Asbestos Release from the Demolition of Two Schools in Fairbanks, Alaska

Abstract

Two elementary schools on Fort Wainwright Army Base in Fairbanks, Alaska, were demolished during the Summer of 1992. Prior to demolition, all friable asbestos was removed from the buildings in accordance with the applicable Environmental Protection Agency's asbestos National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants. The primary objective of the study was to assess whether the demolition of the buildings with Category 1 materials (floor tile and roofing materials) in place (as was the case in Fairbanks) resulted in a downwind increase in the airborne asbestos concentration. The secondary objective was to document the worker exposure levels encountered by the demolition workers and the workers transporting the debris. Area sampling was conducted upwind and downwind of the demolition sites and at the landfill, with sample analysis by transmission electron microscopy. Personal sampling of workers was conducted using the standard Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) methods, with analyses by both phase contrast microscopy and by transmission electron microscopy. The contractor sprayed water onto the buildings during the demolition, but much less water was applied than the authors would have preferred. There was, however, no statistically significant (i.e., the p values were > 0.05) difference observed between the airborne asbestos concentrations measured upwind and downwind of the demolitions, nor were there any increases in downwind asbestos concentration observed during debris disposal and covering activities at the landfill. Personal air monitoring of workers indicated that asbestos exposures were well below the OSHA action level and, by the OSHA measure, did not appear to present a significant health risk.