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Mesothelioma
Treatment
Articles
and Abstracts
Exposures
to asbestos arising from bandsawing gasket
material.
Appl
Occup Environ Hyg 2000
May;15(5):404-8
Fowler
DP
Fowler
Associates Occupational and Environmental
Health Services, Inc., Redwood City,
California, USA
A
simulation of bandsawing sheet asbestos
gasket material was performed as part of a
retrospective exposure evaluation
undertaken to assist in determining
causation of a case of mesothelioma. The
work was performed by bandsawing a
chrysotile asbestos (80%)/neoprene gasket
sheet with a conventional 16-inch
woodworking bandsaw inside a chamber.
Measurements of airborne asbestos were
made using conventional area and personal
sampling methods, with analysis of
collected samples by transmission electron
microscopy (TEM) and phase contrast
microscopy (PCM). These were supplemented
by qualitative scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) examinations of some of
the airborne particles collected on the
filters. In contrast with findings from
studies examining manual handling
(installation and removal) of gaskets,
airborne asbestos concentrations from this
operation were found to be well above
current Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure
limit (PEL) (eight-hour time-weighted
average [TWA]) and excursion limit
(30-minute) standards. Although some
"encapsulation" effect of the neoprene
matrix was seen on the particles in the
airborne dust, unencapsulated individual
fiber bundles were also seen. Suggestions
for the implications of the work are
given. In summary, the airborne asbestos
concentrations arising from this work were
quite high, and point to the need for
careful observation of common sense
precautions when manipulation of
asbestos-containing materials (even those
believed to have limited emissions
potential) may involved machining
operations
PMID:
10808262, UI: 20268307
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