Document XO38ojVYpMe7rnGJVeOGVzrvy
FILE NAME: Kelly Moore (KM)
DATE: 1975 June
DOC#: KM022 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Report - Airborne Fiber Counts for Paco Textures Company
AIRBORNE FIBER COUNTS for
Paco Textures Company Los Gatos, California
Date Sampled: June 12, 1975 Date Reported: June 30, 1975
Samples Collected By: H. B. Rhodes Union Carbide Corporation
Samples Analyzed By: B. L. Ingalls Union Carbide Corporation
Reported By:.
H. B. Rhodes Union Carbide Corporation
KM 01235
Union Carbide Corporation
Metals Division Niagara Falls, New York
PLAINTIFF'S
EXHIBIT
/
OBJECTIVES
il. To measure the airborne asbestos fiber counts during the mixing and spraying of ceiling texture spray.
2. To compare the asbestos fiber counts for products containing Canadian grade 7M05 asbestos and Canadian HPO.
DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION
The tests- were carried out at two locations in Los Gatos, CA. In each case, ceiling texture formulations differing in the type of asbestos used were sprayed by the same operator under very similar conditions. The first series of tests was typical of the small, custom operation while the second was more representative of large "mass-production" type procedures and equipment.
In the first sequence.(Pyramid Painting and Drywall), the operator added four 3-pound bags of Decotex containing 5.2% of J/M 7M05 Canadian asbestos into the top of a small "Spray Force" mixer-sprayer with a capacity of^90 gallons. Approximately half of the ceilings in a large single-story house were sprayed with this mixture. The tank was then washed out and 4 bags of Decotex containing 4.1% of "Calidria" HPO Were mixed and sprayed. The mixture ran out before the spraying was completed and two more bags were mixed.
Personal samples were taken on the operator during each main mixing and during each spraying sequence. The two bag supplementary mixing was not sampled. The wiper was sampled during each spraying. One area sample was taken in the opposite end of the house during the spraying of the Canadian .containing material.and the initial part of the Calidria containing operation.
The second sequence was run at another location in Los Gatos with a large truck-mounted spray unit. Four bags of Decotex containing ^2% HPO were added to the mixer which was already partially filled. The ceilings in a complete house were sprayed. A 12-bag blend of the same Decotex blend containing^2.5% Canadian 7M05 was then mixed and sprayed on the ceilings of a second house. These blends contained an additional pound of styrofoam and were thicker than that used in the first location. There was some problem with the spraying of the Canadian containing material and working pressure was reduced from 120 to ^70 psjg. There was still more fine overspray than with the Calidria based product.
Personal samples were collected on the spray operator during each ... mix -and during each spraying sequence. Personal samples were collected on the'wiper during each spraying.
KMX 00164
SAMPLE EQUIPMENT AND TEST PROCEDURES
Sampling and dust counting were carried out in accordance with OSHA Regulation 1910.1001, using the Bayer, Zummalde and Brown method for counting asbestos fibers by phase contrast microscopy (Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health, Feb. 1969).
Battery-powered air pumps (M.S.A. type), calibrated to 2 liters per minute, were used to collect personal breathing zone and environmental samples on Millipore membrane filters of 0.8 micron porosity.
Fiber counting was performed on a Nikon phase contrast microscope at 400X utilizing a Porton reticle for sizing and field definition.
Two results have been reported for each sample - they are:
1. Total Fiber - Any material longer than 5 microns, having an aspect ratio greater than 3:1. This number will include the asbestos fibers as well as other particles which meet the fore going criteria. If tremolitic talc is present in the sample, the tremolite "chips" and anthophyllite impurities (if present) would also be in this category.
2. Chrysotile. Asbestos Fiber - Any fiber longer than'5 microns, having an aspect ratio greater than 3:1 which, in the judgement of an experienced operator could be chrysotile asbestos.
