Final Draft Pilot Study to Estimate Asbestos Exposure from Vermiculite Attic Insulation Research Conducted in 2001

By Environmental Protection Agency

Description
Excerpt: This project began in November 2000 as a preliminary or pilot study of the analysis of vermiculite attic insulation. There were two general objectives for the pilot study: (1) obtain a rough estimate of amount of asbestos in attics having vermiculite attic insulation; and (2) obtain a rough estimate of a person’s exposure to asbestos while performing common household activities. The budget and the timing for the completion of the both parts of this pilot study precluded a comprehensive search for: (a) commercial vermiculite products which either represented all nationally distributed products in the present or in the past; (b) and the asbestos content and mine origin for this universe of products. In addition, there were similar constraints on (a) an exhaustive or nationally representative search for different types of homes using different types of vermiculite insulation from different mines and containing different amounts of asbestos; and (b) evaluations of national attic “use patterns” and exhaustive evaluations of different simulations of “use” experiments in the attics and in the dwellings below the attics.

Table of Contents
FINAL DRAFT TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................1 1.0 HISTORY/BACKGROUND .............................................2 2.0 INTRODUCTION.....................................................4 3.0 ASBESTOS CONTENT IN VERMICULITE ATTIC INSULATION .............. 5 3.1 Analytical Method for Bulk Vermiculite Samples .......................5 3.2 Vermiculite Attic Insulation Acquisitions..............................6 3.2.1 Products Purchased from Stores ...............................6 3.2.2 Zonolite Acquired by EPA Region 10 ..........................7 3.3 Vermiculite Insulation in Actual Attics ...............................7 3.3.1 Samples Collected from the Attics of Occupied Houses in Vermont . . . 7 3.3.2 Insulation in Attic of Unoccupied House in Bethel, Vermont ......... 8 4.0 AIR MONITORING OF VERMICULITE ATTIC INSULATION ................ 9 4.1 Analysis of Air Samples...........................................9 4.2 Limits of Detection (LODs) for Air Sample Analysis....................10 4.3 Initial Simulations of Consumer Use in Containment System .............. 11 4.3.1 Simple Simulations........................................11 4.3.2 Complex Simulation.......................................12 4.4 Modified Attic Containment.......................................13 4.5 Background Air and Dust Monitoring at 5 Occupied Vermont Houses ....... 13 4.6 Simulated Residential Activities in an Unoccupied Vermont House ......... 15 5.0 SIMULATED ATTIC SYSTEM DESIGNS ................................17 5.1 Initial Simulations of Consumer Use ................................18 5.1.1 Description of Activities in Simple Simulations .................. 18 5.1.2 Description of Activities in Complex Simulation ................. 20 5.1.2.1 Simulation of Installation of Vermiculite ................. 20 5.1.2.2Simulation of Residential Activities .....................21 5.1.2.3 Simulation of Removing the Attic Insulation .............. 21 5.1.3 Asbestos Levels Detected During Simulations ................... 22 5.1.3.1 Asbestos Levels Detected During Simple Simulations ........ 22 5.1.3.2 Levels of Airborne Asbestos Fibers Detected During the Complex Simulation ........................................23 5.2 Modified Attic Containment.......................................24 5.2.1 Description of Activities in Modified Attic......................25 5.2.2 Asbestos Levels Detected During the Phase 2 Simulations .......... 29 5.3 Simulated Residential Activities in Unoccupied House in Bethel, Vermont . . . 29 5.3.1 Description of Activities Performed in Unoccupied Vermont House . . . 30 5.3.2 Asbestos Levels Detected During Simulations and Activities ........ 33

Book Id: WPLBN0000111325
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 333.97 KB
Reproduction Date: 2007
Full Text

Title:

Final Draft Pilot Study to Estimate Asbestos Exposure from Vermiculite Attic Insulation Research Conducted in 2001

Author:

Environmental Protection Agency

Volume:

Language:

English

Subject:

Ecology, Natural resource issues, Environemtal protection

Collection:

Environmental Awareness Library Collection

Subcollection:

Historic
Publication Date:

Publisher:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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