Evaluation of take-home exposure to asbestos from handling asbestos-contaminated worker clothing following the abrasive sawing of cement pipe

Abstract

Although industrial uses of asbestos have declined since the 1970s, in recent years there has been a renewed interest in para-occupational (“take-home”) exposure to these fibers. The aim of this study was to quantify the release of asbestos fibers, if any, during the shaking out of crocidolite- and chrysotile-contaminated clothing in a simulated at-home setting. An exposure study was conducted in which personal and area air samples were collected during the handling (i.e. shake-out) of work clothing (shirt and pants) previously worn by an operator who had cut asbestos-containing cement pipe. During eight “loading” events, the operator cut a historically representative asbestos-containing cement pipe (10% crocidolite and 25% chrysotile) using a powered abrasive saw. Subsequently, 30-minute air samples were collected during four “shake-out” events, each of which consisted of the handling of two complete sets of contaminated work clothes. Samples were analyzed in accordance with NIOSH methods 7400 and 7402. The mean phase contrast microscopy equivalent (PCME) airborne concentrations were 0.52 f/cc (SD = 0.34 f/cc) for total asbestos fibers, 0.36 f/cc (SD = 0.26 f/cc) for chrysotile and 0.17 f/cc (SD = 0.096 f/cc) for crocidolite. Based on likely estimates of the frequency of laundering activities, and assuming that the dusty clothing (1) is not blown off in the occupational setting using compressed air and (2) is not shaken out before entering the home, a family member handling the clothing could potentially have a lifetime cumulative exposure to chrysotile and crocidolite of approximately 0.20 f/cc-year and 0.096 f/cc-year, respectively.

Keywords:

• Cement pipe
• asbestos
• crocidolite
• chrysotile
• take-home
• exposure assessment

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Disclosure statement

Seven of the authors are employed by Cardno ChemRisk, a consulting firm that provides scientific advice to the government, corporations, law firms, and various scientific and professional organizations. The other two authors are employed by RJ Lee Group, an accredited analytical laboratory and consulting firm. Three of the authors (DJP, JSP, RJL) have served as expert witnesses in legal matters involving asbestos.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support for the research described in this manuscript was provided in part by Marathon Oil Corporation, as part of a single litigation matter involving asbestos exposure associated with cutting AC pipe. In that matter, Cardno ChemRisk was engaged to provide general consulting and expert advice through the retention of one of the authors (DJP). Significant additional financial support and funding for the preparation of this article was provided by Cardno ChemRisk and RJ Lee Group. The authors designed, performed and analyzed the results from the study and are solely responsible for the content of this article, without review or comment by any past or current clients or attorneys.