ASBESTOS RISK REDUCTION & MEASUREMENT OF ASBESTOS FIBRE CONCENTRATIONKrakow Poland, September 28-29, 2006
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
ASSESSING RISKS OF SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH ASBESTOS
B. Hermans
Soil contamination is often
a result of industial activities of the past
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
el: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Asbestos mining
Crocidolite mine in South Africa Chrysotile mine on Cyprus
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Asbestos cement industry and uncarefull demolition of buildings
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Asbestos in soil as a result of a fire
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Asbestos in soil : two main categories
Firmly bound asbestos
• asbestos cement • asbesos in polymeric materials (floor tiles)
Loosely bound asbestos
• sprayed asbestos• asbestos insulation boards (Pical)• cords• paper• …..
!!! Weathering can make asbetos cement product very friable !!!
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Behaviour of asbestos in soil
- Only physical transport of asbestos in soil is of importance- The nature of soil plays an important role
-Clay will immobilize asbstos much more than sand
For particles from 0,1 to 2 µm, the speed of migration isfrom 1 to 10 cm in 3000 to 40 000 years !
-Animals such as rabbits, rats and moles contribute only to small extent to bring asbestos to the surface!
Only human activities are of importance in moving asbestos in soil
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Human exposure to asbestos particles from soil
Background concentration in asbestos fibres : about 70/m³ in US
(Alewife Study Group – 1995)
Primary emission (directly from source)
• short-term acute emission by disturbing ACM• long-term diffuse emission by natural erosion factors (wind)
Secondary emission (from settled dust)
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Factors affecting the human exposition
Properties of ACM
• Bounding grade of material• Kind of asbestos• Fraction of respirable fibres
from RIVM rapport711701034/2003
F.A. Swartjes and al.
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Factors affecting the human exposition
Characteritics of soil
• Kind of soil (clay vs sand)• Local relief• Humidity• Vegetation• …..
Weather factors
• Humidity of air• Rain• Frost• Wind• …..
Activities on site
• Kind of activity• Duration of activities
Extent of pollution
• Concentration of asbestos• Volume or surface of polluted area• Depth of pollution• Distance to source of asbestos• …..
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Acceptable fibres concentration
Negligible risk : 10 -6 by lifetime (10 -8)/year
Acceptable risk : 10 -4 by lifetime (10 -6)/year
But different values are associated with different kinds of asbestos
Risk increase for mesothelioma and lung cancer
Notion of fibre equivalent
1 fibre Chrysotile = 1 fibre equivalent1 fibre Amphibol = 10 fibres equivalent
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Acceptable fibres concentration
Negligible risk 1000 Fibreeq/m³
Acceptable risk 100 000 Fibreeq/m³
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Airborne asbestos concentration as a function of Asbestos concentration in soil
Bound asbestos from RIVM rapport 711701034/2003F.A. Swartjes and al.
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Airborne asbestos concentration as a function of Asbestos concentration in soil
Loosely bound asbestos
from RIVM rapport 711701034/2003F.A. Swartjes and al.
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Determination of a limit value for asbestos in soil
Concentrationof asbestos in soil mg/kg
Airb
orn
e a
sbe
stos co
nce
ntra
tion
fib
res/m
³
from RIVM rapport 711701034/2003F.A. Swartjes and al.
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Determination of a limit value for asbestos in soil
Asbestos concentration No Activity Activity
No Activity Activity
(mg/kg) Bound asbestos Not bound asbestos
<5 - - - -
5-100 - - - +/-
100-1000 - +/- +/- +
> 1000 +/- + ++ ++
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
NEN 5707 – Soil –Investigation, sampling and analysisof asbestos in soil and soil stockpiles
Structure of the norm
• Phasing of the survey• Preliminary investigation• Exploring investigation• Detailed investigation• Analysis
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
NEN 5707 – Soil –Investigation, sampling and analysisof asbestos in soil and soil stockpiles
Preliminary investigation :
Collection of data about former and present use of the soil andthe direct environment of it, possible causes of pollution (from documents and visit on site).
Exploring investigation :
Investigation conducted with relatively limitated efforts to confirmthe suspicion of pollution.
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
NEN 5707 – Soil –Investigation, sampling and analysisof asbestos in soil and soil stockpiles
Detailed investigation :
Investigation of the contamination with the aim of-determination of the concentration of asbestos per surface unit based on visual inspection and random sampling-if needed , the determination of the limits of the pollution based systematic sampling
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
NEN 5707 – Soil –Investigation, sampling and analysisof asbestos in soil and soil stockpiles
Analysis of samples :
On site collection and preparation of samples
On site analysis of the coarse fraction
Preparation of samples (drying, sieving)
Analysis of fraction >4 mm
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
NEN 5707 – Soil –Investigation, sampling and analysisof asbestos in soil and soil stockpiles
Analysis of samples :
Analysis of the fractions2-4 mm, 1-2 mm and 0,5-1mm
Not boundAsbestos ?
Analysis of the fractions2-4 mm, 1-2 mm and 0,5-1mm
Qualitative analysis of the fraction <0,5mm
Analysis of the fine fraction
PLM
SEM
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Commonwealth of Massachussets
Asbestos in soil streamlining regulation and management
Aim : adress the assesment and clean-up of three situations
-asbestos in buildings components that have been buried-asbestos in debris improperly disposed in or on the ground-unconsolidated asbestos fibres found in soil
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Problem : need for a cheap and performant analytical method !
The superfund method for the determination of releasable asbestos in soiland bulk material (EPA 540-R-97-028)
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Tedious and quite expensive method !
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
MassDEP has developed a cheaper PLM method basedon sieved fractions
Sieve Analysis ResultsConcentration of Debris Containing Releasable Asbestos ("DCRA")
andElutriator Results
Concentration of Asbestos Fibers in Respirable Dust
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
02A 05A 03A 12A 11A 01A 09A 14A 06A 08A
Sample ID
mg
DC
RA
per
Kg
so
il
Elu
tria
tor
Res
ult
s: s
tru
ctu
res/
gP
M10
(x
10E
-06)
2
4
6
8
10
12
15
0
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
A pilote project in Flanders
Waste of asbestos cement pipe production has been usedunder lanes and path.The percels where asbestos has been used haven recently beenidentified in a big survey conducted for OVAM (public FlemishEnvironmental authority).A clean-up test has been conducted in March 2005 by excavation of contaminated soil.Airborne asbestos measurement (PCM) where never above 0,010 f/ml
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Conclusion
Pollution of soil by asbestos can cause elevated concentrationin airborne asbestos (in particular by high activity grade on site).
Protection of workers involved in clean-up process
PCM is adequate
Diffuse pollution can also occur and could be of significanceby adverse meteorological conditions.
Effects of very low concentration of asbestos fibres isup to now relatively wide unknown.
Only electronical analysis is adequate
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
A few pictures of our laboratory in Rotterdam
Dry-sieving machine Wet-sieving machine
Inside the depressurized part
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Environmental control
Fibrecount NV Boomsesteenweg 56 / 1 B-2630 Aartselaar
tel: 03/312 95 90 fax: 03/312 95 99
URL: www.fibrecount.com e-mail: [email protected]
Many thanks for your kind attention !
Never again without adequate protection !!!