EPA Document# EPA-740-R1-7018 May 2018 United States Office of Chemical Safety and Environmental Protection Agency Pollution Prevention Problem Formulation of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos May 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ..........................................................................................................................2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................5 ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................................................6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................8 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................10 1.1 Regulatory History ......................................................................................................................11 1.2 Assessment History .....................................................................................................................12 1.3 Data and Information Collection .................................................................................................13 1.4 Data Screening during Problem Formulation..............................................................................15 2 PROBLEM FORMULATION ........................................................................................................15 2.1 Definition, Structure and Physical and Chemical Properties ......................................................15 2.1.1 Definition of Asbestos ........................................................................................................... 15 2.1.2 Structure................................................................................................................................. 16 2.1.3 Physical and Chemical Properties of Asbestos...................................................................... 16 2.2 Conditions of Use........................................................................................................................18 2.2.1 Data and Information Sources ............................................................................................... 18 2.2.2 Identification of Conditions of Use ....................................................................................... 18 2.2.2.1 Categories Determined Not to be Conditions of Use During Problem Formulation ..... 19 2.2.2.2 Categories of Conditions of Use Included in the Scope of Risk Evaluation .................. 21 2.2.2.3 Overview of Conditions of Use and Life Cycle Diagram .............................................. 22 2.3 Exposures ....................................................................................................................................26 2.3.1 Fate and Transport ................................................................................................................. 26 2.3.2 Releases to the Environment ................................................................................................. 27 2.3.3 Presence in the Environment and Biota ................................................................................. 29 2.3.4 Environmental Exposures ...................................................................................................... 29 2.3.5 Human Exposures .................................................................................................................. 30 2.3.5.1 Occupational Exposures ................................................................................................. 30 2.3.5.2 Consumer Exposures ...................................................................................................... 31 2.3.5.3 General Population Exposures ....................................................................................... 31 2.3.5.4 Potentially Exposed or Susceptible Subpopulations ...................................................... 32 2.4 Hazards (Effects) .........................................................................................................................33 2.4.1 Environmental Hazards ......................................................................................................... 33 2.4.2 Human Health Hazards .......................................................................................................... 34 2.4.2.1 Cancer Hazard ................................................................................................................ 35 2.4.2.2 Potentially Exposed or Susceptible Subpopulations ...................................................... 36 2.5 Conceptual Models......................................................................................................................36 2.5.1 Conceptual Model for Industrial and Commercial Activities and Uses: Potential Exposures and Hazards ........................................................................................................................... 37 2.5.2 Conceptual Model for Consumer Activities and Uses: Potential Exposures and Hazards.... 39 2.5.3 Conceptual Model for Environmental Releases and Wastes: Potential Exposures and Hazards .................................................................................................................................. 41 2.5.3.1 Pathways That EPA Expects to Include and Further Analyze in Risk Evaluation ........ 41 Page 2 of 80 2.5.3.2 Pathways That EPA Expects to Include in Risk Evaluation but Not Further Analyze .. 42 2.5.3.3 Pathways That EPA Does Not Expect to Include in the Risk Evaluation ...................... 42 2.6 Analysis Plan ...............................................................................................................................47 2.6.1 Exposure ................................................................................................................................ 47 2.6.1.1 Environmental Fate and Environmental Releases .......................................................... 47 2.6.1.2 Environmental Exposures............................................................................................... 48 2.6.1.3 Occupational Exposures ................................................................................................. 49 2.6.1.4 Consumer Exposures ...................................................................................................... 50 2.6.2 Hazards (Effects) ................................................................................................................... 51 2.6.2.1 Environmental Hazards .................................................................................................. 51 2.6.2.2 Human Health Hazards................................................................................................... 51 2.6.3 Risk Characterization............................................................................................................. 52 REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................................54 APPENDICES ..........................................................................................................................................58 Appendix A REGULATORY HISTORY............................................................................................ 58 A-1 Federal Laws and Regulations ....................................................................................................58 A-2 State Laws and Regulations ........................................................................................................61 A-3 International Laws and Regulations ............................................................................................62 Appendix B PROCESS, RELEASE AND OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE INFORMATION.... 63 B-1 Process Information.....................................................................................................................63 B-1-1 Manufacture and Import .........................................................................................................63 B-1-1-1 Manufacturing .................................................................................................................63 B-1-1-2 Import ..............................................................................................................................63 B-1-2 Processing ...............................................................................................................................63 B-1-2-1 Chlor-Alkali Industry ......................................................................................................63 B-1-3 Uses.........................................................................................................................................65 B-1-3-1 Oil Industry......................................................................................................................65 B-1-3-2 Use of Sheet Gaskets in Titanium Dioxide Production ...................................................65 B-1-3-3 Commercial Uses.............................................................................................................65 B-1-3-4 Consumer Uses ................................................................................................................65