COMMENTS
The OSHA regulations permit a maximum limit of 5 fibers greater than 5 microns in length per cubic centimeter of air..sampled on an 8-hour, timeweighted average s(TWA)v This .allowable'level-will be reduced to -2~fibers/cc on July 1, 1976. The formula C-1.T,l__+__CcT,,Z + CnTn describes the TWA where
IT C = fiber count in fibers/cc and T = time.
The regulations also stipulate a ceiling concentration of 10 fibers/cc greater than 5 microns which is not to be exceeded at any time..
TEST RESULTS
The details of sample collection and resultant fiber counts are listed in the attached table.
00165
SUMMARY OF FIBER COUNTS
Sample No.
Air Sample
Time
Minutes
First Tests - Pyramid Paint
B-08
8:26-8:36am
10
B-02
8:40-8:56am
16
B-03
8:56-9:04am
8
B-05
9:04-9:19am
11
9:15-9:16am
--
B-07
8:40-9:00am
20
B-06
9:02-9:26am
24 '
B-04
8:50-9:07am
17
_______Operation Description_______
Airborne Fiber Count
(fibers/cc >5y)
Chrysotile
Total
Asbestos
Personal sample. Operator (.Ray
3.7
3.2
Struve) mixing 4 bags of Decotex
ceiling spray. Contained'-'5.2% of
Canadian 7M05, limestone, California
talc, kaolin clay and polystyrene
aggregate. Actual handling of
asbestos took 2 minutes. Remainder
of time used in wetting and mixing.
Personal sample. Operator (Ray
1.8
1.6
Struve) during spraying Canadian
containing blend. Spray on for^12
minutes. (Canadian asbestos)
Personal sample. Operator (Ray
3.4
2.7
Struve) mixing 4 bags of Decotex
ceiling spray. Contained^4.155 of
"Calidria" asbestos HPO. Other
ingredients same as for sample B-08.
Personal sample. Operator (Ray
0.9
Struve) spraying texture containing
HPO.
Operator mixed two bags of HPO based material. This operation was not sampled.
Personal sample. Helper (Bill Under wood) wiping overspray on walls. (Canadian asbestos containing spray.)
No Sampled
1.0
0.8
Same as B-07. During spray of material containing HPO.
0.7
' 0.5
Area sample. In opposite end of
0.6
0.4
house during spraying of Canadian
containing material, between opera
tions, and the start of the "Calidria"
containing material.
KMX 00166
umraary of Ftber Counts - Continued
- 2-
Sample No.
Air Sample
Time
Minutes.
Operation Description
Airborne Fiber Count
(fibers/cc >5u)
Chrysotile
Total
Asbestos
Second Tests
A-67
1:30-1:53pm
23
Personal sample. Spray operator
1.8
1.5
(Bill Lowe) mixing 4 bags of Decotex
containing 2.0% HP0. (More styrofoam
than AM samples.) Other ingredients
same as B-08. Actual dumping took
*3 minutes.
A-19
l:53-2:30pm
27
Personal sample. Operator spraying
1.2
0.9
one house (^20 minutes spraying).
A-69
2:21-2:35pm
14
Personal sample. Spray operator
0.9
0.8
(Bill Lowe) mixing 12 bags of Decotex
containing '2.5% Canadian 7M05
asbestos. More styrofoam than AM
samples. Other ingredients the same.
Actual dumping took ^10 minutes.
A-89
2:36-3:12pm
36
Personal sample. Spray operator
1.6
1.0
(Bill Lowe) adjusting sprayer and
spraying second house with Decotex
containing Canadian asbestos. About
27 minutes actual spraying.
A-97 - 2:00-2:34pm
34
Personal sample. Wiper (Bill Brede- 1.1
0.8
hoft) during spraying of HP0 contain
ing texture (1st house).
A-100 2:25-3:16pm
51
Personal sample. Wiper (Bill Brede- 0.9
0.7
hoft) during spraying-of-Canadian -
asbestos containing texture (2nd house).
KMX 00167