title: Exposure to airborne asbestos associated with simulated cable installation above a suspended ceiling.
abstract: Installing cable above a suspended ceiling in the presence of asbestos-containing fireproofing is an example of an activity that may disturb in-place asbestos and associated dust and debris. Two simulations of cable installation were conducted in a room of an unoccupied school to test the extent of such disturbance and resulting elevations in airborne asbestos. Average airborne asbestos concentrations in the room increased over 500-fold during the simulations, with several samples exceeding 50 structures per cubic centimeter (s/cm3), as measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with an indirect preparation technique. Elevated concentrations persisted during a subsequent cleaning of horizontal surfaces in the room and for several hours thereafter. Personal samples collected on the cable installers yielded TEM measurements averaging approximately 68 s/cm3 for the two simulations.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Sciences, Inc., Tucson, AZ 85705.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Keyes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chesson
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Faas
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hatfield
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hays
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Millette
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012574:Schools
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001194:Asbestos