Area and personal airborne exposure during abatement of asbestos-containing roofing material.

Abstract

Exposure to asbestos-containing material (ACM) is considered to be hazardous and can result in various occupationally related diseases (Health Effects Institute Asbestos Research HEI, 1991). This has resulted in establishment of regulations to protect those associated with this industry (Lange et al. 1996, Lange and Thomulka, 1995), although it has also been claimed that such abatement regulations are a public policy disaster in the US (Ross, 1995). The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published regulatory standards for abatement of asbestos-containing roofing material (ACRM) and these requirements have been described in a Settlement Agreement with the roofing industry (OSHA, 1995). Under item 9 paragraph 1101(f)(2)(ii) as codified in 29 C.F.R. initial exposure monitoring is not required if a negative exposure assessment has been prepared (OSHA, 1995). Negative assessment by its self does not eliminate future air monitoring, but does allow an employer to consider that work activities of a same nature result in similar exposure levels (Lange et al. 1996). If such a negative assessment suggests exposure is below the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL), which is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) timeweighted average (TWA) (OSHA, 1995) many of the practices involving personal protection can be minimized. The most commonly referenced requirement involving personal protection is employment of a respirator (Lange et al. 1996). Thus, information about historical exposure levels can result in cost savings for those involved with abatement of ACRM (Lange et al. 1996). Currently there are few published studies of airborne exposure from asbestos during abatement (HEI, 1991; Lange et al. 1996; Lange and Thomulka, 1999) particularly roofing materials. Publishing exposure data can assist those in the abatement field in establishing historical information on exposure (Lange et al. 1996). This will allow development of a database for anticipated exposure during abatement of various materials and with different work practices (HEI, 1991).