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FILE NAME Manville JMA DATE 1974 DOC JMA011 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Asbestos and Health Customer Seminars mw Baten (t ) tice! Y OYStew eth Cestimen ~ ermimasn PDrert JJMM ENVIRONMENTAL FACTS Asbestos 3/C A Condensation of Environmental Facts On ASBESTOS and HEALTH Presented at a Series of Customer Seminars by ) ( MANVILLE CORPORATION ) ( ee <a8 s sf ey eIsEC KIA t raeait an f For further information on this subject please contact Environmental Affairs Department Manville Greenwood Plaza Denver CO 80217 ' at ll ed we TABLE OF CONTENTS mn ) 6 } ' O 1 se Introduction to Asbestos and Health .......sececcecsesasessnecerseeret sere nnne annn ess 1 Overvi seseeneneneesee ett Tee Tetew GE 1 The Health Proble ese serenem 2 Medical Aspect ete ete eee s 2 Built Dust Defense tent ee ees e ee 3 Asbestos Diseas tees e e eet ge s e 4 Biological Reactions Asbestosis aesgas 5 Lung Cancer and Mesothelsi ense o ee ee ma 5 tase ree Fiber Differences Play Key Ro rnel nsnenseressesistenee ne 7 Dosage Standa asser ts eggs sed te s 8 Dust Control How Effecti eres eeev re e 9 Smoking and Asbes tent ets teeos 10 Locked and Locke sent ne ed ntrees OSHA Standards for Occupational 11 Exposure to Asbesto sete t s g 12 Standard ae seeegeees ss20g 2502 12 Monitori seeeneeseeeeun e eeegeg eg e eG 12 Methods of Complian ers ee sc esgegene e eee 13 Medical Requiremen ents et te nee s 2 Sete 13 Labeligemn eteee teg oe EPA Standards for Airborne Asbestos 13 Emissio sees ttn tte ge et s TE 14 M Fiber Handling Syste st eem tte s 14 Bulk Fiber Handling Systems .... en genet. ees 15 Plant Fiber Handling Syste ee m ttt e s e 16 Fiber Packagi eet teee se en t ge g TS 16 Shipping ........e. ste te . eT . 17 Dust sneer gerne ee eee New Concepts eee ne gees ress 18 Control Through Engineering 18 Designing Dust Control for the Job ........ 19 ee ees Some Dust Control Principles .20 tee Facing Tomorrow's Challenges 21 re The Environmental Affairs Department 23 Biograph nese eeni s eee e ..s .. 25 Order Form for Printed Mater ser ett i tent ea e l ES the Environmental Affairs Department of Manville This report was prepared by and in cooperation with the Asbestos Fiber Division Employee Relations Department Environmental Engineering March 1974 ee ee ee - ae ne + nee eee ~ la INTRODUCTION With respect to asbestos and health - at Manville we firmly believe that while it is dangerous to pretend there is no environmental problem and do nothing it is equally as dangerous to pretend the problem is so great that total abstinence is the only cure When it comes to asbestos fiber and the health problems that can result from its improper use both apathy and abstinence are extremes no one can afford Between the time any environmental health problem is identified and the time a cure or final solution is found there is always a period of prevention and control That is the period in which we find ourselves now with asbestos fiber It may well be that prevention and control will be the final answer OVERVIEW Asbestos is used in some 3,000 products daily throughout the world almost indispensable in our modern society It has become Asbestos is the name given a family of fibrous minerals which have occurred naturally in our environment for as long as our planet has existed Characteristically asbestos fibers are resistant to extremes of heat and cold are flexible lightweight and durable There are four commercially significant varieties in use today One variety chrysotile asbestos accounts for forms are crocidolite 97 of amosite all the fiber used and anthophyllite in the It is United States The other commercial important to remember that the latter three forms differ from chrysotile physically and chemically as well as in use Products containing asbestos are in our homes schools factories offices hospitals theaters spacecraft and more There is no one material that can outperform asbestos ec- onomically or in quality of performance in the majority of these applications Indeed with- out asbestos many products could not even be made nor do the job for which they were intended Manville recently completed the expenditure of 75 million to expand mining and milling facilities at its Jeffrey Mine in Quebec Canada However asbestos fiber is so much in demand today that even this significant expansion will not enable M to meet all the demands of all of its customers at the present time The company expects to achieve that goal soon but has found the demand for fiber setting a faster pace than was expected THE HEALTH PROBLEM For the past 50 years from the first indications that there were health problems in- volving workers who inhaled too much asbestos dust Manville has led the industry in working to been active solve those in asbestos problems For many years along with health research in the U.S. and abroad other The companies M has industry has funded and encouraged a great many studies and has worked with Federal State and Local governments to eliminate dust problems and set appropriate exposure standards -1- What was learned from these research and engineering studies was not always pleasant Frankly no industry likes to learn that because of a lack of knowledge not just on its part but on the part of the scientific community labor and government the health of some employees had been unknowingly endangered in the past However it is to the industry's credit that it did not hide from the facts once they were known ties Again Manville assumed a leadership position in cleaning up plant and mine faciliin controlling the occupational hazards that had been identified When equipment did .. not exist to control a particular situation M developed it Some of the equipment and systems developed and in use within M today are also being used by other industries with similar needs by it The corporate policy of Manville is simple and everyone in the organization lives It is our Company's policy to equip our plants for the highest degree of personal safety . . . provided it is technically possible and economically feasible to do so When technology is not available . . or when it is not feasible economically from a competitive standpoint to make these installations . . we will elect to discontinue a particular operation rather than knowingly endanger the health or life expectancy of a single employee The people of M know however that living own facilities is not enough They believe it is their and their employees are also made aware of potential by that policy within