Study: Fibers Released from Asbestos Cement Far Exceed Limits

The installation and removal of asbestos cement products may put workers at significant health risks, according to a recent study published in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health. The nonprofit organization Occupational Knowledge International found that exposure levels to airborne asbestos exceed the short-term limit created by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  Exposure while cutting asbestos cement pipes can be more than 50 times higher than OSHA’s limit. The same study found that working with asbestos boards and corrugated roofing materials led to exposure levels about 24 times over the limit.  The study also found that using water to reduce airborne fibers isn’t enough to protect workers from potential harm. Asbestos cement products, which include siding, pipe and roofing, make up more than 90% of asbestos use worldwide.  “We found that exposures from asbestos cement products could be alarmingly high and certainly disproves the asbestos industry’s contention that these materials can be used in a ‘safe and responsible’ manner,” said Perry Gottesfeld, executive director of Occupational Knowledge International and the author of the study. “The study demonstrates that there is an immediate need to ban all asbestos cement products that are sold in many countries, as these are still being installed in millions of homes and commercial buildings.” Asbestos Ban & Global Usage Despite the fact that as...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Asbestos (general) Asbestos Exposure Asbestosis Lung Cancer (Non-Meso) Mesothelioma Source Type: news