AsbestosAsbestos

ChE 562 – 10/6/04ChE 562 – 10/6/04

Debbie SchuttenhelmDebbie Schuttenhelm

OutlineOutline

What is asbestos?What is asbestos?Positives – insulation and fire preventionPositives – insulation and fire preventionNegatives – health risksNegatives – health risksLaws and legislationLaws and legislationUrban legends, politics, public opinionUrban legends, politics, public opinionConclusionsConclusions

What is asbestos?What is asbestos?

Class of fibrous silicate mineralsClass of fibrous silicate mineralsUsed for various purposes since ancient Used for various purposes since ancient

timestimes Intentionally used by itself or accidentally Intentionally used by itself or accidentally

used in contaminated vermiculiteused in contaminated vermiculiteWidespread use began in US in 1930s, Widespread use began in US in 1930s,

peaked in 1973peaked in 1973

Types and differencesTypes and differences

Chrysotile – “white”Chrysotile – “white” Discovered 1850 Discovered 1850

QuebecQuebec

Amosite – “brown”Amosite – “brown” Discovered in 1907 Discovered in 1907

South AfricaSouth Africa

Crocidolite – “blue”Crocidolite – “blue” Discovered in 1805 Discovered in 1805

South AfricaSouth Africa

Chemical structureChemical structure

Chrysotile - MgChrysotile - Mg33SiSi22OO55(OH)(OH)44

Amosite - (FeAmosite - (Fe2+2+Mg)Mg)55SiSi88OO2222(OH)(OH)22

Crocidolite - NaCrocidolite - Na22(Fe(Fe2+2+Mg)Mg)33FeFe3+3+SiSi88OO2222(OH)(OH)22

Crystalline structureCrystalline structure

Why we like asbestosWhy we like asbestos

Fire preventionFire preventionCeiling panels, structural steelworkCeiling panels, structural steelwork

InsulationInsulationPipes and boilersPipes and boilersElectronicsElectronics

Tough, durable fibersTough, durable fibersCementCementClothing and fabricsClothing and fabrics

Why we dislike asbestosWhy we dislike asbestos

First suggested as dangerous in 1897First suggested as dangerous in 1897Studies in 1920-1930s pointed to severe Studies in 1920-1930s pointed to severe

health riskshealth risksHard to diagnose and treat because of Hard to diagnose and treat because of

latency period in symptomslatency period in symptomsLinked to asbestosis, mesothelioma, and Linked to asbestosis, mesothelioma, and

lung cancerlung cancer

AsbestosisAsbestosis

Noncancerous scarring of lung tissueNoncancerous scarring of lung tissueRequires long term, heavy exposure to Requires long term, heavy exposure to

airborne asbestos fibersairborne asbestos fibersMainly found in mine workers and familyMainly found in mine workers and familyFirst case discovered in 1920sFirst case discovered in 1920sBy 1930 1 in 4 asbestos workers afflictedBy 1930 1 in 4 asbestos workers afflicted1946 discovered in end users of asbestos 1946 discovered in end users of asbestos

productsproducts

MesotheliomaMesothelioma

Rare cancer of linings of chest and Rare cancer of linings of chest and abdominal cavityabdominal cavity

Usually fatal within one yearUsually fatal within one yearEstimated 250,000 new cases in EU in Estimated 250,000 new cases in EU in

next 35 yearsnext 35 years

Asbestos-related deathsAsbestos-related deaths

US lawsUS laws

1989 EPA ban, overturned by appeals 1989 EPA ban, overturned by appeals court in 1991court in 1991

Regulation falls under multiple Regulation falls under multiple environmental acts and control agenciesenvironmental acts and control agencies

Partial and conditional bans on some uses Partial and conditional bans on some uses of ACMsof ACMs

Provide loose guidelines for safe removalProvide loose guidelines for safe removal

World lawsWorld laws

As of 2002 banned in 36 countriesAs of 2002 banned in 36 countriesEuropean countries began bans in 1985European countries began bans in 1985Full ban for EU 1998-99, implement by Full ban for EU 1998-99, implement by

20052005Dec 31, 2003 ban on import and sale of Dec 31, 2003 ban on import and sale of

chyrsotile to Australiachyrsotile to Australia

US legislationUS legislation

Over 600,000 claims filedOver 600,000 claims filed Estimated 90% claims are Estimated 90% claims are

from those not sickfrom those not sick Bankruptcy of over 70 Bankruptcy of over 70

companiescompanies Estimated total legislative Estimated total legislative

cost of $275 billioncost of $275 billion

World legislationWorld legislation

Mar 2004 - Brazilian labor rights activist Mar 2004 - Brazilian labor rights activist Fernanda Giannasi on trial for insulting Fernanda Giannasi on trial for insulting Brazilian government officialBrazilian government official

Canada’s Asbestos Institute press release Canada’s Asbestos Institute press release on the safety of chrysotile asbestos printed on the safety of chrysotile asbestos printed on asbestos paperon asbestos paper

Sep 18, 2004 – Russia and Canada block Sep 18, 2004 – Russia and Canada block UN from adding asbestos to its list of UN from adding asbestos to its list of “highly dangerous substances”“highly dangerous substances”

Urban legends and politicsUrban legends and politics

Public opinionPublic opinion

Recent studiesRecent studies

2002 designation of Libby, Montana as 2002 designation of Libby, Montana as EPA Superfund siteEPA Superfund site

New York City air quality after WTC New York City air quality after WTC collapse, questions in sampling methods collapse, questions in sampling methods and politicsand politics

Oct 4, 2004 protests in CanadaOct 4, 2004 protests in Canada

ConclusionsConclusions

Amphibole asbestos definitely unsafe, Amphibole asbestos definitely unsafe, chrysotile needs more investigationchrysotile needs more investigation

Lack of independent studiesLack of independent studiesHealth claims exaggerated but noteworthyHealth claims exaggerated but noteworthyConfusing mix of world opinions and laws Confusing mix of world opinions and laws

will cause future difficultieswill cause future difficultiesNeed for concrete knowledge and Need for concrete knowledge and

guidelinesguidelines

ReferencesReferences

Asbestos Chemical and Physical InformationAsbestos Chemical and Physical Information. Agency for Toxic . Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry / US Dept. of Health and Human Substances and Disease Registry / US Dept. of Health and Human Services. 2003. 4 Oct 2004 Services. 2003. 4 Oct 2004 <http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp61-c4.pdf><http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp61-c4.pdf>

EPA Asbestos Materials Ban ClarificationEPA Asbestos Materials Ban Clarification. 1999. 2 Oct 2004 . 1999. 2 Oct 2004 <http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/><http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/>

History of AsbestosHistory of Asbestos. Kilpatrick and Associates Occupational Hygiene . Kilpatrick and Associates Occupational Hygiene and Environmental Consultants. 2003. 4 Oct 2004 and Environmental Consultants. 2003. 4 Oct 2004 <http://www.kilpatricks.com.au/asbestos/><http://www.kilpatricks.com.au/asbestos/>

Some Facts About AsbestosSome Facts About Asbestos. US Geological Survey. 2001. 4 Oct 2004 . US Geological Survey. 2001. 4 Oct 2004 <http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs012-01/fs012-01.pdf><http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs012-01/fs012-01.pdf>

The Asbestos Epidemic in AmericaThe Asbestos Epidemic in America. Environmental Working Group. . Environmental Working Group. 2004. 4 Oct 2004 <http://www.ewg.org/reports/asbestos/>2004. 4 Oct 2004 <http://www.ewg.org/reports/asbestos/>