Evaluation of airborne asbestos exposure from routine handling of asbestos-containing wire gauze pads in the research laboratory.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Blake CL ; Burrelli LG ; Coyle JP ; Garcia E ; Harbison RD ; Johnson GT ; Newfang D ; Spencer JW
• Description:
  Three independently conducted asbestos exposure evaluations were conducted using wire gauze pads similar to standard practice in the laboratory setting. All testing occurred in a controlled atmosphere inside an enclosed chamber simulating a laboratory setting. Separate teams consisting of a laboratory technician, or technician and assistant simulated common tasks involving wire gauze pads, including heating and direct wire gauze manipulation. Area and personal air samples were collected and evaluated for asbestos consistent with the National Institute of Occupational Safety Health method 7400 and 7402, and the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) method. Bulk gauze pad samples were analyzed by Polarized Light Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy to determine asbestos content. Among air samples, chrysotile asbestos was the only fiber found in the first and third experiments, and tremolite asbestos for the second experiment. None of the air samples contained asbestos in concentrations above the current permissible regulatory levels promulgated by OSHA. These findings indicate that the level of asbestos exposure when working with wire gauze pads in the laboratory setting is much lower than levels associated with asbestosis or asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Asbestos Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Hazardous Substances Hot Temperature Inorganic Chemicals Laboratories Lung Lung Diseases Neoplasms Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

  More +
• Keywords:
  Airborne Particulates; Airborne Particles; Asbestos; Exposure Levels; Risk Factors; Laboratories; Heat; Air Sampling; Air Samples; Hazards; Microscopy; Lung Cancer; Mesothelioma; Author Keywords: Asbestos; Hazard Identification; Laboratory Exposure; Wire Gauze Pads
• ISSN:
  0273-2300
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; Georgia ; Maryland ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  135-141
• Volume:
  96
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064728
• Citation:
  Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2018 Jul; 96:135-141
• Contact Point Address:
  Raymond D. Harbison, Center for Environmental and Occupational Risk Analysis and Management, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL, 33612
• Email:
  rharbiso@health.usf.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4) ; Chrysotile (CAS RN 12001-29-5) ; Tremolite (Ca2[(Mg0.9-1Fe0-0.1)4.5-5Al0-0.5](Si7.5-8Al0-0.5)(OH)2O22) (CAS RN 14567-73-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  Sunshine Education and Research Center, University of South Florida
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:17f48600791f62f17b136da6c5b97c1e8ef2924818ab55010697de0762853a122d1555d8de53b3a694146a106a64a5852edb1fce2739b83a26654731b0ddf6c9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/249220/cdc_249220_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 244.17 KB ]