title: Risk assessment of the decay of asbestos cement roofs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In an assessment of the risk of asbestos fibres release from asbestos cement materials, an important role is played by the assessment of the surface corrosion and by the disaggregation of asbestos cement. The aim of this work is to evaluate the differences among several methods used for the risk assessment that lead to a specific choice of abatement techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The state of deterioration of 40 asbestos cement roofs was evaluated using two priority assessment algorithms elaborated in Italy, the 'pull-up test' described by the Italian Organization for Standardization and the indicators described in the Italian legislation coupled with the observation of a small sample, taken from each roof, by a stereomicroscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results obtained with the methods, proposed in this study, for the risk assessment of the decay of asbestos cement roofs show slight differences among them, only one deviates from the others in judgement on the state of conservation of the roof.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is very important to train the operator conducting the study since a completely subjectivity-free method does not exist. Whatever method is used will always be affected by the subjectivity linked to the competency and the training of the operator. Moreover, each method on its own cannot assess the risk of exposure to asbestos, but reliable assessment of asbestos-containing materials requires the use of more than one method, such as visual inspections, a pull-up test, and an assessment algorithm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Hygiene, National Institute for Occupational Prevention and Safety (ISPESL), 00040 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy. antonella.campopiano@ispesl.it
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campopiano
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramires
authors.forename: Aneta Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zakrzewska
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'annibale
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizzutelli
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000592:standards*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019016:Mineral Fibers; D001194:Asbestos