Document xdxK0owGEQxRjLJBJkML5pzom

FILE NAME: RT Vanderbilt (RTV) DATE: 1978 June 5 DOC#: RTV095 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from the US Dept of Labor to D.A.P. Inc. with Summary of the Results of Air and Bulk Samples Collected I IL S . DEPARTMENT OF LABOR occupational safety and health administration June 5, 1978 CINCINNATI AREA OFFICE REGION V FEOERAL OFFICE BUILDIMC, ROOM 403 MO MAIN STREET Cin c in n a ti, o h ib 43202 Mr. Wayne Gramke H an t Manager D .A .P . Incorporated 5300 Huberville Road Dayton, Ohio 45401 Dear Mr. Gramke: Enclosed is a summary of the resu lts o f the a ir and bulk samples co l lected during the calk production operation by the B u ty l-fle x and 205 machines on A p ril 4j 1978* In the process sampled, IT 3X Talc from R .T . Vanderbilt is used in a calk manufacturing process to keep rubber dry and to keep i t from reuniting a fte r rubber blocks are ground up in a hog in the in it ia l stage o f the process. The ta lc bulk sample analyzed contained 0,6$ asbestos, (including anthophyllits and tre a o lite asbestos), and the a ir samples contained from 0.1 to 0.6 fib ers/cc (to ta l fib ers - asbestos, t a lc , and other fib e rs ) . The laboratory was~able to confirm .the presence of asbestos ia n h e bulk and on each o f the samples co lle cte d . While the asbestos le v e ls a t the time of the inspection were consid erably below the current federal standards, i t should be noted th at a standard o f 2 fib e rs per cubic centimeter as an 8 hour average was w ritten to protect workers from the long range development of asbestosis. I t was not designed fo r protection from the carcinogenic e ffe c ts of a s b e s to s is . Current studies indicate a d e fin ite relation ship between exposure to airborne asbestos and. an increased incidence of lung cancer, pleural mesothelioma, and peritoneal mesothelioma. "Safe le v e ls o f exposure" have not been established to prevent the occurence of such occupational diseases. The National In stitu te fo r Occupational Safety and Health has recommended.that the eight hour asbestos average be reduced to 0,1 fibers/cc and th at the peak concentrations not exceed o .5 fibers/pc based on a 15-fflimite sample period. (DHEff Publication No. 77-169, "Revised Recommended Asbestos Standard") ' This recent recommendation WES000861 / is intended to protect against the nonearcino genic e ffe cts of asbestos, and to reduce t ie ris k of asbestos-induced cancer* There is no assurance of protection against the carcinogenic e ffe cts of asbestos at these levels* A b e tter understanding o f exposure to asbestos fib e rs in your plant be had when asbestos le v e ls are considered in terms of the number o f fib e rs being inhaled by workers rather than a number o f fib e rs per u n it of a ir . For example, a background le v e l of 0.025 fib e rs/ cubic centimeter becomes 250,000 fib e rs breathed per day based on an average worker breathing 10 cubic meters o f a ir per day. Ex trapolating fu rth er, th is would resu lt in a yearly exposure o f approximately 60 m illio n fib e r s . C le a rly , low fib er/cc le v e ls resu lt in sig n ifica n t asbestos exposure to employees. Although the asbestos samples taken did not exceed the 8-hour time weighted average or c e ilin g concentration, every e ffo rt should be made to control excaping fib e rs a t th e ir sources so employee exposures can be kept to a minimum. This may require fu rth er study and m odifica tion o f your environmental controls or changes in handling procedures. Section 1910*1001 o f the OSHA standards covers the use o f asbestos in workplaces where asbestos fib e r s are released. There are also requirements fo r waste d isp osal, personal and area monitoring, caution signs and lab els, and work practices th at must be met when asbestos i s used* Having brought these items to your atten tion , we an ticipate your fu lle s t cooperation in improving conditions fo r a ll concerned. I f you have any questions regarding the sample resu lts or the asbestos standard, please f e d free to c a ll our o ffic e (684-2354). Stephen Massinger In d u strial Hygienist enei. WES000862