the confines responsibility to see to it that M hazards and how to control them of their customers MEDICAL ASPECTS Asbestos can cause health problems if improperly used or handled When a person is sub- jected to high levels of airborne asbestos dust in the air serious health problems can result But if a person is protected - if normal prudent dust control systems are installed - a person's health can be protected and he or she will be able to work with asbestos fiber without danger Just about everything has a dose relationship when it comes to health and asbestos is no - exception Every product we use in our factories or in our homes is potentially dangerous whether it is asphalt or asbestos used in our industrial processes or flour or table salt used in cooking at home They are all potentially dangerous substances if improperly used BUILT DUST DEFENSES All the air we breathe enters through the nasal passageways into the trachea The trachea separates into two main passageways called the bronchi The bronchi in turn get smaller as they down the bronchial tree dividing into smaller passages until they reach the bronchioles These go smaller and smaller air passageways finally terminate in a portion of the respiratory system known as the alveoli Figure ) While the trachea bronchi and larger bronchioles are visible to the naked eye the smaller air passageways and the alveoli are only visible with the aid of a microscope -2- ' O ' - @ ' oo Nw Figure 1 Anatomical Figure Figure Figure 1 RESPIR ATORY BRONCHIOLE if ALVEOLAR / SAC N S ALVEOLUS -TERMINAL BRONCHIOLE action takes place as called the alveoli that the important - it It is in bulb structures concerned The alveoli are encapsulated action takes place capillaries capillaries capillaries far blood blood respiratory system system and carbon dioxide are with million million - and and it here that the oxygeannd several million could exchanged exchanged There 750 ad- verse effect alveoli in normal human lung yerse effect upon 4 person's normal respiration which begins with body has its own garbage collection system begins with small small hairs the human they they prevent larger from from entering the the end of our nose These are filters from entering the respiratory system lined with with down into smallest smallest bronchioles These whiplike structures nasal passageways with the unwanted particles from structures along the passageways sweep they from the be lower depths depths bronchioles the upper upper respiratory system expectoration expectoration expectoration to the passageways be dust mucous captures captures removed removed Cilial cells are coated with layer layer mucous particles . axpectoration. particles. Asbestosis malignant caused by excessive excessive in- fibrotic condition condition may be asbestos asbestos fibers over time time is one of several diseases classified classified as pneumoconioses pneumoconioses pneumoconioses as over a long period Siderosis such as: particles of fumes or containing containing particles 2. Silicosis caused caused inhalation inhalation of free or quartz dust . 3. Byssinosis - caused by inhalation known black lung dust . 4. Anthracosis - commonly commonly by inhalation inhalation dust dust dust. asbestos asbestos dust caused Asbestosis Asbestosis caused inhalation inhalation inhalation of asbestos dust. 5, Asbestosis - caused by pulmonary abThey are non-malignant, non-cancerous, These These all pneumoconioses normalities in the lower lobes, in the \ungs, it usually occurs Although Although can OCCUr anywhere asbestos and and both lungs asbestosis asbestosis few other substances, to smoking and a disease disease been linked to asbestos, usually develops at the major Another Another asbestos asbestos smoking smoking cancer that has been linked is bronchogenic bronchogenic anywhere anywhere the lungs - bronchioles While can occur junctions junctions bronchioles junctions One of the \ead- tree asbestos. cancer caused by many agents, Bronchogenic Bronchogenic or lung many agents including including One is cigarette causes bronchogenic bronchogenic cancer caused ing ing smoking disease disease called mesothelioma, rare form of cancer an extremely form asbestos extremely The The lung cavity mesothelioma mesothelioma mesothelioma affects the lining of pleural which which at this cavity in our serious of the three diseases because in our Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is by far mositnevitably fatal ~ three diseases diseases because this knowledge once once diagnosed diagnosed it occurs diagnosis occurs within months after occurs of meso- there are now more cases caused solely by asbestos In fact more cases meso- meso- thelioma Mesothelioma is there there now in which asbestos which which world medical registries cases in which it has been involved cases ( es < and eliminated by asbestos ASBESTOSIS When is inhaled into the body and is not captured capturaendd eliminated by can be normal cleansing cleansing mechanisms actions occur occur two different protein which asbestos encapsulated encapsulated encapsulated iron rich it is then referred as an " can remain remain naked body Or naked state ~ uncoated body. Or, it can remain in a and pur- it for for all intents intents feruginous ferruginous other and becomes the lung then pur- pur- almast the harmless harmless harmless On fiber remains naked naked state almost When uncontrolled uncontrolled growth of cells begin , resulting scar tissue formation collagen collagen the resulting the formation properly When collagen the lungs lungs altearlsters the normal tissue that it no longer functions forms in the lungs, it can- collagen greatly reduced Lungs can- capacity capacity can- in- they much previously previously because vital the alveoli has been rendered as thus reduced oxygen portion portion function within within the lung is With vital capacity capacity exchange effect poor ventilation carbonlabored breathing which signs signs signs asbestosis altered and overall effect is poor ventilation is . and the overall the lung symptom of Biological symptom unusual unusual sound physical cav- cav- the asbestosis is rales Rales Rales produced physician can aid of stethoscope stethoscope stethoscope sound chest cav- hear with which is physician the aid of a stethoscone. can hear with ity, which a physician nchitis, We ee of the fingertips. bronchitis the to the cum | S related believe ; , , \ an d related enic cancer lungs still tO be ent of any mysteries are cer, there ar^' lioma lioma Yioma yniocked. 