Document pBRJJbzrLR3a9nkkZ8XneDob7
FILE NAME: DuPont Remington (DRM)
DATE: 1978 Aug
DOC#: DRM015
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: EPA Report - Chemical Market Input-Output Analysis of Selected Chemical Substances to Assess Sources of Environmental Contamination - Task III - Asbestos
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Toxic Substances Washington DC 20460
EPA 560/6-78-005 August 1978
Toxic Substances___________________________________________________________
Chem ical Market Input/Output
Analysis of Selected Chem ical Substances to Assess Sources of En viro n m en tal Con tam in atio n
Task III Asbestos
EPA 560/6-78-005
TR 77-515
CHEMICAL MARKET INPUT/OUTPUT ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES TO ASSESS
SOURCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION: TASK III. ASBESTOS
William M. Meylan Philip H. Howard Sheldon S. Lande Arnold Hanchett
Contract No. 68-01-3224 - Task III SRC No. L1273-08
August 1978
Project Officer - Joseph J. Breen
Prepared for: Office of Txic Substances U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
NOTICE This report has been reviewed by the Office of Toxic Substances, EPA, and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1
2.0 DESCRIPTION OF ASBESTOS
2
2.1 Composition and Properties of Asbestos
2
2.2 Asbestos Grading
12
2.3 Major Uses of the Asbestoses
15
2.3.1 Chrysotlle
15
2.3.2 Crocldolite
18
2.3.3 Amosite
18
2.3.4 Tremolite and Actinolite
18
2.3.5 Anthophylllte
19
3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE ASBESTOS INDUSTRY
20
3.1 Industry Structure
20
3.2 Types of Plants
25
3.3 Numerical and Percentage Distribution of Plants, Employees,
27
and Production
4.0 MARKET INPUT/OUTPUT DATA
30
4.1 Mine Production
30
4.2 Exports
33
4.3 Imports
41
4.4 Supply-Demand-Use
42
4.5 Asbestos Fiber Prices
42
4.6 Future Outlook
49
5.0 MINING AND MILLING
53
5.1 U.S. Mines and Mills
53
5.1.1 Ore Characteristics
57
6.0 FRICTION MATERIALS
60
6.1 Statistics
60
6.1.1 Use Quantity and Shipment Values
60
6.1.2 Industrial Firms
62
6.1.3 Plants
66
6.1.4 Future Projections for Asbestos (Clifton, 1975)
68
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Table of Contenta (Cont'd)
Manufacturing Proceaa Technology
6.2.1 Molded Producta
6.2.1.1 Dry-Mix Proceaa 6.2.1.2 Wet-Mix Proceaa
6.2.2 Woven Producta
Composition of Friction Materials
6.3.1 Blndere 6.3.2 Property Modifiers
6.3.2.1 Non-Abrasive Modifiers 6.3.2.2 Abrasive Modifiers
6.3.3 Composltion 6.3.4 Summary
Aabeetos Emissions from Brake Lining Use
6.4.1 Published Literature
6.4.1.1
6.4.1.2
6.4.1.3 6.4.1.4
Discrepancies in Asbestos Content of Emissions or Debris Collection Methodologies and Particle Distribution Analysis Techniques Other Considerations
Size
6.4.2 Emission Quantities
6.4.2.1 A Hypothetical Calculation
6.4.3 Human Exposure to Asbestos Emissions During Brake Lining Maintenance and Repair
Alternatives to Asbestos as a Friction Material
6.5.1 6.5.2 6.5.3 6.5.4
The Role of Asbestos in Friction Linings Alternatives in Brake Linings Alternatives in Disc Brake Pads Alternatives in Clutches
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Page
69 69 69 69
71 74 76 76 76 78
79 79 81 82 82
86
87 89 91 94 96
99
99 99
101 102
Table of Contenta (Cont'd)
6.6 Quantities of Asbestos Released to the Environnent from Manufacture
6.6.1 Release from Baghouses and Product Scraps 6.6.2 Release from Wet Dust Collection
7.0 ASBESTOS-CEMENT PIPE
7.1 Use Quantity, Shipment Values, and Industrial Firms 7.2 Manufacturing Process Technology 7.3 Quantities of Asbestos Released to the Environment from
Manufacture
7.3.1 Release from Baghouses and Rejected Pipe and Scrap 7.3.2 Release from Process Wastewaters
7.4 Asbestos Release from the Use of A-C Pipe 7.5 Alternatives to A-C Pipe
7.5.1 Fiber Replacement In Cement
8.0 ASBESTOS-CEMENT SHEET
8.1 Use Quantities, Shipment Values, and Industrial Firms 8.2 Manufacturing Process Technology 8.3 Quantities of Asbestos Released to the Environment from
Manufacture
8.3.1 Release from Baghouses and Rejected Sheet and Scrap 8.3.2 Release from Process Wastewaters
8.4 Asbestos Release from Use of A-C Sheet 8.5 Alternative Products to A-C Sheet
9.0 ASBESTOS IN THE ROOFING INDUSTRY
9.1 Asbestos Roofing Products 9.2 Manufacturing Technology 9.3 Quantities of Asbestos Released to the Environment from
Manufacture
9.3.1 9.3.2 9.3.3 9.3.4 9.3.5
