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ASBESTOS EXPOSURES DURING ROUTINE FLOOR TILE MAINTENANCE. PART 2: ULTRA HIGH SPEED BURNISHING AND WET-STRIPPING
Citation:
Kominsky, J. R., R. W. Freyberg, A. Edwards*, P J. Clark*, AND R. Wilmoth*. ASBESTOS EXPOSURES DURING ROUTINE FLOOR TILE MAINTENANCE. PART 2: ULTRA HIGH SPEED BURNISHING AND WET-STRIPPING. Pierce, J.T. (ed.), Submitted to: APPLIED OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE. Taylor & Francis Publishers, New York, NY, 13(2):107-112, (1998).
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Description:
This study was conducted to evaluate airborne asbestos concentrations during ultra high speed (UHS) burnishing and wet-stripping of asbestos-containing resilient floor tile under two levels of floor care condition (poor 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 microscopy (PCM) for comparison with the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1 f/cm(3), 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This study shows that UHS burnishing and wet-stripping of asbestos-containing residient floor tile can result in elevated levels of airborne asbestos. UHS burnishing and wet-stripping produced similar increases in airborne asbestos concentrations when compared with baseline measurements. Approximately 99.5% of the asbestos structures were less than or equal to 7 ug in length and were primarily fibers (92%) and, to a lesser extent, bundles, cluster, and matrics. None of the 8-hr TWA concentrations measured during wet-stripping exceeded the OSHA PEL; however, the PEL was exceeded by all of the 8-hr TWA concentrations measuring during UHS burnishing. The elevated levels of total fibers were due to a nonasbestos-containing powder generated during the burnishing of the floor tile. TEM analyses showed that the PCM analyses did not reflect the actual asbestos exposures during UHS burnishing. The interpretation of PCM data generated during floor care operations and other operation and maintenance activities should keep in mind the limitation of the light microscope as well as the analytical protocol.