Document gD5Yz3boMeKgEOYmd4k30XYmN
FILE NAME: DuPont Remington (DRM)
DATE: 1982 Feb
DOC#: DRM024
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: EPA Report - Life Cycle of Asbestos in Commercial and Industrial Use Including Estimates of Releases to Air, Water and Land
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Office of Toxic Substances Washington, D.C.
GCA-TR-79-7 3-G
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of Contract No. 68-02-3168
Technical Service Area 3, Work Assignment No. 18
EPA Project Officer James Bulman
LIFE CYCLE OF ASBESTOS IN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USE INCLUDING ESTIMATES
OF RELEASES TO AIR, WATER AND LAND
Final Inhouse Report
February 1982
Prepared by David Cogley Nancy Krusell Robert Mclnnes Peter Anderson
Ronald Bell
GCA CORPORATION GCA/TECHNOLOGY DIVISION Bedford, Massachusetts
DISCLAIMER This Final Inhouse Report was prepared for the Environmental Protection Agency by GCA Corporation, GCA/Technology Division, Burlington Road, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730, in partial fulfillment of Contract No. 68-02-3168, Technical Service Area 3, Work Assignment Nos. 2 and 18 and Contract No. 68-02-2607, Work Assignment No. 36. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of company or product name is not to be considered as an endorsement by the Environmental Protection Agency.
ii
CONTENTS
F i g u r e s ................................................................. vi Tables................................................................... viii
1. Introduction ....................................................
1
Overview....................................................
1
Report Format ..............................................
3
Data Presentation ..........................................
3
Terminology ................................................
5
References..................................................
7
2. Air Pollution Control Practices, Asbestos Emissions, and Asbes
tos Exposure ....................................................
8
Introduction................................................
8
Control Techniques..........................................
8
Waste Disposal. ............................................. 11
Human Exposure to Asbestos.................................
14
Conclusion..................................................
23
References..................................................
25
3. Mining and Milling of A s b e s t o s .................................
27
Introduction................................................
27
Asbestos Mining ............................................ 28
Asbestos Milling............................................ 33
Environmental Regulations and Compliance................... 35
Atmospheric Emissions from Mining and Milling ............. 36
Ambient Asbestos FiberConcentrations ...................... 38
Nonoccupational Atmospheric Exposure....................... 38
References..................................................
39
4. Asbestos Paper Products.......................................... 41
Introduction................................................
41
Product Descriptions........................................ 42
S u b s t i t u t e s .....................................
50
Manufacturing .............................................. 54
Asbestos Release............................................ 62
Conclusion . . . . . . . ....................... . . . . .
72
References..................................................
77
5. Friction Materials .............................................. 82
Introduction................................................
82
Product Description ........................................ 84
S ubstitutes ................................................ 88
Manufacturing .............................................. 92
Asbestos Release............................................ 98
Conclusion..................................................... 110
References..................................................... Ill
iii
CONTENTS (continued)
Asbestos-Cement Pipe . . . .
115
Introduction..........
115
Product Description . .
117
Substitutes ..........
118
Manufacturing ........
119
Asbestos Release. . . .
122
Conclusion............
131
References............
132
Asbestos-Cement Sheet. . . .
135
Introduction..........
135
Product Description . .
135
Substitutes ..........
138
Manufacturing ........
HO
Asbestos Release. . . .
146
Conclusion............
151
References.............
153
Flooring Products..........
155
Introduction..........
155
Product Description . .
155
Substitutes ..........
157
Manufacturing ........
157
Asbestos Release. . . .
161
Conclusion............
167
References............
169
Gaskets and Packing. . . . .
171
Introduction..........
171
Product Description . .
171
Substitutes ..........
175
Manufacturing ........
176
Asbestos Release. . . .
181
Conclusion............
185
References............
186
Sealants ...................
189
Introduction..........
189
Product Description . .
189
Substitutes ..........
191
Manufacturing ........
193
Asbestos Release. . . .
197
Conclusion............
202
References............
204
Asbestos-Reinforced Plastics
206
Introduct ion..........
206
Product Description . .
206
Substitutes ..........
208
Manufacturing ........
210
Asbestos Release. . . .
214
Conclusion ..........
219
References............
221
iv
CONTENTS (continued)
12. T e x t i l e s ........................................................... 223
Introduction................................................... 223
Product Description ........................................ 223
Substitutes................................................... 227
Manufacturing .............................................. 231
Asbestos Release.............................................. 234
Conclusion..................................................... 239
References..................................................... 241
13. Miscellaneous Asbestos Uses........................................ 245
Introduction................................................... 245
Drilling Muds .............................................. 245
Shotgun Shell Base W a d s ...................................... 249
Asphalt/Asbestos Cement .................................... 250
Foundry Sands .............................................. 250
Sprayed-on Insulation.....................
250
Artificial Fireplace Ashes and Artificial Snow .......... 251
Conclusion..................................................... 251
References..................................................... 255
14. Results Discussion and Conclusion ............................. 258
R e s u l t s ....................................................... 258
Discussion and Conclusion ............................... 262
v
consumed annually, 24.5 metric tons of fibers would become airborne. This is higher than process and disposal emission estimates arrived at for the entire miscellaneous products category using Levine's31 assumptions. Combining Levine's 1974 estimates with 1980 asbestos consumption data, an estimate of 5.2 tons per year for process emissions and 0.5 tons per year for disposal emissions can be calculated. For consistency with the other chapters, these estimates will be used for the entire miscellaneous products category. The use of pelletized asbestos by the entire industry would significantly reduce the amount of asbestos released to the air.
Conclusion
The use of asbestos in drilling muds has been decreasing due to concern for worker's health and standards promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration concerning airborne asbestos. In instances where asbestos is used, asbestos in pellet form, as opposed to fiber form, should be employed to decrease fiber release to the air. The ultimate disposal of asbestos containing drilling muds is in the mud pit which is covered with dirt.
Adequate substitutes are available to replace both functions of asbestos in drilling muds, i.e., to provide carrying capacity (viscosifier) and to act as a loss-circulation material. A large number of substitutes exist for losscirculation material at a competitive cost. The substitute materials which are viscosifiers are the bentonite, attapulgite, and sepiolite clays and a variety of polymers. The clays are competitive with asbestos in cost. The polymers are more expensive than asbestos, but less material is necessary to make up the drilling mud resulting in a cost per barrel figure that is still more expensive, but nevertheless competitive. The use of asbestos in drilling muds is not mandatory and probably not even necessary in most applications as adequate substitutes exist at a competitive cost.
SHOTGUN SHELL BASE WADS
Asbestos has been used to manufacture base wads for shotgun shells. Base wads are formed from a mixture of about 36 percent by weight of asbestos, 54 percent wood flour and 10 percent wax which is pressed to form the required shape.18
Only one shotgun shell manufacturing plant (operated by Remington Arms Company in Bridgeport, CT) is known to use asbestos. However, the manufacturer is currently phasing out asbestos in shotgun shell base wads. The asbestos-
containing shells are being replaced with a one piece polyethylene shell which is a more stable shell in addition to being less costly. The Remington Arms Company recently reported that they will have converted 95 percent of the asbestos-containing shotgun shells to one piece asbestos-free shells by the end of the year 1980. The remaining 5 percent will be converted to asbestosfree shells by the end of the year 1981.18
The major source of emissions from manufacturing occurs during handling and introduction of the raw material. Processing areas are typically vented to fabric filters. The material collected in the baghouse is recycled. Fiber release in process water and product scrap wastes are judged to be minor. Also, fiber emissions probably occur when the shotgun shell is fired from a gun but there is presently no means of determining the amount of fibers that become airborne as opposed to those that remain encased in the wad mixture.14
249
REFERENCES
1. Clifton, R. A. Asbestos-- 1979. U.S. Department of the Interior. July 1979.
2. Clifton, R. A. Asbestos. Washington, D.C.
1980 Minerals Yearbook.
U.S. Bureau of Mines,
3. Huebotter, E. E. and G. R. Gray. Drilling Fluids. Kirk-Othmer Encyclo pedia of Chemical Technology. Second edition. Volume 7. pp. 287-307.
4. Zwicker, D. A. Glorious Mud, The Lamp, Exxon Corporation, New York, NY. Volume 61, No. 4, Winter (1979). pp. 26-29.
5. Pundsack, P. L. and W. 0. Jackson. Fibers, Inorganic. Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology. Volume 6, pp. 671-690. John Wiley and Sons, Publishers, NY.
6. Letter from B. J. Pigg, Asbestos Information Association to Lester Y. Pilcher, GCA/Technology Division, February 13, 1980. Amount of Asbestos used annually in Drilling Mud.
7. Binder, G. Exxon Production Research Company. Houston, TX. (713) 965-4810, Personal communication with Lester Y. Pilcher, GCA/ Technology Division. January 24, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call N o . 7.
8. Wright, T. R . , Jr., and W. Dudley, Jr., ed. Guide to Drilling Workover, and Completion Fluids. World Oil. p. 116. June 1979.
