Asbestos, Lead &
PCB’s
James Biddle, MS, CIH
Northern Arizona University
Environmental, Health & Safety
1
What is Asbestos? A Rock!
• Naturally occurring magnesium silicate mineral.
Most common types of asbestos are
– Chrysotile
– Amosite
– Crocidolite
• Composed of tiny fibers too small to see.
• Has been added to many common building
materials due to it’s beneficial physical
properties
2
What is Asbestos?
3
4
It’s a Mineral We Mine
5
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/chrysotile.html
CHRYSOTILE
NAME: Chrysotile
COUNTY: Gila
REMAINS: Six mining buildings still standing, one modern
building. Very large tailings pile, many mines. Chrysotile's post
office was established June 27, 1916, and discontinued July 15,
1933. Asbestos was the mainstay of the Chrysotile mine located
in Ash Creek. Chrysotile is named for the type of asbestos that
was mined. In particular, asbestos from Chrysotile was
used in the building of Hoover dam in Nevada.
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Chrysotile Arizona
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Mine Tailings at Chrysotile
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Processed Canadian Asbestos
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Chrysotile Asbestos
10
History of Asbestos
• Known and used in ancient world more than
5000 years ago
• Finland
• Egypt
• Greece
– The word “asbestos” comes from Greeks… translates
to “inextinguishable”
• Rome
– Slaves would wear makeshift respirators while
weaving asbestos cloth to prevent sickness
• China
11
The Start of Modern Usage
• Modern asbestos industry began in 1880
when chrysotile asbestos was first mined
in Canada and Russia
• Products included fireproof shingles,
steam boiler insulation, cement
compounds
• Most extensive use of asbestos began
with WWII
12
WWII
• During WWII, asbestos used heavily in
ship construction and other military
products
• After the war, capacity used for industrial,
commercial, residential applications
• Eventually, asbestos was added to
thousands of different building products
and commercial items
13
Today
• Found in a number of products imported
into USA
– Asbestos cement (transite) (Mexico)
– Vinyl asbestos floor tile (China)
– Sheetrock (Mexico)
– Henry’s Roof Mastic (Canada)
In general, US based companies don’t use
asbestos anymore, but never banned in USA
14
Why was so much Asbestos
installed in buildings?
• Many desirable properties
– Fire resistant
– Sound absorbing
– Chemical resistant
– Friction resistant
– Mechanically strong
– Electrically resistant
– Bacterially resistant
15
Some Other Asbestos-containing
Materials (ACM)
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Roofing shingles
Fireproofing
Thermal pipe insulation
Glues or mastics
Acoustical insulation
Ceiling tiles
Floor tiles
Siding
Window caulking
Cove base
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Fire curtains
Paints
Sheet vinyl
Transite pipe
Sheet rock
Textiles
Rugs and carpets
Hair dryers
Ovens
Car brakes
16
A Few Products with Asbestos…
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Fire Blanket (Retired from NAU in 2007)
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Vinyl Floor Tile
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Linoleum
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Pipe Gasket Material
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Roofing Materials
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Pipe insulation
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Drywall Systems
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Fireproofing
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When is asbestos dangerous?
• When you breathe or ingest it.
• When asbestos gets in air, you can breathe it in
• Easy to get asbestos into air where it can be inhaled
during the following activities
Saw
Drill
Nail
Cut
Crush
Tear
26
1949 Protective Equipment:
(Bib overalls and a head cover)
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Health Effects
28
A Few Statistics
The Asbestos Epidemic
Deaths from Asbestos-related diseases
Disease
Mesothelioma
Number of deaths per year
G-I tract cancer
2,509
1,398
4,800
1,200
Total
9,907
Asbestosis
Lung Cancer
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A Few Statistics (cont.)
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A Few Statistics (cont.)
