Evaluation of two cleaning methods for removal of asbestos fibers from carpet. Report for January 1988-September 1989

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6281221

Kominsky, J R; Freyberg, R W; Chesson, J; Chatfield, E 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 absolute (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 asbestos concentration after dry vacuuming. The level of asbestos contamination had no significant effect on the difference between the asbestos concentrations before and after cleaning. Airborne asbestos concentrations were two to four times greater during the carpet cleaning activities. The level of asbestos contamination in the carpet and the type of cleaning method used had no significant effect on the difference between the airborne asbestos concentration before and during cleaning.

• Research Organization: PEI Associates, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6281221
• Report Number(s): PB-91-125740/XAB; CNN: EPA-68-03-4006
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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