0 KEY PLAY D fibers Asbestos fibers Asbestos both identical identical there Crocidolite commercially commcercoialmlymercially mined + significant varieties . Canada Russia TYPE Chrysotile 1972 World Production Tons 4,000,000 4,000,000 Color White s| MG FE MG a0 Composition 2 Sources Sources U.S.S.R. Canada Africa Africa \raly 5, Africa (Cape) 40 50 Blue Cape Amosite 450,000 AQ 50 Brown s, Africa (Transvaal Anthophyllite 410,000 white 29 29 6 ) ) ' Chemically c amosite chrysotile 42,000 Chrys content iron content. iron Chryso hang, Chryso magnesium magnesium amosite amosite their none other content physical hand differe rich iron crocidolite virtually chrysotile little physical the appears most reactions However significance biological reactions. fibers appears rich '" significance in reactions Fibers Fibers amosite are and amosite amosite gignificance on the other other crocidolite of crocidolite shaped ChrysotileChrysotileChrysotile wool like ver y harsh curl are Because these cr is wool-like in physical differences rod amosite are rv and amositeare m the rod-like fipers of these phy sical -5- Because 5 Figure 2 DUST ELIMINATION RATES 10 MILGRAES a LUNG RAT IN DUST ea e ee ee ee AMOSITE CROCIDOLITE CHRYSOTILE 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 DAYS The weight of asbestos dust in rats lungs after 30 days exposure to dust clouds of similar respirable mass concentration and the subsequent loss of dust over the next 58 days Each point is the mean of 8 rats Equal numbers of male and female likely to pass through the bronchial passageways unimpeded while the wavy chrysotile fibers are more likely to impinge on the side of passageways where they are captured by the mucous lining of the cilial cell system and escalated up and out of the respiratory system Thus the physical characteristics of a fiber are extremely important in relation to its biological reaction In order to cause pulmonary disease a fiber or particle must penetrate deeply into the lungs In order to do this the particle must be below 3microns in diameter - although the length may vary considerably Scientific studies of fiber characteristics support the contention that chrysotile fibers are less likely to penetrate deeply into the lungs than the other fibers In one study a group of rats was exposed to crocidolite another to amosite and another group to chrysotile At the end of 30 days some of each group of rats was sacrificed and the amount of fiber in their lungs measured The remainder of the rat groups were sacrificed and analyzed 30 days and 60 days later The results showed that chrysotile was more readily cleared from the lungs than either amosite or crocidolite Figure 2 Also significant is a comparison of studies by three different researchers In one study Dr. Irving J. Selikoff of Mount Sinai Hospital New York City studied 632 asbestos insulation workers men who cover pipes and boilers with asbestos insulation materials These workers were exposed to chrysotile amosite crocidolite and numerous other solvents and dusts C The second study was done by Dr. Molly Newhouse in England and involved factory workers exposed to three different types of asbestos but not the mixed dust and other materials to which the insulation workers also were exposed The third study was done by Dr. J. Corbett McDonald head of the Department of Epidemiology at McGill University in Canada It involved 9,981 Canadian miners and millers exposed only to Canadian chrysotile asbestos ) -- 3 ASBESTOS STUDIES No. of Men Studied No. of Deaths All Causes Lung Cancer Mesothelial Tumor Asbestos Insulation Applicators Dr. Selikoff 632 380 72 19 22 ( % Asbestos Factory Workers Dr. Newhouse 4,806 436 42 10 20 ( % Chrysotile Miners and Millers Dr. McDonald 9,981 2,143 97 % 3 0.1 In analyzing the rate of lung cancer and mesothelioma in these different groups the higher rates of disease appear in those groups of people exposed either to all three types of asbestos and other materials or all three types of asbestos alone Conclusions drawn from these studies tend to substantiate theories that Canadian chrysotile produces fewer cases of mesothelioma and lung cancer than other types of asbestos fiber ) re DOSAGE STANDARDS Much discussion has surrounded the establishment by the U.S. Government of dosage stan- dards for asbestos dust inhalation However numerous studies have shown there is a dosage - or threshold level - for inhalation of asbestos below which there apparently is no significant increase in disease ) <) Dr. McDonald performed a number of studies in this area In one he surveyed almost 10,000 Canadian miners and millers of asbestos in Quebec's eastern townships Two separate Figure 3 Dosage Study Dr. J.C. McDonald Radiographic Changes - Prevalence rates % standardized for age and years in industry Males aged 36-65 at time of radiograph mpct years fibres ml years THETFORD MINES Irregular Small Opacities - 0 - + Pleural Thickening Grade 1+ Grade 2+ ASBESTOS Irregular Small Opacities - 0 2 Pleural Thickening Grade 1+ Grade 2+ Dust Group 10 10 100- 200- 400 800+ 23 23 230- 460- 920- 1840+ Average 1.8 0.0 2.4 1.3 3.3 0.2 4.6 0.7 6.3 2.2 6.5 0.8 8.7 0.9 5.8 1.2 12.0 2.4 8.3 1.3 17.2 9.2 10.5 2.0 7.6 2.0 6.4 1.1 6.4 3.7 6.3 5.0 0.0 0.4 1.5 0.8 2.9 2.6 3.0 3.0 0.0 0.6 1.0 0.5 6.8 0.6 4.7 1.4 7.0 3.9 5.8 0.7 5.1 0.8 3.2 0.7 . g groups were used One at Thetford mines and the other at M's Jeffrey Mine Dr. McDonald's study are almost identical for the two groups Figure 3 The results of Using both the number of years of exposure and the exposure level itself McDonald's work clearly illustrates that the ill effects of asbestos exposure are not seen until the exposure level exceeds 20 to 40 fibers per cc It is only at the higher levels of exposure that significant health changes are detectable Figure 4 The latent period for asbestosis ranges from 15 to 20 years Bronchogenic cancer has a latent period of 20 or more years and for mesothelioma the usual latent period is 25 to 35 years Thus it is important to remember that the disease being seen today in some time asbes- tos workers is the result of exposures many years ago when dust control systems were not as effective as they are today Furthermore these exposures occurred before the scientific commun- ity labor or government realized the nature of the asbestos health problem DUST CONTROL HOW EFFECTIVE An indication of how effective dust control systems can be in reducing the risk of asbestos- related disease was documented early in a British study -8- . ' ' Figure 4 Dosage Study