9. Kennedy, B. Messina, Inc. Dallas, TX. (713) 225-6383, personal com munication with Lester H. Pilcher, GCA/Technology Division, January 29, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call No. 11.
10. Drilling Fluids: Computer Planning and New High-Temperature Fluid. World Oil. December 1979.
11. Fenner, E. Johns-Manville Corporation. Denver, CO. (303) 979-1000, personal communication with Lester Y. Pilcher, GCA/Technology Division, January 30, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call No. 13.
12. Clear, E. E. Drilling Specialties, Bartlesville, OK. (918) 661-5405, personal communication with Lester Y. Pilcher, GCA/Technology Division, February 4, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call No. 22.
255
13. Petri, C. Montello, Co. Tulsa, OK (918) 665-1170, personal communi cation with Lester Y. Pilcher, GCA/Technology Division, February 4, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call No. 20.
14. Meylan, William M. et al. Chemical Market Input/Output Analysis of Selected Chemical Substances to Assess Sources of Environmental Contam ination: Task III. Asbestos. Prepared for OTS, EPA, Washington, D.C.
15. American Petroleum Institute. Oil and Gas Well Drilling Fluids. API Bulletin 13F, Washington, D.C. August 1978. p. 6.
16. Daly, A. R . , et al. Technological Feasibility and Economic Impact of OSHA Proposed Revision of the Asbestos Standard (Construction Excluded). Asbestos Information Association/North America. March 26, 1976.
17. Bradfield, R. E. N. Asbestos: Review of Uses, Health Effects, Measure ment and Control. Atkins Research and Development, Epsom Surrey, England. January 1977.
18. Telecon. T. McCawley. Remington Arms Corp. Bridgeport, CT with R. Bell, GCA Corporation, GCA/Technology Division. 1980.
19. Foster, C. Consultant. National Asphalt Paving Association. Riverdale, MD. (301) 779-4880, personal communication with S. Duletsky, GCA Corporation, February 11, 1980. Notebook No. 05, Phone call No. 49.
20. Leman, M. Johns-Manville Corporation. Denver, CO. (303) 979-1000, personal communication with S. Duletsky, GCA Corporation, February 14, 1980. Notebook No. 05, Phone call No. 58.
21. Plate, H. Manager of Marketing. ASARCO, Inc. New York, NY. (212) 732-9500, personal communication with S. Duletsky, GCA Corporation, February 20, 1980. Notebook No. 05, Phone call No. 60.
22. Kotzin, Ezra. American Foundryman's Society. Des Plaines, IL. (312) 824-0181, personal communication with Mr. L. Y. Pilcher, GCA/Technology Division, February 15, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call No. 39.
23. Mosher, Gary. Industrial Hygienist. American Foundryman's Society. Des Plaines, IL. (312) 824-0181, personal communication with Mr. L. Y. Pilcher, GCA/Technology Division, February 12, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call No. 33.
24. Kuhn, S. Johns-Manville Regional Sales Office. Atlanta, GA. (404) 449-3300, personal communication with Mr. L. Y. Pilcher, GCA/Technology Division, February 15, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call No. 35.
25. Penters, A. Sales Manager. Whitehead Brothers Co. Florham Park, NJ. (201) 377-9100, personal communication with Mr. L. Y. Pilcher, GCA/ Technology Division, February 12, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call No. 29.
256
26. Marvel, H. Pennsylvania Foundry Supply and Sand Co. Philadelphia, PA. (215) 333-1155, personal communication with Mr. L. Y. Pilcher, GCA/ Technology Division, February 15, 1980. Notebook No. 04, Phone call No. 38.
27. Cavaseno, F. Latest Work on Asbestos Won't Be the Last. Chemical Engineering. November 6, 1978. pp. 76, 80.
28. Reitze, W. B . , et al. Application of Sprayed Inorganic Fiber Containing Asbestos: Occupational Health Hazards. Am. Ind. Hyg. Ass. J. 1972. Vol. 33, pp. 178-191.
29. Sawyer, R. N., and C. N. Spooner. 1978. Sprayed Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buildings: A Guidance Document. Part 2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. EPA Report No. EPA-450/2-78-014.
30. Part 1305-- Ban of Artificial Emberizing Materials (Ash and Embers) Containing Respirable Free-Form Asbestos. Federal Register, Chapter 11-- Consumer Product Safety Commission. December 15, 1977.
31. Levine, R . , ed. Asbestos. An Information Resource. May 1978.
257