Asbestos in public and commercial buildings: Supplementary analyses of selected data prevously considered by the literature review panel
HERO ID
3102437
Reference Type
Technical Report
Subtype
HEI
Year
1991
Language
English
| HERO ID | 3102437 |
|---|---|
| Material Type | HEI |
| Year | 1991 |
| Title | Asbestos in public and commercial buildings: Supplementary analyses of selected data prevously considered by the literature review panel |
| Authoring Organization | Health Effects Institute |
| Publisher Text | Health Effects Institute-Asbestos Research |
| City | Cambridge, MA |
| Abstract | The Health Effects Institute-Asbestos Research assembled an expert Panel to review the literature on asbestos in public and commercial buildings, and make recommendations for future research. The Panel concluded that: (1) Asbestos-containing building material (ACBM) in good repair is unlikely to expose general building occupants to fiber concentrations above those found outside such buildings. The added life-time risk of cancer for such occupants in well-maintained buildings appears to be lower than the risks from other pollutants such as radon and environmental tobacco smoke. (2) Janitorial, custodial, maintenance, and renovation workers may disturb or damage ACBM and episodically produce relatively high fiber concentrations; therefore the added life-time cancer risk in such workers may be appreciably higher than the risk to general building occupants. (3) Asbestos removal workers are at the highest risk of potential exposure. Good work practice and respiratory protection are essential to avoid dangerous exposure of such workers. (4) Determining exposure risks and forms of prevention or remediation warranted in a building are site-specific tasks. Uncontrolled disturbance of ACBM should be avoided. In well-maintained buildings, improper removal or improper abatement action can cause persistent increases of fiber levels. |
| Report Number | Special Report |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Number Of Pages | 102 |
| Comments | ECRIB. TRC has front matter only. Report at UNC-CH Health Science Library, call no. WA.754 .A7995 1991. Cambridge, MA: Health Effects Institute-Asbestos Research. |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Language Text | English |
| Keyword | Asbestos; Commercial buildings; Public buildings; Air pollution effects(Humans); Construction materials; Reviews; Occupational safety and health; Public health; Exposure; Risk assessment; Environmental chemical substitutes; Indoor air pollution; Malignant neoplasms; Air pollution abatement; Protective equipment; Maintenance; Air pollution sampling |
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