Dr. J.C. McDonald Mortality Study - Equivalent average death 1000 Deaths to December 1969 Males Born Between 1891 - 1920 All causes mppcf - years fibres years Cancer of bronchus trachea lung Abdominal Cancers Pneumoconiosis < 10 423 423 365 10.3 18.0 16 1023 355 13.1 13.6 1.5 Dust Group 100- 200 230- 460- 354 313 13.4 15.5 18.7 11.6 0.8 4.9 400920323 21.4 26.3 4.9 800+ 1840+ 395 32.1 28.7 23.6 Dr. John Knox then Medical Director for Turner Brothers Asbestos Company Ltd. in England studied workers employed over various periods of time in one TBA plant in Rochdale There was no dust control at this facility prior to 1933 when primitive dust control equipment was installed Dr. Knox divided his study group three ways those who had over ten years work experience in the plant prior to installation of dust control equipment those who had some exposure prior to 1933 when dust control began but less than ten years total exposure and those who had no ex- posure at all prior to 1933 and had only worked in the plant under dust control conditions All of the people in the three groups had at least 30 years of exposure with or without controls Comparing the death rate of these three groups to the standard mortality tables available from the British government and showing expected death rates for certain segments of the general population Dr. Knox was able to analyze the effects of dust control In the group with the heaviest exposure Dr. Knox found that while ten deaths would be the norm in reality there were 15. In group two with only some heavy exposure about eight deaths would have been expected but there were only six In the last group which had worked in the plant only after dust control equipment was installed the expected number of deaths was five but only two were recorded Figure 5 Dr. Knox study is a dramatic illustration of the effectiveness of dust control proving that the lives of employees can be protected even by the use of the simplest kinds of equipment SMOKING AND ASBESTOS Another important point that resulted from medical studies is that smoking and asbestos do not mix In his study Dr. Selikoff found that all but one of the cases of bronchogenic cancer were -9- 1s 4 ike alien lala belie nae Re re ee eee ee scm eee Figure 5 Dust Control Study Dr. John Knox Distribution of Deaths with Exposure Before 1933 Standardized for Time since Completing 20 years Employment and Age Exposure Before 1933 yrs Distribution of Lung Cancer Deaths Observed Expected Distribution of Other Deaths With Asbestosis Distribution of Other Deaths Without Asbestosis Observed Expected | Observed | Expected Over 10 Group 1 Up to 10 Group 2 None Group 3 15 9.8 17 11.38 16 16.91 8.41 5 8.07 12 12.98 2 4.78 0 2.55 13 11.12 C . S) All Groups Test of Significance of Trend 23 23.00 x6.70 = -- = 0.01 22 22.00 x9.63 = P = 0.002 41 41.01 x0.52 = P 0.47 among asbestos workers who also smoked cigarettes Those asbestos workers who did not smoke cigarettes had no greater rate of bronchogenic cancer than the normal smoking population Based on these hard facts about the carcinogenic effect of smoking and asbestos dust inhalation Manville and other asbestos companies strive to discourage smoking among employees who work with asbestos Figure 6 LOCKED AND LOCKED While it is evident that excessive asbestos dust inhalation can be harmful this risk is confined almost exclusively to the occupational setting Asbestos products in general use may or may not pose a dust problem depending on their composition and handling Basically asbestos products fall into two groups - the locked products and the nonlocked products In the locked products one must be concerned with the generation of dust However in those products in which the asbestos is locked by chemical physical or thermal means there is little cause for concern since the normal use of these products will not release significant amounts of asbestos fiber into the air While we know today that asbestos can cause health problems if proper steps are not taken -10- ' ask ee ete me se te tad Figure 6 Smoking Study Dr. 1.J. Selikoff Expected and Observed Deaths Amony 17,800 US and Canada Asbestos Insulation Workers January 1 1967 - December 31 1971 No of men Jan 1 1967 Persons Years of Observation Cancer All Sites Lung Cancer Pleural Mesothelioma Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer of Stomach Cancer of Colon Rectum Cancer of Esophagus Asbestosis All Other Causes Total 17.800 17.800 86,300 Expected Deaths 144 09 Observed Deaths 459 44 42 213 - 26 - 51 6.62 6.62 16 51 26 321 13 - 78 661 555 No History of Cigarette Smoking 2,066 10.163 Expected Deaths 19 92 Observed Deaths 33 598 2 ~ 2 - 9 0.95 1 52 4 0.44 0.44 0 - 4 92 67 36 History of Cigarette Smoking 9,590 46,615 Expected Deaths 79 58 Observed Deaths 265 25 09 - 134 17 - 29 3.60 3.60 8 53 14 1.80 7 - 45 356 67 286 Total Deaths 805 63 1,092 112 59 73 436 25 596 to reduce exposure we also know that exposures can be controlled and that there is a safe level of exposure Most members of the world scientific community believe that the levels established by the U.S. Government Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration to limit asbestos exposure are safe levels and that asbestos diseases are preventable if proper dust control measures are taken OSHA STANDARDS FOR OCCUPATIONAL ASBESTOS EXPOSURE As 1974 began the asbestos industry learned that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard for occupational exposure to asbestos was under review Revised regulations are expected in late 1974 Current standards for asbestos exposure include these five major categories 1. Standards For airborne asbestos fiber concentrations in the workplace 2. Monitoring Method of determining whether or not dust standards are being met 3. Methods of Compliance 4. Medical 5. Labeling 11 wee een eee ne tee ee - = - STANDARDS Present OSHA standards for asbestos exposure call for a maximum of Five fibers greater than five micrometers in length per cubic centimeter hour weighted average concentration and Ten fibers greater than five micrometers in length per cubic centimeter ceiling concentration Effective July , 1976 the weighted average concentration standard becomes two fibers greater than five micrometers in length per cubic centimeter In all cases the standards refer to fibers greater than five micrometers in length that can be seen by phase contrast light microscopy at approximately 430x magnification These and other similar standards are generally referred to as Threshold Limit Values TLVs TLVS refer