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Asbestos Workshop Basics of Asbestos
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POP QUIZ
1. Is Asbestos a man‐made material? 2. What is Asbestos commonly used for? 3. Is Asbestos currently used in manufactured products today? 4. What are the three biggest health concerns associated with asbestos exposure?
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What is Asbestos?
Geology Mineralogy Building Materials and Products
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Asbestos Geology Asbestos occurs naturally in rock formations all over the world
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USGS Plate for Rocky Mountain States https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1182/pdf/Plate.pdf
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Vermont Asbestos Group
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Stereomicroscope image of fiber bundles in soil from the Sumas Mountain Asbestos Site
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Properties of Asbestos
Occur naturally as bundles of Other common properties fibers • Doesn’t burn Exhibit high tensile strength • Thermal stability Have high aspect ratios • Resistance to biodegradation (length:width) • Inert towards most chemicals, Sufficiently flexible to be spun nonreactive • Low electrical conductivity
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What does asbestos look like?
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Definitions ‐ Geology Two mineral groups of Regulated Asbestos • Serpentine Chrysotile • Amphiboles Anthophyllite Amosite (grunerite asbestos) Crocidolite (riebeckite asbestos) Tremolite Actinolite
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Asbestos Building Materials Chrysotile (white asbestos) –Mined in United States, Canada, China, Russia Crocidolite (blue asbestos) –Mined in Australia Amosite (brown asbestos) –Mined in South Africa Other types: • Anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite • Winchite, richterite (components of Libby Amphibole Asbestos) Similar substances • Erionite, fibrous zeolite
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Chrysotile Known as white asbestos Fibrous form of the mineral serpentine Most common type of asbestos used around the world, but some countries still permit “controlled use” of chrysotile 95% of Asbestos Containing Building Materials (ACBM) found will be Chrysotile a large majority being used in asbestos cement building materials, the largest users of which are developing countries.
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Crocidolite
Known as blue asbestos This form is derived from the amphibole family Commonly considered to be the most deadly type of asbestos due to the nature of its extremely thin fibers Was commonly used to insulate steam engines, spray‐on coatings, pipe insulations, plastics and cement products
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Amosite
Known as brown asbestos This form is derived from the amphibole family Most frequently used in cement sheets and high temp, high heat capacity pipe insulation Associated with a higher cancer risk then other asbestos types alongside Crocidolite
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Erionite
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Libby Amphibole
The primary types of asbestos associated with vermiculite from the mine in Libby, Montana include 1 regulated type of asbestos (tremolite) and 2 unregulated amphiboles (winchite and richterite). These comprise Libby Amphibole Asbestos(LAA). • If the lab reports only regulated asbestos, they may be underestimating the concentration of LAA in the sample. • LAA‐specific toxicity values relate concentration to harmful health effects including lung cancer and localized pleural thickening.
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Libby Amphibole LAA's were contaminants in the ore mined in Libby, Montana to acquire vermiculite Processing of the vermiculate was one of main causes of friable asbestos being released into the Libby community For over 70 years the Libby Montana mine produced over 80% of the worlds Vermiculate/ Zonolite products
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1 shipment = 10 Train Cars Full of Vermiculate Product
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Asbestos Consumption
5000
4500
4000
Asbestos, 3500 in thousands 3000 of metric 2500 tons 2000
1500
1000
500
0 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 1999
19 Year USGS, 2001
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Identifying ACMs Any material not metal, glass, or wood could be ACM. Examples of ACM's are floor tile, rolled flooring, mechanical and plumbing insulation, roofing materials, acoustical insulation, fire doors, fireproofing, wall board and joint compound, lab counter tops and fume hoods, as well as sprayed on and troweled on surfacing material Damaged ACMs or PACM must be repaired or abated (removed). PACM’s are presumed asbestos containing materials
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Friable vs. Non Friable ACM
It is possible to suspect that a material contains asbestos by visual inspection. Actual determination of asbestos content can only be made by laboratory analysis. Collecting samples and analyzing them by Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) will determine both percent of asbestos in the material and type of asbestos.
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Friable vs. Non‐friable Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) The EPA and other agencies distinguish between friable and non‐friable asbestos containing materials. • Friable ACM: Contains more than 1% asbestos and can “be crushed or reduced to powder by hand pressure.” • The EPA identifies three categories of ACM; Surfacing Materials . Sprayed or trowel applied material used for acoustical, decorative, or fireproofing. . This includes; plaster, popcorn ceilings, fireproofing, and stucco. Thermal System Insulation (TSI) . Used to inhibit heat transfer. . TSI includes; insulation on pipes, boilers, tanks, ducts, and gaskets. Miscellaneous Materials . Other materials that are not Surfacing or TSI. . These include; roofing materials, floor and ceiling tile, fabrics, and exterior siding. Asbestos Workshop 22
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Definitions – Building Materials
Asbestos: 6 Types of Regulated Asbestos Chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, actinolite. Any one of these minerals that have been chemically altered (i.e. adding a binder to make a product); includes PACM ACM: Asbestos‐containing material; any material containing >1% asbestos***
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Past Uses for Asbestos Asbestos becomes commercialized during the rise of the industrial revolution 1789‐ James Watts Invented the Steam Boiler • Utilized in: Factories Steamboats Railroads It is an excellent insulator for steam engines, turbines, boilers, ovens, and electrical generators Used as a fire proofing material
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Current Uses for Asbestos
Asbestos is still used today in many construction materials (roofing, vinyl tile, cement piping, etc..) Most believe it is banned in the United States but it is still legally imported and used today. Also used for brake linings, gaskets, and pads for automobiles It is no longer mined in the United States and is slowly being phased out of use.
