Control of asbestos exposure during brake drum service

Technical Report · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:7197748

Sheehy, J W; Cooper, T C; O'Brien, D M; McGlothlin, J D; Froehlich, P A

Earlier studies of airborne asbestos exposure to mechanics during brake maintenance operations showed overexposure to asbestos fibers during brake servicing, especially brake assembly cleaning. Because an estimated 150,000 brake mechanics and garage workers in the U.S. are potentially exposed to asbestos, a known carcinogen, and the lack of information available on the effectiveness of available controls, an evaluation of these methods was initiated. Detailed field surveys were conducted at five facilities employing five methods for controlling exposure to asbestos during brake repair. These included the use of two commercial enclosure devices with ventilation provided by HEPA filter-equipped vacuum, a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum alone, a brush with recirculating cleaning solution, and cleaning solvents in aerosol cans. These controls were evaluated while servicing brakes to automobiles, pickup trucks, vans, and vehicles with a 4-wheel rear axle. Detailed evaluations of these control measures involved a program consisting of traditional air sampling methods, incorporating phase contrast microscopy (PCM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and a real-time analysis of brake dust exposure. Personal and area air samples were collected during brake repair to each vehicle.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Div. of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• OSTI ID: 7197748
• Report Number(s): PB-90-168501/XAB; DHHS/PUB/NIOSH--89-121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ASBESTOS
BRAKES
CONTROL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MACHINE PARTS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION CONTROL
SAFETY
SURVEYS