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3656383 
Technical Report 
Testing of hair dryers for asbestos emissions 
Geraci CL Jr; Baron, PA; Carter, JW; Smith, DL 
1979 
Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, NIOSH; U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare 
Cincinnati, Ohio 
Interagency Agreement IA-79-29 
66 
English 
Tests were conducted on 30 hair dryers for the release of asbestos (1332214) fibers into the effluent air to evaluate potential consumer exposure, for the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A hair dryer test system was developed, consisting of a clean air source, a sampling duct assembly, several types of monitoring equipment and filter samplers. Generated samples were assessed by transmission electron microscopy capable of performing energy dispersive analysis of x-rays and selected area electron diffraction. Of the 30 dryers evaluated, 23 were home use hand held appliances, three were table top hooded models, one was a hobby heat gun, and one was a heavy duty commercial salon style dryer. The airborne asbestos concentrations generated by these dryers ranged from 0 to 0.11 structures/cubic centimeter and the mass concentrations ranged from 0 to 7652 nanograms/cubic meter. No significant differences were noted whether the dryers were operated at high heat or at cycled heat. 
198913