Document evaZ7Yn2zkaz29L16e54YampG

Environmental Sciences Laboratory of The City University of New York INSULATION HYGIEIml PROGRESS REPORTS FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM Irving J. Sellkoff, M.O., Program Director Vol. 7 No 2 Summer 1975 Inadequate change and shower facilities can lead to extensive amounts of asbestos and other dusts being brought home to contaminate workers' households. Here, the only change facilities on this construction site is an open trailer. Asbestos Disease Can Spread to Workers' Families A widening spectrum of asbestos disease has been found by Dr. Henry Anderson and other scientists of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. In a study just completed of 326 family con tacts of former asbestos factory work ers, it has been found that 35% had X-ray abnormalities characteristic of asbestos exposure. These data were presented by Dr. Anderson on March 24th to the Conference on Occupa tional Carcinogenesis held at the New York Academy of Sciences. The family members potentially af fected included all in the household; it was not simply the wife of the worker, who would shake dust from her hus band's clothes before washing them. Affected were children, brothers, and sisters, as well as wives. It would ap pear that the dust had been present throughout the household, brought home on the clothes of the factory workers. The workers were employed at a fac tory that manufactured amosite insula tion material, often for use in Naval ships, but also widely used in power plants and industrial insulation. It oper ated from 1941 through 1954. Many of the workers whose families later devel oped signs of asbestos exposure were employed for relatively short periods of time. The dust exposures to the family members, however, could have been longer. Asbestos, once in the house, is difficult to remove, and exposures could continue long after cessation of the husband's or father's employment. In other studies by Mount Sinai re search workers, asbestos dust has been found still present in households of continued on page 4 Identification System for Adhesives-Solvents It is now possible to report that prog ress is being made on the development of an identification system for hazard ous materials, including adhesive ce ment, sealants, and similar products used in applying insulation materials. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has an advisory com mittee which has developed the basic principles of an identification system. This committee, under the direction of Roy Resnick, has met with Roy Steinfurth, Administrator of the Insulators' Health Hazards Program, and Duncan A. Holaday, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, to review the special prob lems associated with the use of adhe sives in the insulation industry. Hazards Identified The OS HA committee has decided on the basic principles of an identifica tion system which will be applicable to a variety of industrial products. Signal words, such as "Danger," "Cau tion," and "Warning" will be used to show degree of hazard. The principal types of hazards will be identified by words such as "Flammable" or "Health Hazard" and statements list ing additional information needed for protection will also be required. Some identification of the principal component will also be given. Particu larly hazardous substances, such as wood alcohol, benzene, xylene, and toluene will be required to be named if they compose more than stated percen tages of the product. Altogether, this could mean that labels on industrial products would be as informative as those now required on products in tended for household use. This would indeed be an improve ment over the present situation. Cur- continued on page 3 r Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports Vol. 7 No. 2 Summer 1975 from the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program Editor: W. J. Nicholson. Ph.D.. Published at the Em ironmental Sciences Laboratory (lr\ ing 1. Selikoff. M.D.. Director). Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York. N.Y. 10029 Advisory Council of IIHRP Irving J. Selikoff. M.D., Program Director and Chairman E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice President. American Cancer Society. New York. N.Y. Andrew Haas. General President, international Association of Heal and Frost Insulators and As bestos Workers, Washington, D.C. PURPOSES OF THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM 1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insu lation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption. Self-Contained Supplied-Air Respirator Available The removal of old asbestoscontaining material continues to be a major source of exposure to insulation workers. While rip-out is only done oc casionally. the dust concentrations dur ing this procedure can be so high that special respiratory protection must be used. Often, asbestos fiber concentra tions exceed 100 fibers per milliliter, 20 times the current standard. According to the OS HA Asbestos Standard, employees engaged in the removal or demolition of pipes, struc tures, or equipment covered or insu lated with asbestos must use type "C" continuous flow or pressure-demand supplied-air respirators. In addition, special coveralls, gloves, and shoe coverings are to be employed to prevent contamination of clothing by asbestos fibers. On jobs where externally supplied air from tanks or compressors is availa ble, a variety of hoods may be obtained for connection to the air source. Often, however, a supply of breathable air is not readily available, or the use of a long air hose may give rise to safety risks. Battery-Powered Unit Available Additionally, if air is supplied by compressors, provisions must be made to remove oil and water mists and to insure that carbon monoxide does not get into the system through improper placement of the air intake. In such circumstances, a batterypowered air cleaner and hood have spe cial utility. One model, available in the last year and manufactured by the 3-M Occupational Health and Safety Pro ducts Division, will operate for over four hours and provide protection in the dustiest of environments during re moval of asbestos material. The res pirator weighs only 10 pounds. There is no resistance to breathing, no conden sation of moisture, and face fit is not of particular importance. Maintenance Important The respirator should, however, be checked periodically by personnel familiar with its operation. Any re placement parts required should be those of the manufacturer, and their in structions for servicing and repair should be followed carefully. Other supplied-air breathing devices are available in which cylinders of oxy gen or of compressed air are carried by the worker. Several approved types exist but they are more complicated to use and more cumbersome than the previously described battery-powered air filtering unit. Moreover, those using compressed air have a maximum use time of only 30 minutes before a new cylinder must be obtained. Those using oxygen have a longer operating time, but require chemical filtering of exhaled air. The half-face dust respirators com monly available on job sites are not suitable for use during removal of as bestos insulation materials. The use of such respirators is limited to conditions in which dust concentrations are less than ten times the existing standard. The face piece of a self-contained supplied-air respirator. It will operate for four hours using a rechargeable battery. A diagram of the battery pack, fan motor, and filter of the respirator. It weighs 10 pounds, Dust Brought Home Can Affect Family y<* Two asbestos workers cutting block. Relatively little dust is dispersed into the air . . . Asbestos Disease Can Spread to Workers' Families continued from page 1 these former factory workers 20 years after closure of the plant. Mesothelioma, a cancer often linked to asbestos exposure, has also been found among these family members. Of 252 deaths so far identified among household contacts of these former workers, two have been from pleural mesothelioma. Additionally, two other mesothelioma cases have been iden tified in living members of this group. These cases have the following his tories: A. C.: The 40-year-old son of a man who worked from 1945 through 1948 in the plant, when the son was 11 years old. B.P.: The 41-year-old daughter of the plant's chief engineer. I.Y.: The 42-year-old daughter of a man who had worked in the plant for five years. The family lived near the plant and the daughter used to bring her father lunch every day, when she was 10 years old. L.N.: A 32-vear-old woman who, at the age of 13, lived in the home of her brother-in-law while he worked at the plant for six months. Prior to that, she lived one-half mile from the plant and played frequently in the homes of friends whose fathers worked in the plant. The results of this study dramatize the need for stringent dust control and cleanup in situations where asbestos is used. It also heiehtens the importance of individual worker hygiene and demonstrates the need for adequate changing facilities and showers. Under no circumstances should dusty clothes be brought into the home, even to be put into the washing machine. They should be washed separately, preferably by a commercial industrial laundry service equipped to handle asbestos contami nated work clothes. For family contacts who suspect they have been exposed to considerable household contamination, medical sur veillance is in order. The family physi cian should be told the exposure history so that X-ray and chest examinations and subsequent medical problems can be closely monitored for possible symptoms of past asbestos exposure at home. This current report by Dr. Anderson is only the most recent in a series of scientific publications that show family and environmental asbestos risk. As early as 1960, scientists reported cases of mesothelioma in individuals who had had no prior occupational exposure to asbestos. Later, mesothelioma cases were re ported in individuals whose only identi fiable asbestos exposure was associated with their having lived within one-half mile of an asbestos manufacturing facil ity or in households of asbestos work ers. Dr. Anderson's findings show that such problems may turn out to be quite common and that more persons than suspected may be at risk from asbestos exposure, and require appropriate sur veillance. ... but much is falling on their clothes and shoes and may be carried home. Label Report Available Soon continued from page 3 June 15, 1975. Following this report, proposed regulations would be pre pared, published in the Federal Regis ter, comments received, revised regula tions prepared, and hearings held. After the hearings, final regulations would be drawn up and promulgated. The full process could well take a year. However, when the committee re port becomes available, further discus sions will be held between representa tives of the insulators and OSHA, to determine which of the recommenda tions can be implemented without wait ing for regulations to be promulgated. This situation is not limited to pro ducts used by insulators, but is wide spread throughout the construction in dustry. Members of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, especially, have need of adequate labeling of the products they use. Progress is being made but much still needs to be done to insure that when regulations are adopted, they will be effective. Here, the Asbestos Workers, Painters, and other affected union members should review the published recommendations to verify that the proposed labeling is adequate for the materials they use and the instructional materials supplied for the use of hazardous materials are clearly written and understandable.