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ASBestos-IN-Soil (ASBINS) – when fibre isn’t good for you!
ASBestos-IN-Soil (ASBINS) – when fibre isn’t good for you!
Outline of Presentation 1. Introduction to ASBestos-IN-Soil (ASBINS) 2. Confusion of Numbers Terminology (fibres/ per mL; percent by
weight; ppm?) 3. Landuse Suitability Assessments (Risk and not Hazard) 4. Remedial Technology Developments 5. Development of New Tools for Assessment 6. Conclusions and Way Forward 7. Questions?
1. Introduction to ASBINS
• ASBestos-IN-Soil (ASBINS) requires a paradigm shift from conventional asbestos management which has been developed from occupational considerations and related historical practices
• Substantial improvements have occurred in the sustainable risk-based management of ASBINS over since 2000
• New tools for assessment, remediation and management have evolved • Despite these enhancements, poor ASBINS decision-making
continues, due to ill-informed use of inappropriate tools.
2. Confusion of Numbers Terminology • Airborne Hazard Assessment - fibres/ per mL • Australian Exposure Factors Guideline (AEFG 2012)
• Applies an inhalation rate of 20,000 Litres per day (=200,000 fibres/day at method PQL)
• ASBINS Hazard Assessment – qualitative (presence / absence) • AS4964-2004 – qualitative assessment – identification in bulk samples
• “asbestos not detected” • “trace asbestos detected” • “asbestos detected” • PQL = 100 mg/kg (w/w) and possibly 10 mg/kg.
• ASBINS Site Characterisation and Risk Assessment – quantitative (% w/w) • ASC NEPM Method (per WA DoH ASBINS Guidelines 2009) • percent by weight (% w/w) • Four generic landuses based on 2013 ASC NEPM and 2012 AEFG • Suggest change to SI units of mg/kg?
3. Landuse Suitability Assessments (Risk and not Hazard) • 2013 ASC NEPM (WA DoH ASBINS Guidelines 2009) uses assessment
technique to quantify risk • Uses ASC NEPM and 2012 AEFG generic landuses to conservatively
define Conceptual Site Model and conservative pathway values • Defines risk-based threshold Health Investigation levels for four
typical landuses. • Note that 2009 WA DoH is health-based and does not consider non-
health issues such as long-term management of ASBINS at depth, as WA Memorials on Title implicitly address this issue.
• Need to consider long-term management for non-WA land.
4. Remedial Technology Developments • “On the outlook for practical sustainable options for
asbestos waste treatment (https://www.asbeter.com/documents/KLB%20assessment-of-asbestos-waste-treatment-techniques.pdf)
• Removal • Physical - isolation • Thermal, mechanical, chemical, biological • Ongoing Management Considerations.
5. Development of New Tools for Assessment
• USEPA Activity-Based-Survey (ABS) • Respirable Asbestos Fiber Field Sampler (RAFS) • Near Real Time Monitoring Tools
• FibreCheck • TSI 7400AD • Alert
• But what is Soil-to-air pathway?
6. Conclusions and Way Forward • Must move from “hazard-based” to “risk-based” approach • Assessment tools must be carefully implemented by experienced
professionals using existing risk-based procedures • Landuse assessment must be determined by experienced professionals using
existing risk-based procedures • Remedial technologies continue to evolve but conventional “dig-n-dump”
remains lowest cost, and “containment with ongoing management “ is also common.
• Near-Real-Time monitoring continues to evolve and would revolutionise ASBINS CEMPs during remediation.
• Improve understanding of the soil-to-air pathway (per Addison et al, 1990)
a a ASBINS Assessment
Remove ACM and report separately
A A A
ASBINS Landuse
Recent International Developments
Presentation Title Page 12 9/13/2019
US EPA activity based survey (ABS)
Respirable Asbestos Field Sampler (RAFS)
Currently Available Remedial Responses (2009 WA Guidelines and CIRIA)
Remediation
Remediation
Soil to air pathway