to airborne concentrations of substances and represent conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse effect - - - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ~ C MONITORING To determine whether or not a workplace meets the required standards a system of monitor- ' ing is required The asbestos standards require that Within six months of publication of the regulations June , 1973 every employer shall cause every place of employment where asbestos fibers are released to be monitored in such a way as to determine where every employee's exposure to asbestos fibers is below the prescribed limits Monitoring usually is done by the membrane personal air sampler technique It requires that an employee wear an air sampler which can be obtained from a number of manufacturers The personal air sampler draws workplace air onto a filter which collects the particulates and fibrous dust in the air This filter is then placed under a microscope and the number of fibers counted After the count is complete the actual fiber concentrations expressed as fibers per cubic centimeter of air are calculated by formula ' METHODS OF COMPLIANCE It is expected that future asbestos standards will place pliance than the present ones However the present standard engineering controls It states that engineering controls such a greater emphasis on methods of comdoes include an important section on as but not limited to isolation enclosure exhaust ventilation and dust collection shall be used This rule is a logical requirement for any dust generating process regardless of whether or not -12- it contains fiber since any dust in sufficient quantity is potentially hazardous Two good reference works on designing dust control systems are 1 American National Standards Institute ANSI Z9.2-1972 2. Industrial Ventilation by the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists 3 t | 6 MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS Present medical standards require that the employer shall provide initial and annual comprehensive medical examinations to each of his employees engaged in occupations exposed to air borne concentrations of asbestos fiber NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health a Division of the Department of Health Education and Welfare has recommended in its criteria for occupational exposure to asbestos that for the purpose of medical surveillance the term exposed to asbestos will be interpreted as referring to weighted average exposures above one fiber per cc or peak exposures above five fibers per cc The intent of the NIOSH recommendation was to eliminate the need for medical examina- tions when an employee's exposure was below half the TLV ) t fi 3 LABELING Present standards require that Caution labels shall be affixed to all products containing asbestos fibers or to their containers except that no label is required where asbestos fibers have been modified by a bonding agent coating binder or other material so that during any reasonably foreseeable use no airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers in excess of the prescribed limits will be released The required wording of the label is CAUTION ) Y | @ 9 Contains Asbestos Fibers Avoid Creating Dust Breathing Asbestos Dust May Cause Serious Bodily Harm EPA STANDARDS FOR AIRBORNE ASBESTOS EMISSIONS The Environmental Protection Agency on April 6 1973 published in the Federal Register national emission standards for three hazardous air pollutants - asbestos beryllium and mercury The EPA standard for asbestos is unique because it contains no emission standards or numbers Instead the regulations are written around NO VISIBLE EMISSIONS -13- a tyne AN LA MS Caner reU NE MER NE FI Se ee A visible emission is defined as any emission which is visually detectable without the aid of instruments and which contains asbestos particulate material An asbestos manufacturing plant that has no visible emissions is automatically in compliance If an asbestos plant has visible emissions but they do not contain asbestos particulate as determined by microscopic examination the operation also is in compliance However if an asbestos plant does have containing visible emissions then control devices must be installed In this case the standard requires that a fabric bag filter be used in all cases except where the character of the emissions would render such a filter unsuitable In that case a energy wet scrubber must be used There are several exceptions from coverage under these EPA standards One of the most important is field fabrication The apparent reasoning in this instance is that if field fabricating operations conform to OSHA asbestos standards possible airborne emissions to the atmosphere will be satisfactorily controlled fe ie aN M FIBER HANDLING SYSTEMS Manville Corporation produces and sells more than 775,000 tons of asbestos fiber each year from four mines The largest of these is the Jeffrey mine located about 100 miles east of Montreal in Asbestos Quebec Canada Jeffrey's production is in excess of 650,000 tons annually An indication of M's confidence in the future of asbestos fiber is apparent from the recently completed expenditure of 75 million to relocate and modernize crushing drying and concentrating e facilities at Jeffrey and to expand mining operations Each day six days a week some 35,000 tons of ore are hauled to the Jeffrey crusher and more than 100,000 tons of waste rock and overburden are hauled to the waste dump The objective of the M Asbestos Fiber Division always has been to deliver fiber to customers in a form and a manner that creates no dust problem for the customer's employees BULK FIBER HANDLING SYSTEMS One new method of shipping asbestos fiber is the bulk tank car which was developed by M in conjunction with the Ford Motor Co. and Procor in Oakville Ontario M has been successfully shipping short asbestos fiber grades in the bulk tank car for the last three years Approximately 150,000 was spent by Canadian Manville in development of this new car Each of the six bulk tank cars now supplying Ford holds 55 tons of asbestos fiber The car is loaded at the mine by pumping fiber into the seven compartments At the receiving location air is pumped into the car to fluidize the fiber and cause it to flow into storage silos There are many varieties of storage silos that can be used and various makes of fiber pumps are available ' ' -14- oO Figure 7 PROTOTYPE PLANT ASBESTOS FIBRE HANDLING SYSTEM BAGGED FIBRE STORAGE 3,500 DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM 