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ASBESTOS RELEASE FROM THE DEMOLITION OF TWO SCHOOLS IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Citation:
Wilmoth, R., M. Taylor, AND B. Meyer. ASBESTOS RELEASE FROM THE DEMOLITION OF TWO SCHOOLS IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-94/313 (NTIS PB94192804).
Description:
Two elementary schools on Fort Wainwright Army Base in Fairbanks, Alaska were demolished during the Summer of 1992. rior to demolition, all friable asbestos was removed from the buildings in accordance with the applicable U.S. EPA's asbestos NESHAP. he primary objective of the study was to assess whether the demolition of the buildings with Category 1 materials in place resulted in a downwind increase in the airborne asbestos concentration. he secondary objective was to document the worker exposure levels encountered by the demolition workers and the workers transporting the debris. rea sampling was conducted upwind and downwind of the demolition sites and at the landfill, with sample analyses by TEM. ersonal sampling of workers was conducted using the standard OSHA methods, with analyses by both phase contrast microscopy and by transmission electron microscopy. he contractor sprayed water sparingly onto the buildings during the demolition. here was,however, no statistically significant (p values > 0.05) difference observed between the airborne asbestos concentrations measured upwind and downwind of the demolitions, nor were there any increases in downwind asbestos concentration observed during debris disposal and covering activities at the landfill. Personal air monitoring of workers indicated that asbestos exposures were well below the OSHA Action Level and, by definition, did not appear to present a significant health risk.