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Asbestos Diseases
• Asbestosis (White Lung Disease)
– 15-30 years latency
• Lung Cancer
– 20-30 years latency
• Mesothelioma
– 30-40 years latency
– 100% fatal within 12-18 months
• Other cancers (including stomach,
intestinal, and esophageal cancers)
32
Are you safe?
• The answer is YES
• As long as asbestos is not disturbed, it
cannot harm you
• Following safe work practices will ensure
asbestos is not disturbed
• If you see disturbed asbestos, please
notify Regulatory Compliance immediately.
We will address the problem
33
How much asbestos is safe?
• OSHA sets limit of 0.1 fibers per cubic
centimeter, averaged over 8 hours
• 1 cubic centimeter is about equal to the
size of a sugar cube
• OSHA sets another limit of 1.0 f/cc,
averaged over 30 minutes to limit heavier
short-term exposure
34
“Get The Lead Out”
Processes that Use Lead
Exposure to lead occurs in at least
120 different occupations
including
• Primary and secondary lead smelting
• Lead-storage battery manufacturing
2a
Processes that Use Lead
(cont.)
• Lead-pigment manufacturing and
use (paints)
• Solder manufacturing and use
• Shipbuilding/repairing
2b
Processes that Use Lead
(cont.)
• Auto manufacturing
• Printing
2c
How lead enters the body
• Inhalation
• Ingestion
• Generally not absorbed through
skin (unless organic; ethyl/methyl
lead)
18a
Effects of “acute”
overexposure
• Large dosages can kill in a matter
of days
• Acute encephalopathy can lead to
seizures, coma, and
cardiorespiratory arrest
19a
Effects of “chronic”
overexposure
Damage to
• Blood-forming
system
• Nervous system
• Urinary system
• Reproductive
systems
• Kidneys
20a
Regulations over the
Years….
• 1971-Lead Based Paint Poison Prevention
Act (LBPPA) targeting HUD homes only
• 1978-Consumer Product Safety Commission
bans use of LBP in residences
• 1987-abatement of all LBP in HUD homes
• 1995-Guidance Publication on testing and
abatement in non-HUD residences
• Not much since then, until….
Here’s the latest….
• March 31, 2008-EPA sets new rule for
contractors during LBP disturbance
activities
• By April 2010, contractors must be
certified through proper training from
accredited entity
• Applies to work involving renovation,
repair, and painting projects in homes,
schools, and child-care facilities built
before 1978 (Non-HUD Facilities)
Occupational Safety &
Health Administration
• Construction regulation on lead applies to
all occupational exposure to lead where
applicable; employers must protect their
employees
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.62
• It’s the law!
1a
Polychlorinated
Biphenyls
“PCBs”
Chemical
Structure
Trade Names
•Aroclor
•Inclor
•Fenclor
•Many others….
Properties
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Non-flammable
Chemically stable
High-boiling point
Excellent electrical insulation
properties
PCB Uses
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Electrical Transformers
Capacitors
Heat Transfer Equipment
Hydraulic Equipment
Pigments, Dyes, Paints
Caulking
Adhesives, Tapes
Cable Insulation
History
• Manufacturing started in 1929 (release
to atmosphere)
• Banned in 1979
• Some old materials containing PCBs
still out there (light ballasts, caulking,
paint)
• Regulated under the Toxic Substances
Control Act (“TSCA”), 40 CFR 761
• Environmental exposure predominantly
via soil and water
Health Effects
• Carcinogen
(to animals, probable in humans)
• Toxic to
Immune system
Reproductive system
Nervous system
Endocrine system
• Very persistent in environment, can
travel long distances and reach
groundwater
Exposure/Environmental Controls
• Clean all spills promptly (leaking
transformers, etc.)
• Dispose of in accordance with TSCA
regulation
• Do not burn; PCBs form very toxic dioxins
via combustion (Agent Orange-like
compounds)
• If in solid form, treat disturbance by
following asbestos or lead removal
guidelines to control exposure/release
Questions?