Evaluation of two cleaning methods for the removal of asbestos fibers from carpet

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6066314

Kominsky, J R; Freyberg, R W; Chesson, J; Cain, W C; Powers, T J

The research study examined the effectiveness of dry vacuuming and wet cleaning for the removal of asbestos fibers from carpet, and evaluated the potential for fiber reentrainment during carpet cleaning activities. Routine carpet cleaning operations using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered dry vacuum cleaners and HEPA-filtered hot-water extraction cleaners were simulated on carpet artificially contaminated with asbestos fibers. Overall, wet cleaning the carpet with a hot-water extraction cleaner reduced the level of asbestos contamination by approximately 70 percent. There was no significant evidence of either an increase or a decrease in the asbestos concentration after dry vacuuming. The level of asbestos contamination had no significant effect on the difference between the carpet asbestos concentrations before and after cleaning. Airborne asbestos concentrations were between two and four times greater during the carpet cleaning activities. The level of asbestos contamination in the carpet cleaning activities. The level of asbestos contamination in the carpet and the type of cleaning method used had no statistically significant effect on the difference between the airborne asbestos concentrations before and during cleaning.

• Research Organization: PEI Associates, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6066314
• Report Number(s): PB-91-145169/XAB
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Pub. in Jnl. of American Industrial Hygiene Association, Vol. 51, No. 9, 500-504(Sep 1990). See also PB--91-125740
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ASBESTOS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CLEANING
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION
MANAGEMENT
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)