skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: NIOSH testimony to DOL on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's notice of proposed rulemaking on occupational exposure to asbestos, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5639115

Richard A. Lemen's purpose for appearing at the hearing is to provide testimony to OSHA regarding the proposed rulemaking to remove nonasbestiform tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite from the asbestos standard. NIOSH is concerned that deleting cleavage fragments of nonasbestiform tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite from the asbestos standard poses a potentially serious health risk for exposed workers. In the NIOSH/OSHA report, NIOSH also reaffirmed its position that there is no scientific basis for differentiating health risks between types of asbestos fibers for regulatory purposes. In its 1984 testimony, NIOSH urged that the goal be to eliminate asbestos fiber exposures (NIOSH 1984). Where fiber exposures cannot be eliminated, exposures should be limited to the lowest concentration possible. NIOSH finds no scientifically valid health evidence for removing from the asbestos standard cleavage fragments that (1) become airborne when nonasbestiform tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite are mined, milled and used and (2) meet the microscopic definition of a fiber.

Research Organization:
National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
5639115
Report Number(s):
PB-91-162941/XAB
Resource Relation:
Other Information: See also PB87-222642. Presented at the OSHA Informal Public Hearing, Washington, DC., May 9, 1990
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English