Document rxjBawyrQwDj8G9d0o8Mo0q90

FROM CHROMA 212 645 5316 < TUE >83. 13. '98 10:39 NO. 4 PAGE 2 F.: ED l/.AR 13 1990 SdENCE 2 March 1990 Volume 247 Number 4.946 J. R COXETER American Asacciation for Uw Advancemenl of Science Science serves its readers as a forum for the presentation and discussion_cf important issues related to the advance ment of scicnsejhctuding the presentation of minority or confluting pools of-view. rathe' than try publishing only mate'ial on which a consensus has been reached. Accordingly, all a'tides published in Science--including editorials. news and comment, and booh reviews---are signed and reflect the indi vidual views ot the authors and not official points o! view adopted by the AAAS or the institutions with which the au thors are attiiiatod. Publisher: Richard S. Nicholson Editor: Daniel E. Kosniand. Jr Mews Editor: Eli'S Rucinsrein Managing Editor: Patricia A Morgan Deputy Edltora: Pnilip H. Abelson (Engineering end Applied Sciences): John I. Brauman (Physical Sciences) EDITORIAL STAFF Assistant Managing Editor: Monica U. Bradford Senior Editors: Elsanore Sut2. Martha Coleman. Barba'a Jasny. Katrina L Ketne'. Phi lip D. Szuromi, David F Voss Asaoclate Editors: Keith W B'ocWehjrst. R. Brooks Hanson. Pamela J. Hines. Ke'iy LaVarco. Linda J Miller Letters Editor: Christine Gvoen Book Reviews: Katherine Uringston, edvor Contributing Editor: Lawrence I. Grossman Chiet Production Editor: Elen E Morphy Editing Department: Lois Scnmi;;. head. Mary McDaniel, Panics L. Moe. Barbara P. Ordway Copy Desk: Jo; S Granger, Margaret E. Gray. MaryBeth Sharile Beverly Shields Production Manager: James Landry Assistant Production Manager; Kathleen C. Fishhook Art Director: Ye'anda N. Rook Graphics and Production; Hoiiy D snup, Juiie Cnerry. Caiher:ne S Siskcs Systems Analyst: William Carter NEWS STAFF Correspondent-ai-Large; Bartcara J Cuilrton Deputy News Editors: John M. Bcndilt. Jean Manr. Coiir. Nom'an News end CommentTfesearch News: Mark H. Crawlcrd. Constance Hoiden, Richard A. Kerr. Ei-ot Marshall, Joseph Palca, Robert Pod. Leslie Roberts. Ma')o.'ie Sun, M. Mitchell Waldrop European Correspondent: Jeremy Cherfas West Cosst Correspondent: Marcia Barinaga BUSINESS STAFF Circulation Director: John G. Colsoh Fulfillment Manager: Mariene ZendeF Business Staff Manager: Deborah Rivera-Wienhoid Classified Advertising Supervisor: Amie Charlene Kmg ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Director: Earl J. Scherago Traffic Manager: Donna Rivera Traffic Manager (Recruitment): Gwen Canler Advertising Sales Manager: Richard L. Charles Marketing Manager: Herbert L BurUund Employment Sales Manager: Edward C. Keller Sales: New York. NY 10036: J. Kevin Henebry. 1515 Bread way (212-730-1050); Scotch Plains. NJ 07076: C. Richard CaSis. 12 Unami Lahe (2C1-B89- 4073); Chicago. IL 60914: Jack Ryan, 525 W. Higgins Rd. (312-635-6675): San Jose CA BS112: Bob Brindley 310 S. 10th St. (408-998-4690). Do'set. VT 05251: Fred W. Diettenbach. Kem Hin Rd. (802-867-5581). Damascus. MD 20672: Rick Sommer. 11318 Kings Valley Dr. (301-972-9270): U.K . Europe Nick Jones. +44(0647)52918: Teiox 42513. FAX (0647) 52053. Information for contributors appears on page XI ot (he 22 December 1969 issue. Edlorist correspondence, including requests lor permission to reprinl and reprim orders, should be sent to 1333 H Sheet. NW. Washington. DC 20005. Tele phone 202-326-6S00 Advertising correspondence should be sent to Tenth Floor. 1515 Broadway. New York. NY 10036. Telephone 212-730-1050 or WU Telex 9580S2 SCHERAGO. or FAX 212-382-3725 The Asbestos Removal Fiasco emoval of asbestos from buildings could cost as much as $50 to $150 billion. The Rcontent of asbestos fibers in the air of buildings containing asbestos is harmlessly small and essentially die same as in outdoor air.