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What is Asbestos? A rock!
 Naturally occurring magnesium silicate mineral.
Most common types of asbestos
 Chrysotile
 Amosite
 Crocidolite
 Composed of tiny fibers too small to see
 Added to many common building materials due
to its beneficial physical properties
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It’s a Mineral We Mine
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Appearance & Texture
 Fibrous, friable (able to
crumble) and fluffy,
almost like a muddy
brown or white cotton
wool
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Today
 Found in many products imported to the U.S.
 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 contrary to popular belief, it has never
been banned in the U.S.
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Why was so much asbestos
installed in buildings?
 Asbestos has many desirable properties
 Fire resistant
 Sound absorption
 Chemical resistant
 Friction resistant
 Mechanically strong
 Electrical resistance
 Bacterial resistance
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When is asbestos dangerous?
 When you breathe or ingest it
 When asbestos gets in the air, you can breathe it in
 Easy to get asbestos into air, can be inhaled when
someone
Saws
Drills
Nails
Cuts
Crushes
Tears
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Asbestos – Health Impacts
 Lung Cancer
 Asbestosis – serious, progressive, long-
term non-cancer disease of the lungs
 Mesothelioma – rare form of cancer
found in thin lining (membrane) of lungs
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Health Effects
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Where is asbestos found?
 Acoustic insulator
 Thermal insulation
 Fire proofing
 Other building materials
 Brake pads / drum
 Brake linings
 Asbestos-cement
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Isn’t asbestos banned?
Asbestos is NOT a banned substance
 In 1989, EPA banned all NEW uses of asbestos
 Uses established before 1989 still allowed
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Health Risk
Intact, undisturbed asbestoscontaining materials generally do
not pose a health risk
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Schools
 Perform inspections and re-inspection every
three years of asbestos-containing material
 Asbestos management plan
 Notification to parent, teacher, and employee
organizations
 Provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness
training
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Work Place
 U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has issued revised
regulations covering asbestos exposure
 In construction, special regulated-area
requirements for asbestos removal,
renovation, and demolition operations
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Home
 Undisturbed/undeteriorated materials containing
asbestos do not, in general, pose health risk, can be
left alone
 If you are concerned, contact EPA or Health
Department
- Test your home
- Locate a company trained to remove or
contain fibers
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Synergism of Asbestos and Smoking
 Cigarette smoke and asbestos together
significantly increase your chances of getting
lung cancer
 If you have been exposed to asbestos, you
should stop smoking
 May be most important action you can take to
improve your health and decrease cancer risk
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Processes that Use Lead
 Primary and secondary lead smelting
 Lead storage battery manufacturing
 Lead pigment manufacturing and use (paints)
 Solder manufacturing and use
 Shipbuilding/repairing
 Auto manufacturing
 Printing
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2a
How Lead Enters the Body
 Inhalation
 Ingestion
 Generally not absorbed through skin (unless
organic: ethyl/methyl lead)
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18a
Effects of “acute”
overexposure
 Large dosages can kill in a matter of days
 Acute encephalopathy can lead to seizures,
coma, and cardiorespiratory arrest
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Effects of “chronic”
overexposure
Damage to
 Blood-forming system
 Urinary system
 Nervous system
 Reproductive systems
 Kidneys
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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…..
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Here’s the latest….
 March 31, 2008-EPA sets new rule for contractors
during LBP disturbance activities
 By April 2010, contractors will have to be certified
through proper training from accredited entity
 Applies to work involving renovation, repair, and
painting projects in homes, schools, and childcare facilities built before 1978 (Non-HUD
Facilities)
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Occupational Safety & Health
Administration
 Construction regulation on lead applies to all
occupational exposure to lead where applicable;
employers must protect employees
 OSHA 29 CFR 1926.62
 It’s the law!
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1a
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Chemical
Structure
• Trade Names
• Aroclor
• Inclor
• Fenclor
• Many others….
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Properties
•
•
•
•
Non-flammable
Chemically stable
High boiling point
Excellent electrical insulation
properties
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PCB Uses
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Electrical transformers
Capacitors
Heat transfer equipment
Hydraulic equipment
Pigments, dyes, paints
Caulking
Adhesives, tapes
Cable insulation
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History
• Manufacturing started in 1929 (released
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 mostly via soil and water
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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
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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)
Mansel A. Nelson, Senior Program Coordinator
Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP)
Northern Arizona University (NAU)
http://www.nau.edu/eeop/
mansel.nelson@nau.edu
Voice 928 523 1275
FAX 928 523 1280
PO Box 5768, Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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