asbestos. 2. Eliminating visible emissions of [.articulate matter from ore dumps, open storage areas, extern.-.! conveyors, and tailing dumps associated with esoestos .Tiring and nil ling facilities as well as frem manufacturing and faoricating operations carried out with asbestos-containing materials in areas-'directly open to the atmosphere. 3. Prohibiting certain applications of asbestos fireproofing and insulation by spraying processes. _ Also, indirect atmospheric emissions of particulate matter would be controlled at * manufacturing and fdoricating sites where visible emissions normally result from l s i no ercial asbestos. The maximum allowable emissions would be equivalent to these attained by either ventilating an entire work space through a fabric filter or by hooding emission sources and subsequently passing the required dust-control air through a fabric filter. EFFECTS ON HEALTH Tr.e inhalation of asbestos fibers has been related to a number of human diseases. Among tnese is asbestosis, which has been related to occupational exposures and is characterized by interstitial fibrosis, pleural fibrosis, and pleural calcificationJ 3 a tS j; v.e pleura, winch has been noted iii asue'.tpf workers, typically i _:w_r ...T c*;i.ct:g perioc or tiiite .o. iuwtiHj c/-po;>--ru ui.a ;s frequently accom,vd :.>y ;! ..cry fibrosis, i.e., asbestosir.. The asbestos dosage that causes .r..; iu i i 11... li.)ri has not I;ncn establish^!; however, nenindustr id 1 iy exposed .:,pulat.i>nv nave c.-.iiibited substantial incidences of such disease.-*^ I I: :..is c,:or: -.i-ccgniced since 194? -that among industrial enulcyees astestos workers ...a ..,.;rpi;.o r:tk of bronchogenic earclntwa* ` for bdcblitiun', exposed to -sc::*.;: tr.ly in lent air, there era r.o data that define the excels risk, if any, *V C ' V J : 'j r .j V'^S *'* i t>Cr JSC . An esiociuttcr. toasbestos exposure and mesothelioma, a fatal malignant tumor ,,f '.o :;lo..ra :.e.*itcr.eui:;, '.-.as established in rjoO by j study of ?3 cases of r.esotn..; i/-.. :r. South Africa."* Seventeen of the patients were occupationally -xpost.:, t::-J l-l res; '*.o in the vicinity o.'-._n asbestos nine. No history of asbestos expo.-re v..s ..covered for one patient. A sui.sequent study of mesothel iomal malignancies identified patients with minir.nl or no known exposure to asbestos. The existence of . prolonged period, averaging 40 years, between initial exposure and apcoarcnco of - mesothelioma! tumor complicates the study of this disease. There ore r.c d,,.to z-.ut sc.cify the minimum amount of asbestos exposure associated with or. ;r..:rjose.; risk of developing mesotheliema. n quantitative definition of the asbestos air pollution problem can not be formulated -t tr.is time oeoause of the lack of a dose-response relationship between levels of airborne asbestos and the resulting human diseases. Nevertheless, available evidence clearly implicates asoestos as a serious air pollution threat. This evidence includes tr.e discovery of asbestos fibers in lungs of nonoccupationally exposed persons,* the c.alitative demonstration that asbestos fibers are present in ambient air,5 and the cited epidemiologic studies relating asbestos exposure to disease. Ac-searc.n efforts directed toward the establishment of a dose-response relationship for human exposure to airborne asbestos are in progress. The only measure available at this time to protect the public health from airborne asbestos is to control asbestos emissions to the greatest degree practicable for the following reasons: 1. A safe exposure level to asbestos has not been established. 2. Exposure to asbestos in community air may produce disease. 4 J. / l t \* jw . J ..* ' !+- Asbestos i .jer:; enter the atmosphere from a wide variety of sources extending from ..r.'j /.'.j.enG disturbance of natural deposits of aa-lestos-hearing materials to r vi ^ tne Ultimate c.r r; jjuvli .^w.ai.' w.g 7:_-.iI:...- is ~' z jt i o n 5 ou reus include asbestos mining and milling sites, manufacturing facilities r\-r ssLOstos-containing products, and construction sites employing asbestos i ns !.-:;> i:.g, r;reproofing, and structural materials. More than 3,000 products contain r.:-. cic . _vae-.tcs. As these products are used, asbestos is frequently <*-s i r. c-.-m' ft- -V..'SP''o.tng these products are automotive brake linings and a sees to.: asoh-.lz concrete for paving roadways. Asbestos is also present os a ratural con- ii-i-.t in ;r.io t.-ettoiy employed Materials, ouch as talc. The asbestos emissions r: us-:- cf tl.ose 'ateria Is con be significant.. i-ecau;.:- astsstes is exceptionally resistant to thermal deqrad.ition and chemical at..a'-cltd particle* are persistent in fi e arnvtror.ment sr.g subject to reent- .'