Air, Surface, and Passive Measurements in a Building During Spray-Buffing of Vinyl-Asbestos Floor Tile

Abstract

This study was conducted in a commercial building with approximately 15,000 ft² of vinyl asbestos floor tile. The primary objectives of the study were to assess potential emissions of asbestos structures from floor tile buffing, to determine the effects of direct versus indirect air sample preparation techniques, and to evaluate the usefulness of surface lift and passive adhesive sampling technologies for monitoring such activities. The asbestos-containing floor tile was determined to be homogeneous material and in relatively good condition throughout the facility. A 1000-ft² room on the first floor of the building was selected for evaluation. Before the work began, background air, passive, and surface lift samples were collected and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. A second set of samples was collected during the work activity and for approximately 8 hours after its completion. The results indicate that concentrations of asbestos structures <5 μm long rose slightly as a result of the work, while concentrations of asbestos structures < 5 μm in length did not. In addition, the indirectly prepared air samples produced higher asbestos structure concentrations than the directly prepared samples. Data are presented summarizing these and other pertinent findings of the study.