From 1958 through 1973 asbestos-containing material was used extensively for fire-proofing high-rise office buildings. Earlier use of this material for decorative and acoustical purposes dates from the mid-1930's. Concern exists that these past uses of asbestos may lead to current contamination of building air. This may occur either through damage or erosion of acoustical spray materials or through erosion into building air supply systems of asbestos fibers from spray-lined plenum spaces in office buildings. In order to assess such possibilities, 116 samples of indoor and outdoor air have been analyzed for asbestos. Nineteen buildings in five United States cities were chosen to represent the various construction uses of asbestos-containing spray materials. The results of this sampling and analysis demonstrate that significant contamination can occur in the air supply systems of buildings in which fibrous type-dry spray asbestos-containing fireproofing materials were used. Moreover, erosion of similar materials applied for decorative or acoustical purposes was also found to occur. In contrast, no contamination was demonstrable in buildings in which cementitious spray material had been used.

Prepared by under contract no. 68-02-1346. "Oct. 1975." "EPA/450-3-76-004." Includes bibliographical references.