NIOSH comments 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 · Mon Apr 09 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:5760689

NIOSH is concerned that deleting coverage of cleavage fragments from nonasbestiform tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite from the standard poses a health risk for exposed workers. On June 21, 1984, NIOSH testified at the OSHA public hearings on occupational exposure to asbestos and presented supporting evidence that there is no safe concentration for exposure to asbestos (NIOSH 1984). 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 exposure (NIOSH 1984). Where asbestos exposure cannot be eliminated, it 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: 5760689
• Report Number(s): PB-91-162933/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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