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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Environmental aspects of fibrous-glass production and utilization

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6409536
Environmental studies were conducted to determine the health aspects of respiratory exposure to fibrous glass. Working conditions were monitored at four facilities producing standard insulation products and in six facilities producing or using small diameter glass fibers (less than 1.0 micrometer). Airborne fiber concentrations in the four facilities producing conventional insulation products were extremely low with the highest average concentration being 0.1 fibers per milliliter (ml). The highest single concentration was 0.83 fibers/ml. The highest mean total dust concentration at these facilities was 2.73mg/cu m with the highest single measurement being 14.5mg/cu m. The mean airborne concentrations in the other six facilities ranged from 1.0 to 21.9 fibers/ml with the highest single concentration being 44.1 fibers/ml. About 25 to 30% of these fibers were less than 5.0 micrometers in length. In the one fibrous-glass plastics operation which was surveyed, no fibers less than 5.0 micrometers in length were observed. The author suggests that it is prudent that exposures to respirable glass fibers be kept at an absolute minimum through the use of appropriate engineering controls and materials-handling methods.
Research Organization:
National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
6409536
Report Number(s):
PB-89-130306/XAB; IWS-35.03.6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English