.op :r.t.-j *>.-. .-:t;.r.>s': core-. It com readily to mechanical iy subdivided in to f!bor: ai :c".icror. , which can remain airoar'-; for long noric ls cf ti;r. These ....p.rc, copsiud wip.h the presence c. icrn-j rr-.-ors of fission source:., as not : ccov-i, would iridic ate tire presence of a background level of asbestos in the atr.s- p-r.erc. Semiquantitative data confirm this conjecture and show that urban oackgi ound co; :cr.tratic.-.t ' "e significantly larger than nc-nurbnn f-nas. -sce-scos emissions are now being controlled to a limited extent, primarily from milling coo .manufacturing sources to which gas-clcaning devices are readily appli cable. The formulation of recommended codes of trade practices governing such operations as the transport, fabrication, application, and disposal of asbestosczr.Zai ni n r.dtcj riels has not proved to be an effective emission control technique. Control of asbestos emissions from some sources, for example, spray-applied asb.m'os -ireproofing, has been made possible by the use of substitute materials for asbestos. It is alsG true, however, that there is interest in expanding the already vast fiumoer of applications for asbestos fibers. DEV5LOP.V.SNT OF PROPOSED STANDARDS Tr.e intent cf these proposed-standards is to minimize asbestos emissions into the atmosphere from all clearly identifiable stationary sources, subject to the availcoilizy of a sufficiently definitive characterization of emissions from such sources and subject to the availability of feasible control techniques. Where practical, chase control techniques include direct prohibition of activities that generate asbestos emissions. ata; vj ........ --*i: -- -vc/'ui i c inanu.a operations c incorporate commercial asbestos into products have been identified as significant -'wss'fen sources.v Those, is vtl: as tue mrt-frv. awn:; fact** i:v til iti--. : other asbestos-containing products, would be subject to these proposed s\.ur/lards. From among the many end uses cf asbestos-containing products, a positively small number has to date been singled out as contributing significantly to the ovc'.ill profiler! of air pollution. The field fabrication of asfcestos-beurin < product;-, particularly insulating materials, and the spray application of asbestos fire proofing are two specific o/ta uses that would bo controlled l-y th-: proposed sU'fd- -rds. Tr.e direct i irr.s uttion of ascestos emissions from mobile sources, such as those associated witn th-.* wearino of automotive- brake linings, the transport of ashescos- containing materials, and the dispersion of powdery csbestos-cearinj materials frcti vehicles, lies out-s'.uo the authority of Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. A proir-sm for determining the extent and nature of asbestos emissions from utiioiioti vc- brake linings is now in progress in the Office of Air Programs. Other asbestos emission sources are now vv;.?r study tor passible inclusion within proposed standards at a future date. Inc'iuvou in -best studio:, pro rjp-jv/ays p:.< cl with as Vistos-asphalt concrete and calc mines, in wnich asbestos occurs as a natural contaminant. Current standardized measurement techniques for asbestos, namely those for testing occupational asbestos exposures, are not designed for isokinetic sampling, which is necessary for tne detsrmination of the asbestos content of forced-gas streams, f-rthar, these methods fail to take into account large numbers of asbestos fibers present in the samples. At least three ambient air sampling and analysis techniques, ..r.icf. employ electron microscopy to render visible even the smallest asbestos fibers, are currently undergoing development. To date, these methods are capable of provid ing -estimates cf asbestos mass concentrations, but not number concentrations of asbestos ficc-rs in unprocessed samples, and reproducibility of results obtained by t:.u throe methods has not been established. Until these new techniques are perfected, emission control must be based upon the best feasible control technology. Accordingly, tne proposed standards would require the operation of specified control equipment. Faerie filtering devices have been specified as the mainstay of these standards because they possess (1) demonstrated high-efficiency collection across a wide range of solid particulate sizes and (2) reasonable investment and operating costs. It is prudent to require control techniques that provide high collection efficiency for suoi-icron-size particulates because research studies have shown that the lamest number of asbestos fibers in emissions generated by some industrial G -r\ -,< -' 1 f*"r~ ''< ^ac 11 i *: 1 ?? , ttiiu Sor*'.; operations routinely recycle filter-cleaned air for ventilation of work soccas. lii exceptional operations amenaole to ssion con'.rol by gas cleaning, out ;v;jre tgcnV.cu cnrriaui t;es preciuae tne a^_-. '.quo on or latrio liters, these standards would sennit the use of other control eg air went of somewhat lesser arficiency. T.:o pneposes nogolotions that would prohibit visible emission:', apply to sources not rc-acily toi.tre; led oy gas-cleaning devices. Flo>*; ility with regard to choice and dev-.