Soil samples showed asbestos fibers could still be a health concern

Soil samples with asbestos fibers yield a significant health concern.

The attorneys at the personal injury law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg have decades of experience defending victim’s rights in practice areas that include: accidents/general injury, dangerous drugs, medical malpractice, and environmental pollutants.

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The vermiculite expansion facility ceased operation in 1974, but detectable amounts of asbestos remain in on-site and nearby soils. Asbestos fibers do not easily break down in the environment and will remain in soil for many years.

Wind, vehicle traffic, construction, or other activities may cause renewed or continued exposure by disturbing soil and re-suspend asbestos particles. This potential prompted EPA researchers to conduct experiments with on-site soil in order to determine if asbestos could be re-suspended in significant quantities.

Researchers conducted the initial experiments in a laboratory setting with the soil from the site placed in a small glove box. The glove box was used to prevent dust from and asbestos from being spread through out the laboratory, while providing researchers the ability to agitate the soil.

Bulk soil asbestos levels were not measured before the samples were placed in the box, but samples from earlier sampling events showed asbestos levels that ranged from non-detect to 3%.

Researchers collected air samples while the soil was manipulated to mimic activities that might re-suspend asbestos fibers. Using TEM, researchers found asbestos fibers at levels as high as 9.4 f/cc.25. In addition, they also found winchite fibers (an unregulated amphibole type) at levels as high as 4.4 f/cc. In comparison, background asbestos levels in air range from 0.00001 f/cc in rural air samples to 0.0001 f/cc in urban air. As noted, the current occupational PEL for asbestos is 0.1 f/cc.

The results of the glove box experiments suggested that asbestos fibers could potentially be re-suspended at levels that are of health concern. Because these experiments occurred in a laboratory setting, however, whether normal activities could create a similar exposure scenario remains unclear.

Courtesy of the Washington Department of Health