Release from A-C Sheet and Shingle Production Release from Asbestos Paper Production Release from Asphalt and Paper Coating Operations Release from Mastic Asphalt Mix Production Overall Considerations
9.4 Release of Asbestos from Installed Roofing Products 9.5 Alternatives to Asbestos Roofing Products
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102
103 105
107
108 111 114
115 120
123 129
131
133
133 134 137
138 139
141 142
144
145 147 155
155 155 157 159 160
160 163
Table of Contents (Cont'd)
10.0 ASBESTOS PAPER
164
10.1 Use Quantities and Industrial Firms
165
10.2 Manufacturing Process Technology
166
10.3 Quantities of Asbestos Released to the Environment from
169
Manufacture
10.3.1 Release from Process Wastewaters
169
10.3.2 Release from Process Scraps and Baghouses
174
10.4 Release of Asbestos from Use of Paper Products
175
10.4.1 Floor Underlayments and Pipe Wraps
175
10.4.2 Diaphragms for Brine Cells
176
10.4.3 Beverage and Drug Filters
177
10.5 Alternatives to Asbestos in Paper
180
11.0 ASBESTOS FLOORING
182
11.1 Use Quantity, Shipment Values, and Industrial Firms
182
11.2 Manufacturing Process Technology
184
11.3 Quantities of Asbestos Released to the Environment from
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Manufacture
11.4 Release of Asbestos from Asbestos Flooring Use
189
11.5 Alternative Products to Asbestos Flooring
191
12.0 ASBESTOS INSULATION
193
12.1 Asbestos Insulation Products, Uses, and Economic Trends
193
12.2 Manufacturing Technology
199
12.3 Asbestos Released to the Environment During Manufacture
203
12.4 Asbestos Released to the Environment from Installed
208
Insulation
12.5 Alternative Materials to Asbestos for Insulation
211
13.0 PACKING AND GASKETS
213
13.1 Asbestos Packing and Gasket Products, Uses and Economic
213
Factors
13.2 Manufacturing Technology
216
13.2.1 Gaskets
216
13.2.2 Dynamic Packing
218
13.3 Asbestos Released to the Environment During Manufacture
219
13.4 Asbestos Released to Environment AfterInsulation
222
13.5 Alternative Materials to Asbestos forGaskets and Packing
223
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Table of Contents (Cont'd)
14.0 TEXTILES
225
14.1 Uses and Economie Factors
225
14.2 Manufacturing Technology
232
14.3 Asbestos Release to the Environment from Textile Manufacture 234
14.4 Release of Asbestos Textile Products to the Environment
237
During Use
14.5 Alternatives to Asbestos Textiles
237
15.0 ASBESTOS COATING AND PAINT COMPOUNDS
239
15.1 Uses of Asbestos in Coatings, Paints, and Sealants
239
15.2 Manufacturing Technology
244
15.3 Asbestos Released to theEnvironment During Manufacture
245
15.4 Asbestos Released to theEnvironment During Uses
246
15.5 Alternative Materials to Asbestos for Protective Coatings
248
and Paints
16.0 ASBESTOS-REINFORCED PLASTICS
252
16.1 Use Quantity and Economic Data
253
16.2 Manufacturing Process Technology
255
16.3 Release of Asbestos to the Environment from Manufacture
258
16.4 Fiber Release from Product Use
260
16.5 Alternatives
261
17.0 MISCELLANEOUS ASBESTOS USES
262
17.1 Patching Compounds
264
17.1.1 Application and Manufacture of Patching Compounds
265
17.1.2 Environmental Asbestos Release fromManufacture
267
17.1.3 Environmental Asbestos Release from Use
267
17.1.4 Alternatives
270
17.2 Drilling Muds
271
17.2.1 Environmental Emissions
272
17.2.2 Alternatives
273
17.3 Asphalt-Asbestos Concrete
275
17.3.1 Manufacturing and Emissions
276
17.3.2 Emissions from Product Use
276
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Table of Contents (Cont'd)
17.4 Shotgun Shell Base Wads
17.4.1 17.4.2 17.4.3
ManufacturingEmissions Use Emissions Alternatives
17.5 Artificial Fireplace Ashes 17.6 Other Uses
18.0 SUMMARY OF ASBESTOS END-USES AND EMISSIONS FROM MANUFACTURE AND PRODUCT USE
18.1 Asbestos Emissions fromManufacturing 18.2 Asbestos Emissions fromProduct Use 18.3 Asbestos Emissions fromProduct Disposal
19.0 SOURCES OF ASBESTOS OTHER THAN FROM ITS COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION AND USE
19.1 Talc 19.2 Taconite Wastes 19.3 Rock Quarries 19.4 Summary
20.0 SUMMARY ASSESSMENT
REFERENCES
276
277 278 278
278 279
280
280 287 288
291
291 295 296 297
298
304
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the mixture enough to offset environmental considerations (Koliber, 1978). Also, certain polyester fibers produced by DuPont can be substituted for asbestos in this use and still make a useable and economically viable product (Koliber, 1978).
