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Development of the Releasable Asbestos Field Sampler
Citation:
Kominsky, J. R., J. W. Thornburg, G. M. SHAUL, W. M. BARRETT, F. D. Hall, AND J. KONZ. Development of the Releasable Asbestos Field Sampler. EM: AIR AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION'S MAGAZINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERS. Air & Waste Management Association, Pittsburgh, PA, 60(3):294 - 301, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public
Description:
A risk assessment for intermittent, low-level exposure to asbestos requires personal breathing concentration data. Currently, activity-based sampling (ABS) is the preferred approach to measurement of a person’s inhalation exposure; i.e., asbestos structures per cubic centimeter of air inhaled. ABS is an expensive, labor intensive procedure that EPA indicates may not adequately capture personal exposure. As a result, alternative methods are needed to reduce the time and expense necessary to obtain breathing zone concentration data. The RAFS was developed and designed as an alternative to ABS, and utilizes a raking motion to provide the energy that releases particulate material from the soil and aerosolize the asbestos fibers. A gentle airflow transports the generated aerosol laterally inside a tunnel to one end where filter sampling cassettes or real-time instruments are located that are used to measure particulate and asbestos release. It has been found to provide repeatable and representative asbestos aerosolization data from soil in situ with less labor and at a lower cost than ABS. The RAFS was tested in a series of laboratory experiments to validate its performance and then was deployed for field trails in asbestos contaminated soil. Laboratory data showed the RAFS generated repeatable, representative aerosol particulate and asbestos concentrations. Field tests showed the RAFS aerosolized asbestos at similar rates as garden raking and aerosolized asbestos concentrations were correlated with total particle concentrations. The combination of the RAFS and a Breathing Zone Model eventually may eliminate the need to activity-based sampling at Superfund and other sites to predict airborne exposure (and associated health risks) to asbestos.
