| Abstract |
Worker exposures to asbestos were surveyed at a company in Santa Clara, California. Impinger samples from the mixing, forming, curving, pipe finishing, coupling finishing, and epoxy areas contained 0.2 to 2.4, 1.0 to 2.8, 0.8 to 2.7, 1.2 to 3.8, 1.3 to 23.7, and 2.0 million particles per cubic foot (mppcf), respectively. Several samples from the finishing area exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV) of 5 mppcf. Corresponding asbestos concentrations determined by the membrane filter method were 0.8 to 19.6, 0.3 to 8.7, 0.6 to 3.1, 2.1 to 11.5, 2.3 to 33.4, and 1.8 to 3.5 fibers greater than 5 microns per cubic centimeter (f/cc). In the packing area, membrane filter samples indicated asbestos concentrations of 0.1 to 8.6 f/cc. No standards existed for evaluating membrane filter samples, however, concentrations greater than 10.0 f/cc over a 3 month period were considered high. |
