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' Mi JhL M. Jhm u_________________________ y____________________________________________________________________ Exclusive^ Beware of Brake Dust! ost mkcijanich no about the task of Mcleuning brake and dutch dust knowing that while lining the jolt they are inhaling Home of thin (hint. It him been general knowledge that linings and pads are made on the average of 50 to (10 percent BHlieHltw. However, post HliidieH have led lis to believe that the asbestos lllier whh locked into other materialn in the lining and that a change due to the hif(h heat of friction took place during braking or clutch application. Thin tranHformed the bhIichIoh fitwr into a non-toxic, non-fibrous material called forHtcritc. The conduHion then wan that the iIuhI wan hurmli'HX. Htudies conducted by the Mt. Hinai School of Medicine in New York City indicate that brake dust may actually contain an average of 3 to 6 percent asbestos with Home tent* showing concentration!! an high ax 15 percent. Samplca of air were tuken under actual working conditionH in a taxi-fleet garage and a N.Y. Dept, of Sanitation truck repairshop. Thcxc samplex were analyzed by electron microxcopy and Fig. 2. NEVER BLOW OFF dirt from a brake attembly with,eg.] air gun. After vacuuming, u*e a naarfy-dry damp rag. Fi(. 1. REMOVE BRAKE DUST with high-efficiency filtered Indutfriil vacuum cleener. Wear air-purifying reipintor. 74 revealed level* of airborne axbcHtox conxiderably higher than thoxc |>ermittcd by federal law. It xhould l>e notcil that fluring the texting in the truck repairshop grinding of brake xhoex was carried out. The work of tho rcxearchorx at Mt. Sinai was dixcuxxcd at a meeting of the Nntional Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) where the results of physical examinations given to 90 men who had been working as automobile and truckbrake repairmen for a period of 10 years were examineil. Of this small group Hie doctors stated that X-ray examinations showed that over oneijuurtcr had signs of abnormalities consistent with asbeslosis disease; the same tests revealed that one quarter had also restricted pulmonary (lung) func tions. This evidence prompted NIOSH to issue an alert to the automobile repuir industry indicating that while the full extent of asbestos-related disease in brake-service personnel is not known because this occupational group has not been systematically studied up to now, enough scientific data has been accumulated to point out the need to start imme diate control measures so that the health hazard of asbestos can lie minimized. There is no donbt that a health hazard exists and that exposure to asbestos fibers can increase the risk continued on page 70 MOTOR, March 1977 Mu 'la Jmh t: Bew are of grakcOust! routin mil /nun /*///< 'i There is no |toint In being careful about vacuuming the dust if. when you empty the vacuum tI cleaner bag, the dust blows all around you and the ' of developing four diseases: asbestosis-a non-malig- shop. Brake and clutch dust should be disposed of In nant starring lung condition; cancer of the lung; a special plastic bag marked as follows: cancer of the digestive tract and mesothclioma-a cancer of the lining of the chest or alidominal i cavities. There arc some authorities and other studies CAUTION: CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS. that place the percentage of asbestos in brake dust AVOID BREATHING DUST. at a much lower level than those reported by the Mt BREATHING ASBESTOS DUST Sinai group and disagree with its findings. All MAY CAUSE SERIOUS authorities agree that no matter how small the BODILY HARM. concentration of uxlx-slos in brake and clutch dust, there is an immediate need to initiate work practices in every shop that will eliminate any risk to the Even using a high-efficiency industrial vacuum 3 health of mechanics. cleaner will not prevent a small amount of dust from The danger is associated with drilling, grinding reaching some now* and mouths which will inhnlc it. imd cutting of brake linings. The dust generated To prevent this, you should wear an air-purifying during these alterations must be collected in a respirator of either the throwaway type like those vacuum-recovery system that has a high-efficiency used in Ixsly sho|w or one with a replaceable particu filter. Many older grinders either have no recovery late filter. Before you buy either type, be sure that it v: system or are etpiippcd with vnruums that allow tiny is approved by NIOSH or the Mining Enforcement particles of asbestos fiber to be blown into the air. and Safely Administration. Wenr the respirator Buying pre-ground shoes will minimize the need for while you are operating a grinder, drill or when grinding. emptying the dust collection bags on your vacuum Where possible, a separate area should be set aside cleaner. i for brake and clutch work and a sign posted at the entrance that reads: There in bound to be some brake and clutch dust that falls to the floor while you are working, bo lie sure to use an industrial vacuum cleaner to pick it t up. Don't sweep this part of the shop with a broom. ASBESTOS A broom has the tendency to flick the asbestos i DUST HAZARD. particles up into the air and that is where they are AVOID BREATHING DUST. dangerous. The rest is common sense: If your shop WEAR ASSIGNED PROTECTIVE has heavy accumulations of dust on lockers, parts * I EQUIPMENT. DO NOT REMAIN IN AREA UNLESS YOUR WORK shcivcH, overhead door channels, beams and on window sills there is a good chance that duHt contains some asbestos. Wear your respirator and l- REQUIRES IT. BREATHING ASBESTOS DUST use your vacuum cleaner to go over all those hidden places carefully and clean up the dust. Change your I MAY BE HAZARDOUS work clothes regularly and don't bring them home. I TO YOUR HEALTH. Have them washed by an industrial laundry. Wash your hands thoroughly before eating and avoid I eating in the area where you do brake and clutch Dust should never be removed from a brake or work. clutch assembly with an air blowgun or by brushing. Every shop, large or small. Is responsible for The only way to safely dean dust containing meeting the rei|uireinents of the federal law wliieh asbestos is with un industrial-type vacuum with a culls for industrial hygiene inspections carried out high efficiency filtering system (Fig. 1). Don't use by OS HA representatives. LJ nder this law the level j one of your wife's old vacuum cleaners because it prohahly will do more harm than good. The fine of asbestos shall not exceed 2 fillers longer than 5 micrometers per cubic centimeter of air. (For a list particles of usliestos will pass through most vacuum of these firms send a seif-addressed slam]>ed post cleaners and you will end up with a higher concen card in an envelope to: Asbestos, MOTOR, 1790 tration of asbestos than you would have if you hadn't Broadway, New York. NY 10019.) used the vacuum at all. The vacuum you buy should Research has determined that smoking increases have a 99-pcrcent efficiency for 0.3 micrometers the rate of lung cancer among people exposed to diameter aerosols. If there is any remaining dust asliestoe duHt. In short, if you have been working that was not removed by vacuuming, wash it off around brakes and dutches for several years, it using a stightly damp rag. Under no circumstances would be wise to give up smoking. should you use an air gun or dry brush (Fig. 2). continued on page 85 76 MOTOR, March 1977