Citation:

Kominsky, J., R. Freyburg, AND J. Boiano. AIRBORNE ASBESTOS CONCENTRATIONS DURING BUFFING, BURNISHING, AND STRIPPING OF RESILIENT FLOOR TILE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-95/121 (NTIS PB95260212), 1995.

Description:

This study was conducted to evaluate airborne asbestos concentrations during low-speed spray-buffing, ultra high-speed burnishing, and wet-stripping of asbestos-containing resilient floor tile under preexisting and prepared levels of floor care maintenance. ow-speed spray-buffing and wet-stripping were evaluated on pre-existing floor conditions and three levels of prepared floor-care conditions (poor, medium, and good). ltra high-speed burnishing and wet-stripping were evaluated on two levels of prepared floor-care conditions (poor and good). lthough all of the computed 8-hour TWA personal sample results for the conditions of this study were below the OSHA PEL, it is noted that the exposure activity was assumed. EM analysis showed higher exposures to fibers predominantly less than 5 um in length, whereas these shorter fibers were not counted by PCM. his study shows that low-speed spray-buffing, ultra high-speed burnishing and wet-stripping of asbestos-containing resilient floor tile can be sources of airborne asbestos in building air. reater releases of airborne asbestos were observed during wet-stripping than during low-speed spray-buffing when performed on floors in both pre-existing condition and prepared conditions. he 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 fibers during polish removal.

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