3500 cfm T I [ I ! j / 2,000 BAG BREAKING STATION i cfm cfm 800 \\ 500 cfm cfm / i \ / 7 AN 1,500 / CONV |< / \} LY \ HPUMP JQ ee r 4 | DIVERTING | VALVE ] VALVE K } Vr I 600 600 600600 600 FLEX 1,500 KLEEN KLEEN T FLEX KLEEN | i cfm t ALTERNATE > --( ) 500 500 cfm ad 500 _ - 500 ~~ \ 1 SCALE 1,500 MIXER MIXER 14,500 PLUS PIPING Advantages of the bulk tank car system are No handling of bags and thus no contact with fiber by employees lower handling costs and simplified monitoring of dust levels However the system does have limitations such as the tonnage that can be loaded into a car depending on the length and openness of the fiber In addition the capital investment is about 100,000 and does not appear practical unless a customer's usage exceeds 2,000 tons annually PLANT FIBER HANDLING SYSTEM An plant fiber handling system has been developed and tested at Jeffrey Mine It includes a breaking station and fiber pump which conveys the fiber to mixers or weigh hoppers The entire system requires approximately 3,500 cubic feet of air and costs about 14,500 plus piping Figure 7 Aside from the fiber pump developed at Jeffrey there are other items of equipment on the market that can be used to transport fiber One is the Vanco Blower which has been used at Jeffrey to move 100 pounds per minute of Group 7 fiber 35 feet vertically and 2,000 feet horizontally with the entire operation under dust control -15- Another Jeffrey development is the automatic bag opener which opens paper or polyethylene bags dumps the contents and deposits the empty bag all under dust control It requires 800 cubic feet per minute of aspirating air and costs from 9,900 to 12,500 depending on various controls Fairmount Engineering Inc. Hackettstown N.J. has developed a bag opener at a quoted price of 8,500 According to M calculations the entire cost of an plant fiber handling system including a Vanco blower automatic bag opener and a bag baler is approximately 30,000 plus the cost of ducts Figure 8 c FIBER PACKAGING At present M is supplying asbestos fiber to the domestic market in three types of packages Standard kraft multiwall paper bag six mil polyethylene film bag and the pulpable kraft multiwall bag K: The pulpable bag was developed for use in the asbestos paper industry so that both bag and contents could be dumped into a hydropulper or vat thereby eliminating the need for opening the bag In the same way the polyethylene bag is used in the asphalt paving industry and in limited cases in the floor tile industry where both the bag and contents are dumped into the pug mill or * mixer Of course this concept is limited to suitable bag materials and the compatability of the bag composition with the product formulation SHIPPING M makes available to customers several alternatives in fiber shipping Unitized loads can be shipped on a cardboard deck sheet or a wooden pallet with all bags locked to reduce shifting and damage Palletized units also can be covered by shrink polyethylene film to prevent damage and dust generation during shipment An added measure instituted by M to insure improved condition of asbestos shipments upon arrival is the assigned rail car Over the past 18 months 450 rail cars - each 40 feet long with double doors - have been in assigned service to M plants in the U.S. Palletized material in the assigned cars is kept secure by the use of inflatable dunnage two to a car placed between pallets in the doorway area to keep them from shifting during transit The company's experience with assigned cars and inflatable dunnage has been excellent - the condition of arrival of shipments has been greatly improved trial A limited number of assigned cars are available for test shipments to customers shipment a customer decides this method is suitable it will take approximately six If after a months to acquire the necessary cars and dunnage -16- rere Figure 8 DUST CONTROL ns l aT - cc 1 5 BAG OPENER wh x \\ BAG BALER yy J) SCHEMATIC PLANT HANDLING - BAGGED FIBER : FILTER - RECEIVER 1 ' BATCH ! | WEIGHER ! A | ran | os | LaLa - ane ; ok. i os . MIXER NEW CONCEPTS M's experimental work on improved asbestos fiber handling systems is continuing in two directions One new concept is the high density fiber block which measures " x 12 x 16 and has a density of 100 lbs per cubic foot The blocks are dust free and consume less space in shipment than normal pressure bags The second new concept is pelletized fiber Using a Waldron pelletizing machine asbestos pellets have been produced at Jeffrey Mine with Group 7 fiber using water as a binder Pellets have a loose density of 65 pounds per cubic foot and lend themselves well to shipment in closed hopper cars bags and other types of containers They are largely dust free Aside from these new developments and concepts the Asbestos Fiber Division is anxious to work closely with any of its customers in the development of a fiber handling system to meet individual requirements 17 DUST CONTROL THROUGH ENGINEERING Because Manville has been in the business of asbestos dust for many years the company has developed handling asbestos fiber and controlling much expertise that may be valuable to companies with similar problems Some of the systems developed by M to control operations may be adaptable to other companies or they asbestos may be dust exposure in its own viewed as concepts to work from duced While use of the assigned cars with double doors and inflatable dunnage has greatly rethe dust problems associated with damaged railroad shipments there are four basic rules that should be followed in any asbestos unloading operation 1 Upon arrival of a shipment check to determine if any loose fiber is on the bags or floor If there is the area should be vacuum cleaned before unloading ; C C 2 Immediately seal any broken or torn bags before unloading 3 For manual unloading clean pallets should be used and after use the pallets should be vacuum cleaned or washed with water 4 All broken bags after resealing should be taken directly to the point of usage and not placed into inventory M's experience with adherence to these simple housekeeping marked reduction in fiber counts taken during unloading operations measures has been a sultant tectors plant storage of asbestos should be geared to preventing bag damage and the re- generation of dust Plastic covers can be used for term storage and corner procan be placed around pallets stored in a warehouse to prevent damage by plant vehicles Bag opening devices which protect personnel from dust during opening and feeding