Evaluation of asbestos exposure within the automotive repair industry: a study involving removal of asbestos-containing body sealants and drive clutch replacement.
Two independent assessments were performed of airborne asbestos concentrations generated during automotive repair work on vintage vehicles . The first involved removal of asbestos-containing seam sealant, and the second involved servicing of a drive clutch. Despite the relatively high concentrations (5.6-28%) of chrysotile fibers detected within bulk samples of seam sealant, the average asbestos concentration for personal breathing zone (PBZ) samples during seam sealant removal was 0.006 f/cc (fibers/cubic centimeter of air). Many other air samples contained asbestos at or below the analytical limit of detection (LOD). Pneumatic chiseling of the sealant material during removal resulted in 69% of area air samples containing asbestos. Use of this impact tool liberated more asbestos than hand scraping. Asbestos fibers were only detected in air samples collected during the installation of a replacement clutch. The highest asbestos corrected airborne fiber concentration observed during clutch installation was 0.0028 f/cc. This value is approximately 100 times lower than Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1f/cc. The airborne asbestos concentrations observed during the servicing of vintage vehicles with asbestos-containing seam sealant and clutches are comparable to levels reported for repair work involving brake components and gaskets.
Blake
Charles L
CL
Bureau Veritas North America, Inc., Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA.
Dotson
G Scott
GS
Harbison
Raymond D
RD
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000032:analysis; D008824:Michigan; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine