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ASBESTOS EXPOSURES DURING ROUTINE FLOOR TILE MAINTENANCE. PART 1: SPRAY-BUFFING AND WET-STRIPPING
Citation:
Kominsky, J. R., R. W. Freyberg, A. Edwards*, P J. Clark*, R. Wilmoth*, AND K. A. Brackett. ASBESTOS EXPOSURES DURING ROUTINE FLOOR TILE MAINTENANCE. PART 1: SPRAY-BUFFING AND WET-STRIPPING. Pierce, J.T. (ed.), APPLIED OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE. Taylor & Francis, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, 13(2):101-106, (1998).
Description:
This study was conducted to ealuate airborne asbestos concentrations during spray-uffing and wet-stripping of asbestos-containing residient floor tile under three levels of floor conditions (poor, medium, and good). Airborne asbestos concentrations were measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) before and during each floor care maintenance procedure in the breathing zone of the custodial personnel. Airborne total fiber concentrations were also measured by phase contrast microscoy (PCM) for comparison with the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1 f/cm(3), 8-hour time-weighted average. This study demonstrates that routine spray-buffing and wet-stripping of asbestos-containing residient floor tile can result in elevated levels of airborne asbestos. Greater releases of airborne asbestos were observed during wet-stripping than during spray-buffing. The results of this study further suggest that multiple layers of sealant applied to the floor prior to the application of the floor finish can reduce the release of asbestos ribers during removal of the finish. Aproximately 98.6% of the asbestos structures measured were <5ug in length and would not be detected or counted by PCM analysis. The PCM results suggest that th OSHA PEL would not be reached during typical floor care maintenance operations, bu the TEM analyses clearly show that elevated levels of airborne asbestos are present in breathing zones of custodial personel. Operation and maintenance progrms should address the potential asbestos exposure hazards posed by routine floor tile maintenance activities.