operations can bring about dramatic reductions in workplace fiber counts There are several types of bag opening devices designed for particular needs from simple to sophisticated Some of these systems also include a bag disposal section and bag baler to further prevent dust gen- - eration C a DESIGNING DUST CONTROL FOR THE JOB If a manufacturing operation generates dust adequate dust control facilities should be designed and installed It is important that employees be protected from asbestos dust just as they should be protected from excessive heat and noise fumes toxic chemicals and other ma- terials M has developed specialized yet simple dust control systems for many diverse operations from machining of Transite asbestos pipe and heavy duty brake blocks to shingle punch presses -18- a \ Two principles are important in designing dust control systems for particular operations ; Duct sizes should be a minimum of 4 to 5 inches in diameter with air duct velocities of 4,000 to 4,500 feet per minute and face velocities across the work station should be 200 to 250 feet per minute Cloth collectors are efficient systems of dust control and are in use in many M plants Such systems can be scaled up or down to meet particular needs However it is important that the air to cloth ratio be no more than 3 to 1 for a shaker type collector One of the largest cloth collectors in the world is located at M's Jeffrey Mine in Quebec This system encompasses the entire top floor of a story building and is under negative pressure There are 80,000 bags in this collector with thirty 350 motors driving fans that generate 5 million cubic feet of air per minute This sophisticated system has helped M keep dust counts in all work stations in the fiber mill at or below five fibers per cc with most below 2 fibers per cc In fact of 943 J.M asbestos fiber work stations in the U.S. 860 or 91 of them are at or below five fibers per cc as of January 1 1974 and 545 or 58 are below two fibers per cc Personal protective equipment is being used in those areas not yet below the fiber standard although the company is currently working on all stations to bring them below the present fiber TLV and to the two fiber standard due to go into effect on July 1 1976 This reduction in fiber counts at M will be accomplished by improved housekeeping improved methods changes in processes and installation of improved dust control facilities SOME DUST CONTROL PRINCIPLES M's 30 years of experience in handling asbestos fiber and developing effective dust con- trol systems is available to M customers The following recommendations are designed as guides for those in need of dust control facilities and should be viewed as principles to work from not equipment one must have in order to solve a particular problem 1 A good job of industrial housekeeping usually is the first step An industrial vacuum cleaner should be used in areas where dust may be generated If a plant already has dust control facilities it is recommended that a vacuum cleaning system be used as a take from the present dust system by installation of a booster fan and a small cyclone M will provide a typical lay- out and schematic of such a system 2 If asbestos fiber is used in an operation and there are no dust control facilities chances are there is a dust problem - and probably a fold one One would be exposure of employees to asbestos dust OSHA and the other would be exhausting asbestos laden air out of the build- ing EPA It is not advised that a customer who has an operation without dust control make an industrial hygiene survey since this only will provide numbers for a need that is obvious Instead it is recommended that the customer arrange for an engineering survey which will result in a report with schematics and recommendations on how to correct dust problems inside and outside the -19- eT ee plant The survey should be adequate enough to provide cost estimates on the installation of a proper and effective dust control system 3 Manville conducts engineering surveys on a fee basis along with a number of other reliable engineering firms Additionally M is equipped to handle the purchasing and installation of dust control facilities on a turn basis if desired There are many reliable firms providing similar services and M recommends a review of all before making a decision 4 The most appropriate times for an industrial hygiene survey are a If you already have dust control facilities an industrial hygiene survey will determine how well your facilities meet OSHA standards b After installation of dust control facilities an industrial hygiene survey should be part of the installation agreement to establish the reliability of equipment and compliance with standards The Environmental Control Systems Department of Manville located in Denver Colorado is ready to work with M customers to ensure the safest possible work environment for all people handling asbestos fiber FACING TOMORROW'S CHALLENGES Much has been learned about asbestos problems in a short period of time due mainly to the initiative of the asbestos industry in facing a complex problem Many new facts were learned about asbestos and health at a major meeting on the subject held in October 1972 in Lyon France It was there that a majority of scientists from all over the world who were actively studying the biological effects of asbestos met under sponsorship of the International Agency for Research on Cancer a division of the World Health Organization There were 130 participants from 20 countries at the meeting In a report issued following that meeting the group's Advisory Committee on Asbestos Can- cers reported There is no evidence of lung damage by asbestos to the general public _ There is no evidence of an increased risk of cancer resulting from asbestos fibers present _. in water beverages food or in the fluids used for the administration of drugs There is no detectable lung cancer risk above normal when occupational exposures have . been low and these occupational exposures have almost certainly been much greater ... than the amount of asbestos to which the general public has been exposed There is evidence from population studies that a considerable number of mesothelioma . cases have no known association whatsoever with exposure to asbestos -20- - Fe ee me ee = eee Ps er Se Le woe ' More came out of that meeting such as the incriminating evidence against cigarette smoking as a very probable carcinogen and the clear differences in risk with the type of fiber and nature of exposure In total it is