When was the last asbestos mine in the US shut down??
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Friability
ACMs can either be friable or non‐friable: • Friable: Can be reduced to a powder through hand pressure • Non‐friable: Solid matrix This distinction is important because asbestos presents a hazard when airborne as a dust or powder. Non‐friable ACM can become friable and can release asbestos fibers when damaged and/or exposed to the elements.
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ACMs in Warehouses and Offices In commercial and residential buildings, you might find asbestos in: Textured walls and Fiberglass seam adhesive ceilings Ductwork mastic Mudded fittings Ceiling tiles Pipe insulation Window glazing Pipe hanger saddles Fire door insulation Floor tiles and sheet Elevator brake shoes flooring Floor mastic Fire Door Core
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Examples of ACMs
Textured Popcorn Ceiling Pipe Hanger Saddle Block
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Examples of ACMs
Mudded Fittings Pipe Insulation
Vibration Dampers Floor Tiles Asbestos Workshop 29
Which one is asbestos?
Never assume a suspect material is not asbestos…
You can’t tell, you shouldn’t guess!
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Other Uses Insulating Clothing‐ as far back as medieval knights Cigarette Filters (Kent micronite filter) Pajamas/ heated blankets Toasters/ hotplates Hair dryers Arts and crafts Fake Snow Christmas Tree Skirts
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether or not a material contains asbestos? A determination can only be made by reviewing existing reports and/or conducting lab analysis. Must all asbestos be removed from a building? No, if the asbestos is intact, it does not pose a threat. If it is damaged, then it should be assessed by trained personnel. Is it safe for me to work in a building that has asbestos? Yes, as long as the asbestos is left intact and/or undisturbed.
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Asbestos: A Brief History
1900: Asbestos recognized as a cause of occupational disease in London 1918: Insurance companies refuse to sell insurance to asbestos workers 1922: US Navy lists asbestos work as hazardous and recommends the use of respirators 1927: The name “Asbestosis” is applied to lung scarring caused by asbestos 1929: Workers begin suing Johns Manville for damages from disability caused by asbestos exposure
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Asbestos: A Brief History (cont.) 1931: UK Parliament requires dust control measures in asbestos textile factories 1946: ACGIH establishes a maximum acceptable concentration of 5 mppcf* for occupational exposure 1955: Richard Doll publishes a paper linking asbestos exposure to lung cancer (but legislation to protect workers took another 15 years) 1960: Chris Wagner publishes paper linking asbestos to mesothelioma (S. Africa) 1970: OSHA established the first federal guidelines for workplace asbestos exposure *million particles per cubic foot
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Asbestos Workers Past
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Asbestos Workers Past Present
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History of Workplace Exposure Limits
0.2 0.1
1969 1972 1976 1986 1994 Year
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Asbestos: A Brief History (cont.) 1973 First NESHAP rule enacted to eliminate spray application of fire proofing containing asbestos 1975 NESHAP revision bans asbestos in many thermal insulation products 1978 NESHAP revision bans spray‐applied products not previously banned 1982 EPA promulgates asbestos in schools rule EPA issues orange book (1979), blue book (1983), purple book (1985) ‐ these are comprehensive guidance documents for controlling ACM in buildings 1987 EPA issues AHERA regulations and promulgates Asbestos Worker Protection Rule
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Asbestos Ban and Phase Out
In 1989, EPA promulgates Asbestos Ban and Phase‐Out Rule In 1991 much of the Ban and Phase‐Out Rule was vacated by the US Circuit Court of Appeals 1991 EU bans amphibole asbestos and chrysotile for some applications 1992 EPA attempts to work with auto industry to phase out asbestos in brakes. Threatened anti‐trust action by industry ends this effort. 1999 EU extends ban on chrysotile to nearly all applications
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Asbestos in US Today
90% of asbestos currently used in the US is in the chloralkili industry (industrial process of making Chlorine and Sodium hydroxide) Other uses: coatings and compounds, plastics, roofing products, friction products, and other unknown uses Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil(Dec, 2017) and China are today’s largest producers of asbestos
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Current World’s Top Producers
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Consumption By Country
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Countries that have banned asbestos
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