-lr-.y ut of sr; most *r 'active control technique:. vouid be provided in that the proposed st--noo.'os ..'sulci not specify control equirv.-jnt. The exception cf uncombined water fro.* t::a ' :onibition would be made to accomodate situations in which water would te used at a control i'.'.'dicm. Processes the: are properly operated could be controlled cy feasible tachr.i ques to secure ccrril ian-'e. The surfacing one r ".-.surfacing of roadways wi th as bastes tailings would be banned because of the* probable ineffectiveness of control measures during both application ar.J a r. ox untied period of usage. The proposed ban on the spray application of prcc-cts t/.ot contain asbestos is based upon experience with spray-fireproofing operations wherein efforts to control emissions by the use of containment and good newsaheaping practices have repeatedly failed. Several large municipalities in the tlniteo States have already put into effect procedures that exclude the use of sprayec asoestes materials. Asbestos-free substitute materials are available for botr. sprayed asbestos fireproofing and high-temperature asbestos insulation. 2ZC\Ct.MC IMPACT OF PROPOSED STANDARDS The oasic processing of domestic asbestos ores is carried out in nine mills with pro, Paction capacities ranging from 200 to 65,000 tons par year. These mills produce oporcximately one-sixth of the total consumption of asbestos in the United States. Tr.e estimated additional annualized costs required of these existing sources for com pliance with the proposed standards range from zero to $5.96 per ton of asbestos fioer produced per year; this represents a range of zero to 6.7 percent of the average selling price per ton of domestically produced asbestos in 1969. The average investment, for the entire industry, is estimated to be $0.78 (0.9 percent) per ton of asbestos fiber produced per year. Actual investments range from $2,780 for an essentially uncontrolled mill of 200-ton/year capacity to $183,000 for a partially controlled mill of 40,000-ton/year capacity. 7 - I 'J A i. !*5, a actional investnjnt of ;s es-i^tod to lie required to '.rir.g existing, partially contra!*.' s;-rr.us ":-p1 vtt:.-: with the pr^oroc^ " * *-.- -.-fcf - . "** '** '> * * * ll ^ V * . . i ...* f - - + .^ . - 'to , ore duct output, or an annualized cast of 0.3 percent- of the output product vril.o. Ir cut.s of alterations in product price, cr.ere would result an overage incr'.v.-' of percent; one most significant increase would be 2.6 percent for asbes'.;=, r. r _r pf'CwUCuS. f Tf.c u)'.: of astestss in spray-appiiod fitvprocfir.g and insulation represents '. ors.v : cutely 0.2 percent of she annual domestic t ... uTotior. ef -vsbostos. No r. ;'.r irpaC: or. tbs price of asbestos or upon precuc. rs of asbestos sold r.f..i t ..re prohibition on spray application ; asoos.:-s fireproofing ai-:> insu1 :.ti: furthsr, incrc-a-od costs for subr.cifu.e -.or i a is, tvai Ishie or sen?'!" led v.ir* irt'o- di.ctior. in one ivar future, rvi.-r .to a to a -xiuiim- of ip percent. Tf.us-? of truss aabrstss-freo substituv: materials dsos no-: r-p-urt new- pcuipmanl or erf u.siv-i ri;*.ii; r-c c: personnel. l>, sit c 1. Airborne Asbestos. National Academy of Sciences. Viashington, D.C. 1971. 2. Aivilnoto, ?-. fleural Calcification r.r. a Re.-ntva idlcgic Sinn of flen-Occu?.' tional Er.aamic Antnophyllite-Ashestosis. Act Radiol., S'dppl. 1, 154:1-57, If;.". 2. Zolov, C., J. Dourilkov, and L. Eabjov Pleural Asbestosis in Agricultural '..'orfxrs. Environ. Res. _1_(2): 237-292, 1957. 4. "'.rev.etr.er, E.R.A. Asbestosis and carcinoma of the lung. In: Annual Rupert of to-; Cr.ief Inspector of Factories for the Year 1547. Loudon: H. H. Stationary Office, 1949. 79 p. 5^. Sullivan, R.J. and Y.C. Athanassialis. Preliminary Air Pollution Survey of Asosstos. SHE'.-.', PHS, CPEHS, National Air Pollution Control Administration. Raleigh, N.C. Publication No. APTD 69-27. 1959. 6. Asbestos. In: National Inventory of Sources and Emissions. W. E. Davis and Associates. Leawood, Kansas. Report to National Air Pollution Control Adminis tration. Durham, il. C. Contract No. CPA 22-C9-131. February 1970. 45 p. PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT / (io)