now known that asbestos health risks are almost exclusively confined to the occupational environment . . that the effects of excessive inhalation of asbestos are both time and dose related . that there are exposure levels that will not result in any increased risk of disease an d that the disease being found today among some time employees is not an indication of present day conditions rather it is a result of conditions existing decades ago when neither industry government or the scientific community knew much about the health effects of asbestos and even less about the proper means for their control THE M ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT In its continuing effort to provide the widest field of knowledge on asbestos and health M has established an Environmental Affairs Department As part of the department's services various types and forms of information are made available to M customers and other interested parties A series of reports on asbestos and health problems is available free by filling out the order form Figure 9 and returning it to the M Service Center with the proper code number The printed materials available as of January 1974 are 1 Asbestos A Family of Minerals - describing the characteristics of the four commercially significant varieties of asbestos 376 2 Report of the Advisory Committee on Asbestos Cancers to the Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer - outlining the major conclusions from the 1972 meeting in Lyon France of respected researchers from all over the world who were studying the biological effects of asbestos 374 3 Asbestos and Health - discussing the occupational health risks from asbestos dust and what M and the industry has done to eliminate or control them 375 4 Questions and Answers on Asbestos and Health - providing answers to the most commonly asked questions about the biological effects of asbestos 3711 5 Asbestos Water Pipe and Health - discussing the results of studies to determine if drinking water that has passed through asbestos water pipe poses any health risks 3711 6 Asbestos No Risk to the Public - reviewing asbestos health research to determine if there is any risk to the public from the use or manufacture of asbestos products 3711 Other material available includes 7 What Every Employee Should Know about Asbestos - a pocket employee guide to asbestos and health including the responsibilities of both employer and employee in providing a safe working environment 3711 -21- _ ~~ Ae ee cumen nee waren et Saeerieetanee een ot wn ee a re a es mene . r 8 Recommended Safety Practices for Handling Asbestos Fiber - an easy to read and follow list of accepted procedures for unloading storage handling and transporting of asbestos fiber as well as use of protective equipment and disposal of waste material This informa- tion is available on a color 11 x 14 poster on heavy gauge laminated cardboard 6 order 3710 or in leaflet form Order EA 3711 An extensive medical library on asbestos studies is open to interested parties To acquire copies of specific medical studies or for more information on additional material available through the Environmental Affairs Department write or call 6} i Waiter A. Cooper Director Environmental Communications Manville Corporation Greenwood Plaza North Denver CO 80217 4 Telephone 770-1000 Extension 2969 OO io -22- BIOGRAPHIES This report was condensed from presentations made by the people listed below to Manville customers in a series of seminars begun in 1973 F.J. JACK SOLON JR Vice President Environmental Affairs He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and studied at the Wharton Graduate School University of Pennsylvania He joined M in 1961. He has been Vice President for Advertising and Public Relations and prior to his present assignment was Vice President Corporate Relations WILLIAM B. REITZE Corporate Manager Accident Prevention and Industrial Health He earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Wagner College and has done graduate work in Physiology at the Columbia University Medical School His experience includes many years of physiology and toxicology research Prior to joining M in 1969 he was Senior Industrial Hygienist for the New Jersey Department of Health As part of M's participation in the Insulation industry Hygiene Research Program he was loaned to Mount Sinai School of Medicine as Chief of Field Studies and Industrial Hygiene EDMUND M. FENNER Director Technical Relations Environmental Affairs Department He is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Mass with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering A registered professional engineer he joined M in 1940. He previously was Director of Environmental Control for M He is Chairman of the Task Group on Naturally Occurring Inorganic Fibers of the American Society of Testing Materials Chairman of a subcommittee of the American National Standards Institute Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Asbestos Information Association America and is a member of several professional and civic organizations NOEL W. HENDRY Vice President of Manville Sales Corporation and General Sales Manager for the Asbestos Fiber Division He earned a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from the University of British Colum bia and a Master's degree in Geology from the California Institute of Technology He had extensive experience in mining and exploration before joining M in 1949 as Senior Mining Engineer He also served M as Senior and Chief Geologist and Exploration Manager before assuming his present responsibilities DONALD E. HILLIER Director of Environmental Engineering A graduate of the University of Michigan with in Mechanical Engineering he joined M in 1944 as chief industrial engineer He has held a number a degree include direction of all M of production engineering positions with the company His present responsibilities environmental control and environmental engineering activities Figure 9 ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTIONS TO RELEASE INVENTORY -- CRD 1095 TO BILL EDMONDS M SERVICE CENTER 1601 23RD STREET DENVER COLORADO SHIP TO PRINT QUANTITY FORM _# DESCRIPTION CIF NO FORM NO SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS X4330I X43301 88 728 88 705 ISSUED BY DATE RELEASE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT USE ONLY THIS FORM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL -25- JM Manville Greenwood Plaza Denver Colorado 80217 Q 475 - we Printed in USA a RTF RN TR ee na e