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Title: Airborne asbestos in public buildings

Abstract

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sampled air in 49 government-owned buildings (six buildings with no asbestos-containing material, six buildings with asbestos-containing material in generally good condition, and 37 buildings with damaged asbestos-containing material). This is the most comprehensive study to date of airborne asbestos levels in U.S. public buildings during normal building activities. The air outside each building was also sampled. Air samples were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy using a direct transfer preparation technique. The results show an increasing trend in average airborne asbestos levels; outdoor levels are lowest and levels in buildings with damaged asbestos-containing material are highest. However, the measured levels and the differences between indoors and outdoors and between building categories are small in absolute magnitude. Comparable studies from Canada and the UK, although differing in their estimated concentrations, also conclude that while airborne asbestos levels may be elevated in buildings that contain asbestos, levels are generally low. This conclusion does not eliminate the possibility of higher airborne asbestos levels during maintenance or renovation that disturbs the asbestos-containing material.

Authors:
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Chesson Consulting, Washington, DC (USA)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7198400
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Research; (USA)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 51:1; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-9351
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ASBESTOS; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; FEDERAL BUILDINGS; INDOOR AIR POLLUTION; AIR POLLUTION MONITORING; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE; PROBABILITY; AIR POLLUTION; BUILDINGS; POLLUTION; 540120* - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)

Citation Formats

Chesson, J, Hatfield, J, Schultz, B, Dutrow, E, and Blake, J. Airborne asbestos in public buildings. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80186-0.
Chesson, J, Hatfield, J, Schultz, B, Dutrow, E, & Blake, J. Airborne asbestos in public buildings. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80186-0
Chesson, J, Hatfield, J, Schultz, B, Dutrow, E, and Blake, J. 1990. "Airborne asbestos in public buildings". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80186-0.
@article{osti_7198400,
title = {Airborne asbestos in public buildings},
author = {Chesson, J and Hatfield, J and Schultz, B and Dutrow, E and Blake, J},
abstractNote = {The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sampled air in 49 government-owned buildings (six buildings with no asbestos-containing material, six buildings with asbestos-containing material in generally good condition, and 37 buildings with damaged asbestos-containing material). This is the most comprehensive study to date of airborne asbestos levels in U.S. public buildings during normal building activities. The air outside each building was also sampled. Air samples were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy using a direct transfer preparation technique. The results show an increasing trend in average airborne asbestos levels; outdoor levels are lowest and levels in buildings with damaged asbestos-containing material are highest. However, the measured levels and the differences between indoors and outdoors and between building categories are small in absolute magnitude. Comparable studies from Canada and the UK, although differing in their estimated concentrations, also conclude that while airborne asbestos levels may be elevated in buildings that contain asbestos, levels are generally low. This conclusion does not eliminate the possibility of higher airborne asbestos levels during maintenance or renovation that disturbs the asbestos-containing material.},
doi = {10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80186-0},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7198400}, journal = {Environmental Research; (USA)},
issn = {0013-9351},
number = ,
volume = 51:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1990},
month = {Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1990}
}