* Asbestos in buildings, unless damaged, docs not shed fibers. The removal process releases asbestos fibers which could result in more cancer in the workmen dian would have resulted in die usual occupants had die asbestos been left in place. A puzzling defect in federal legislation and regulations is an arbitrary lumping together ofdisparate minerals and calling the lot of diem asbestos. As a result, chrysotilc, a serpentine mineral, is tarred with association with the dangerous ampmooic crocidolitc. The two minerals differ in composition, color, shape, solubility, and persistence in human tissue." Chrysotilc is a white mineral witn composition Mgc.Di4Uio(UH}g. It tends to be soluble and to disappear in tissue. Fibers tend to be curl)' and excluded from die periphery of the lung. Crocidolite is blue, has the formula Na;(Fc3+)2(Fc3T)?Siij022(OH)2, and is relatively insoluble. It persists in tissue. Its fibers arc long, thin, and straight and penetrate narrow lung passages. About 95 percent of the asbestos in place in the United States is chrysbtilc. Another puzzling defect in federal performance is failure to give sufficient weight to epidemiological experience relating to chrysotilc mines in Quebec. These mines have been operating since before 1900 and have produced about 40 million tons of chrysotilc. In keeping widi die lax practice of earlier days, mining operations were accompanied bv large amounts of chrysotilc dust. Wives of miners were heavily exposed; they dwelt in homes near the mines. Four epidemiological studies ofdie Quebec chrysotilc mining localities show that lifelong exposure of women to dust from nearby mines caused no statistically significant excess disease. The Environmental Protection Agency has fostered the view rhnr a single fiber can cause cancer. This hypothesis iF unproven. We live on a pinner /w which rhcrc is an abundance of serpentine- ana ampin pole-containing rocks. Natural processes have been releasing fibers diroughout Earth historv.TVc brearhe in about 1 million fibers a year------- ' Another puzzle is a lack of expeditious effort by the EPA to obtain rigorous measures of indoor and outdoor levels of fibers. It is only recently that appropriate measurements have been made using transmission electron microscopy. Use of this equipment permits identification and quantitation of asbestos fibers. One would think that in a $50- to 5150billion program die first priority would be an accurate assessment of the problem. This lack of concern about determining the facts of exposure is also reflected in EPA policies with respect to schools. Public and private schools are required to inspect for asbestos and to inform parents if asbestos-containing materials are present. Schools must submit a plan detailing how they will deal with damaged asbestos. They can be fined $5000 per day for failing to meet deadlines. The EPA has recommended bulk sampling and visual inspection to determine a course of acdon rather than measurement of airborne levels of fibers. The removal process releases fibers into the air, sometimes creating greater conccntrarions of diem than before die abatement work began. Remedial workers arc being exposed to high occupational levels. EPA itself estimates diat one half of all asbestos removal projects arc done improperly. Panic has not been confined to schools. Building owners broadly have been ripping out asbestos. If anything, die rush to remove asbestos is accelerating. EPA requires that asbestos be taken out of buildings before dicy arc demolished or renovated. In addition, sonic owners have noted diat the presence of asbestos has made it difficult to lease, sell, or insure asbestos-containing buildings. The Environmental Contractor has published an estimate that diis year $7 billion will be spent on asbestos abatement--an increase of more than 30 percent during 1989. The estimate for 1993 is $11.5 billion. The credibility of EPA has already been damaged. Unless policies are modified, the sums wasted in abatement and litigation will proliferate. Regulations should be modified to take into account the greatly differing hazards ofthe various asbestiform minerals. Standards for indoor air should be based on actual measurements of types and amounts of fibers. --Philip H. Abelson 2 MARCH 1990 *B. T. Mossman erel., Science 247, 294 (1990). EDITORIAL 1017 HWBUI0005294