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EVALUATION OF TWO CLEANING METHODS FOR REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS FIBERS FROM CARPET
Citation:
Kominsky, J., R. Freyberg, AND J. Chesson. EVALUATION OF TWO CLEANING METHODS FOR REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS FIBERS FROM CARPET. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-90/053 (NTIS PB91125740), 1990.
Description:
This research study examined the effectiveness of dry vacuuming and wet cleaning for the removal of asbestos fibers from carpet, and evaluated the potential for fiber reentrainment during carpet cleaning activities. outine carpet cleaning operations using high-efficiency particulate absolute (HEPA) filtered dry vacuum cleaners and HEPA-filtered hot-water extraction cleaners were simulated on carpet artificially contaminated with asbestos fibers. verall, wet cleaning the carpet with a hot-water extraction cleaner reduced the level of asbestos contamination by approximately 70 percent. here was no significant evidence of either an increase or a decrease in asbestos concentration after dry vacuuming. he level of asbestos contamination had no significant effect on the difference between the asbestos concentrations before and after cleaning. irborne asbestos concentrations were two to four times greater during the carpet cleaning activities. he level of asbestos contamination in the carpet and the type of cleaning method used had no significant effect on the difference between the airborne asbestos concentration before and during cleaning.
