Abstract  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has determined that exposure to asbestos fibers causes cancer and asbestosis in humans and recommends that exposures be reduced to the lowest feasible concentration. As the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of worker injury and illness, NIOSH has undertaken a reappraisal of how to ensure optimal protection of workers from exposure to asbestos fibers and other elongate mineral particles (EMPs). As a first step in this effort, NIOSH convened an internal work group to develop a framework for future scientific research and policy development. This State of the Science and Roadmap for Scientific Research (herein referred to as the Roadmap), clarifies NIOSH's REL, summarizes NIOSH's understanding of occupational exposure and toxicity issues concerning asbestos fibers and other EMPs, and identifies key issues which need to be resolved to allow NIOSH to update its REL. In 1990, NIOSH reviewed the available information on EMPs from the nonasbestiform analogs of the asbestos minerals. The epidemiological evidence was considered inconclusive, and the toxicological evidence was interpreted to mean that carcinogenic potential depends on a mineral particle's length and width and neither chemical composition nor mineralogical origin are critical factors in determining a mineral particle's carcinogenic potential. NIOSH also considered the lack of routine analytical methods to accurately and consistently distinguish between asbestos fibers and nonasbestiform EMPs in air samples. As a result of the review, NIOSH revised its REL at that time, retaining the 0.1 f/cm3 limit but explicitly encompassing EMPs from the nonasbestiform analogs of the asbestos minerals as a precautionary measure. Uncertainty remains concerning the adverse health effects that may be caused by nonasbestiform EMPs encompassed by NIOSH since 1990 in the REL for asbestos, and the Roadmap does not change NIOSH's REL. In the Roadmap, NIOSH makes clear that such nonasbestiform minerals are not "asbestos" or "asbestos minerals," and no longer refers to particles from the nonasbestiform analogs of the asbestos minerals as "asbestos fibers." However, particles that meet the specified dimensional criteria remain countable under the REL for the reasons stated above, even if they are derived from the nonasbestiform analogs of the asbestos minerals. NIOSH's intent is to reduce existing scientific uncertainties, to resolve current policy controversies, and to update its REL. To help accomplish these goals, the Roadmap proposes that interdisciplinary research address the following three strategic goals: (1) develop a broader and clearer understanding of the important determinants of toxicity for EMPs; (2) develop information on occupational exposures to various EMPs and health risks associated with such exposures; and (3) develop improved sampling and analytical methods for asbestos fibers and other EMPs. The results of the research programs are intended to provide a sound scientific foundation for development of future recommendations that provide optimal health protection. Originally published in March 2011, the Roadmap was revised in April 2011 to (1) correct an erroneous statement that NIOSH adopted the designation of asbestos as a "Potential Occupational Carcinogen" § in the 1970s; (2) more clearly indicate that NIOSH has determined that exposure to asbestos fibers causes cancer and asbestosis in humans; and (3) provide an updated discussion of the potency of chrysotile for causing mesothelioma.

Abstract  Information was gathered from Federal and State health, labor, and environmental agencies, as well as from groups with special concerns regarding the incidences of impaired health and safety to family members resulting from exposure to hazardous substances found at the workplace of another family member. Workers have been found to inadvertently carry home hazardous materials on their clothes, skin, hair, tools, and in their vehicles. Some of the resulting health effects reviewed in the report include chronic beryllium (7440417) disease, asbestosis and mesothelioma, lead (7439921) poisoning, neurological effects and mental retardation caused by lead exposure, deaths and neurological effects from pesticide exposure, chemical burns from caustic substances, chloracne and other effects from chlorinated hydrocarbon exposure, neurological effects from mercury (7439976), abnormal development from estrogenic substances, asthmatic and allergic reactions from dusts, liver angiosarcoma from arsenic (7440382), dermatitis from fibrous glass, status epilepticus from chemical exposure, and diseases from infectious agents.

Abstract  Worker exposures to asbestos (1332214), sodium-hydroxide (1310732), total welding fumes, and metal particulates were surveyed on August 12 and 24, 1982 at Drive Train Industries, Incorporated (SIC-3714), Denver, Colorado. The evaluation was requested by an employee representative on behalf of an unspecified number of workers. Personal and area air samples were analyzed, and noise levels were measured. One area air sample for nickel (7440020) exceeded the NIOSH standard of 0.015 milligrams per cubic meter. All other chemical and fiber exposures were within acceptable limits. Noise levels exceeded the NIOSH limit of 85 decibels relative to the A-weighted scale. The author concludes that a noise exposure hazard exists at this facility. He recommends improved noise engineering controls and implementation of a hearing protection and audiometric testing program.

Abstract  In response to a request from the National Treasury Employees Union, an evaluation was undertaken of indoor air quality at the Internal Revenue Service Appeals Office (SIC-9311) in Omaha, Nebraska. Employees at the site had reported sore throats, sinus problems, cold like symptoms, burning eyes, and headaches. Asbestos (1332214) containing insulation was also a concern. The office was located on the third floor of a ten floor office building, and had 25 employees. Constant volume ventilation systems serviced the office. Relative humidity ranged from 25.2 to 28.2%. Indoor temperatures ranged from 70.5 to 74.8%. Inside particle counts ranged from 12,000 to 71,000 particles per 0.1 cubic foot of air. The higher particle counts were found in an office where smoking was permitted, and in adjacent areas. Data from previous sampling indicated that there were no detectable levels of asbestos fibers in the office areas. The authors conclude that environmental tobacco smoke was a health hazard in this building. The authors recommend that some specific measures be taken to improve the working conditions at this facility.

Abstract  NIOSH received a confidential employee request for an HHE at the Huntington Coach Corporation bus repair and body shops, Huntington Station, New York, in November 2006. Employees were concerned that exposures to cleaning solvents, paint vapors, diesel exhaust, and asbestos-containing brake dust were causing skin rashes and respiratory irritation. The request also mentioned possible safety hazards including ignition sources near flammable liquids and use of unsafe vehicle jack stands. On March 15, 2007, we conducted an evaluation that included an opening meeting with management and union representatives, a walk-through survey of the facility's 4th Avenue body shop and 5th Avenue maintenance shop, observations of work practices and PPE use, employee exposure and health assessments, an assessment of building ventilation and potential solvent exposure, and confidential employee interviews. We also collected bulk samples of brake pad pieces and dust samples from the brake rotor lathe and the brake drums and wheels of buses being serviced. We found fiberglass and cellulose in the bulk samples of dust and brake shoes and pads, but no asbestos. In the 5th Avenue maintenance shop, connections between vehicle exhaust pipes and flexible exhaust hoses were loose, and the flexible hoses often did not extend to the outdoors. In the 4th Avenue body shop, a poorly ventilated flammable liquid storage cabinet was overfilled. Two brake cleaners used by the maintenance shop contained tetrachloroethylene, a potential carcinogen.

Abstract  Free silica (7631869) and iron-oxide (1317619) dust are not considered to be toxic at the concentrations measured at a cement company. Although air concentrations of asbestos (1332214) were found to be below Federal Standards on a time weighted average basis, recommendations are made to protect workers from unnecessary exposure.