17.3.1 Manufacturing and Emissions In the manufacturing process, asbestos is mixed with dried
aggregate. After a short dry mixing time, hot liquid asphalt is added to the asbestos-containing aggregate and thoroughly mixed (EPA, 1974). As is the case for other asphalt, mastic, and bitumastic processes using asbestos, the only source of environmental release of free-fibers from manufacturing occurs from bag openings and disposals and dry mixing. Considering the current asbestos consumption is less than 100 tons per year, emissions from baghouses or other collection devices are probably very small. In any product scraps which may be disposed, fibers are encapsulated by the asphalt mixture and cannot become air borne.
17.3.2 Emissions from Product Use Asbestos-asphalt concrete toppings have been applied to bridge
decks, airport roadways, and street curbings. It is possible that normal auto mobile or airplane traffic using these surfaces may enable asbestos fibers to become airborne from surface wear. An exact estimate of the quantity or mileage of asbestos-asphalt concrete surfaces in current use is not available.
17.4 Shotgun Shell Base Wads Only one shotgun shell manufacturing plant in the United States is
known to use commercial asbestos; that plant is located in Bridgeport, Conn., and is operated by Remington Arms Company (EPA, 1974). Personal contacts with
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Remington Arms' representatives indicate that asbestos is currently being used; however, the exact annual use quantity was not available. In 1974, approxi mately 500 tons of asbestos were consumed for shotgun shell production (EPA, 1974). Current use is judged to be approximately the same.
"Asbestos is used to manufacture base wads for shotgun shells. The asbestos is mixed with wood flour and wax, and then pressed into base wads. The weight composition of the final mixture is about 54 percent wood flour, 36 percent asbestos, and 10 percent wax. Asbestos emissions can occur during asbestos addition to the mixture, during mixing operations, and at the wad presses. The emission points are vented to the outside air through particulate collection devices" (EPA, 1974).
17.4.1 Manufacturing Emissions Process water is not used during manufacturing; therefore, the
only asbestos which could be released in waste waters would result from clean ing operations. Such releases are judged to be minor. Product scrap wastes are also judged to be minor.
The major source of emissions occurs from baghouse operations and exhausts. During the course of a year using 500 tons of asbestos in production, roughly one ton of asbestos fibers will be collected in the baghouses by assuming 0.2% of production in air vented to the collectors as was assumed in Section 9.3.4 for a similar manufacturing operation. Baghouse collections are recyclable. Emission quantities to the atmosphere from baghouse exhausts are very small when the Siebert et al^. (1976) baghouse effi ciency of 99.99% is applied.
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17.4.2 Use Emissions When a shot gun shell Is fired from a gun, the base wad Is
normally expelled from the cartridge and is commonly fragmented into many separate pieces. Monitoring data for asbestos fiber release is not available; however, it may be possible that free fibers are released when a shotgun is discharged with an asbestos-containing base wad.
17.4.3 Alternatives Other shotgun shell manufacturers apparently do not use asbestos
in making base wads, so alternatives to asbestos for this application are com mercially available. The exact need'for asbestos in some base wads is not clear.
17.5 Artificial Fireplace Ashes In addition to asbestos joint cements, the Consumer Products Safety
Commission has banned the consumer sales of artificial fireplace ashes contain ing asbestos (Anon., 1977c). In mid-1977, manufacturers stopped producing asbestos fireplace ash in anticipation of a consumer ban (Ray, 1977). This should effectively eliminate this application of asbestos in the future.
Artificial fireplace ashes or emberizing materials are decorative, simulated ashes and embers which are used in some gas-burning fireplace systems to give the appearance of burning embers. They serve strictly a decorative purpose. Artificial emberizing material is sprinkled on or glued to gas logs, or sprinkled on fireplace floors (Ray, 1977).
Between 1971 and 1976, over 100,000 gas logs were reported sold which were frosted or treated by consumers with asbestos-containing materials (R^y, 1977). During 1976, this would indicate that roughly 20,000 gas logs were
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