Exposures from Chrysotile‐Containing Joint Compound: Evaluation of New Model Relating Respirable Dust to Fiber Concentrations

Brorby, Gregory P.; Sheehan, Patrick J.; Berman, Dilys; Bogen, Kenneth T.; Holm, Stewart E.

doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01847.x

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Recently, it was shown that collection of respirable dust samples for asbestos fiber analysis, to support exposure assessment, also was necessary to accurately estimate fiber concentrations of materials that are hygroscopic and constitute a “soft” matrix, such as joint compound. In such materials, larger nonrespirable particles collected as total dust can be broken into multiple smaller particles during sample collection, skewing fiber concentration estimates . Talcum powder provides a similar hygroscopic “soft” matrix when applied, often in more humid environments such as bathrooms where small particles tend to aggregate into larger particles that are outside of the respirable range.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Health Risk from Historical Use of Cosmetic Talcum Powder

et al. 2016

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This study's objective is to assess the risk of asbestos-related disease being contracted by past users of cosmetic talcum powder. To our knowledge, no risk assessment studies using exposure data from historical exposures or chamber simulations have been published. We conducted activity-based sampling with cosmetic talcum powder samples from five opened and previously used containers that are believed to have been first manufactured and sold in the 1960s and 1970s. These samples had been subject to conflicting claims of asbestos content; samples with the highest claimed asbestos content were tested. The tests were conducted in simulated-bathroom controlled chambers with volunteers who were talc users. Air sampling filters were prepared by direct preparation techniques and analyzed by phase contrast microscopy (PCM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectra, and selective area diffraction (SAED). TEM analysis for asbestos resulted in no confirmed asbestos fibers and only a single fiber classified as "ambiguous." Hypothetical treatment of this fiber as if it were asbestos yields a risk of 9.6 × 10 (under one in one million) for a lifetime user of this cosmetic talcum powder. The exposure levels associated with these results range from zero to levels far below those identified in the epidemiology literature as posing a risk for asbestos-related disease, and substantially below published historical environmental background levels. The approaches used for this study have potential application to exposure evaluations of other talc or asbestos-containing materials and consumer products.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Health Risk from Historical Use of Cosmetic Talcum Powder

et al. 2016

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“…Specifically, we apply a semi‐empirical mathematical model to predict 8‐h TWA respirable dust concentrations from joint compound sanding activities . These predictions are coupled with an empirical factor that relates chrysotile asbestos fiber to respirable dust concentrations to predict 8‐h TWA asbestos fiber concentrations . We present data about time‐activity patterns of drywall construction, including finishing activities, obtained through a survey of drywall construction business owners and direct observation of drywall construction workers at active job sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(16) These predictions are coupled with an empirical factor that relates chrysotile asbestos fiber to respirable dust concentrations to predict 8-h TWA asbestos fiber concentrations. (17,18) We present data about time-activity patterns of drywall construction, including finishing activities, obtained through a survey of drywall construction business owners and direct observation of drywall construction workers at active job sites. These data are used to develop prototypical exposure scenarios for workers categorized according to their time-activity patterns and skill sets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Risks of Cancer from Drywall Finishing Based on Stochastic Modeling of Cumulative Exposures to Respirable Dusts and Chrysotile Asbestos Fibers

2014

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Sanding joint compounds is a dusty activity and exposures are not well characterized. Until the mid 1970s, asbestos-containing joint compounds were used by some people such that sanding could emit dust and asbestos fibers. We estimated the distribution of 8-h TWA concentrations and cumulative exposures to respirable dusts and chrysotile asbestos fibers for four worker groups: (1) drywall specialists, (2) generalists, (3) tradespersons who are bystanders to drywall finishing, and (4) do-it-yourselfers (DIYers). Data collected through a survey of experienced contractors, direct field observations, and literature were used to develop prototypical exposure scenarios for each worker group. To these exposure scenarios, we applied a previously developed semi-empirical mathematical model that predicts area as well as personal breathing zone respirable dust concentrations. An empirical factor was used to estimate chrysotile fiber concentrations from respirable dust concentrations. On a task basis, we found mean 8-h TWA concentrations of respirable dust and chrysotile fibers are numerically highest for specialists, followed by generalists, DIYers, and bystander tradespersons; these concentrations are estimated to be in excess of the respective current but not historical Threshold Limit Values. Due to differences in frequency of activities, annual cumulative exposures are highest for specialists, followed by generalists, bystander tradespersons, and DIYers. Cumulative exposure estimates for chrysotile fibers from drywall finishing are expected to result in few, if any, mesothelioma or excess lung cancer deaths according to recently published risk assessments. Given the dustiness of drywall finishing, we recommend diligence in the use of readily available source controls.

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“…They used their results to derive a median conversion factor of 0.044 f/cm 3 per mg/m 3 respirable dust for sanding tasks and 0.025 f/cm 3 per mg/m 3 respirable dust for sweeping tasks (Sheehan et al 2011). Jones et al (2011) and Brorby et al (2012) developed mathematical models to estimate respirable dust exposures from sanding modern, asbestos-free joint compound products (Jones et al 2011;Brorby et al 2012). Jones et al measured personal and area respirable dust concentrations during the sanding of joint compound in an isolation chamber.…”

Section: Predictive Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Brorby et al used published dust levels measured during the handling of modern day asbestos-free joint compound to estimate fiber concentrations during handling of historical asbestos-containing joint compound. The authors concluded that the fiber concentrations estimated with the new model were not significantly different from fiber concentrations measured during the historical use of asbestos-containing joint compound, for both enclosed and non-enclosed environments (Brorby et al 2012). Boelter et al (2015) calculated cumulative asbestos exposures for the sanding tasks performed by drywallers based on previously published survey data, direct field observations from contemporary construction worksites, and a semi-empirical mathematical model (Boelter et al 2015).…”

Section: Predictive Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An updated evaluation of potential health hazards associated with exposures to asbestos-containing drywall accessory products

Jacobs

Towle

Finley³

et al. 2019

Critical Reviews in Toxicology

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Following a previously published (2012) evaluation of the potential health hazards related to the use of asbestos-containing drywall accessory products, additional information regarding asbestos exposures during the use of accessory products, as well as studies of chrysotile asbestos risk as a function of exposure, have been published in the peer-reviewed literature. The purpose of this analysis is to update the original evaluation with this new information. It was previously estimated that a professional drywaller performing joint compound-associated tasks could have a lifetime cumulative chrysotile exposure of 12-26 f/cc-year. Using conservative assumptions regarding airborne asbestos levels during different drywalling tasks, task duration, and job tenure, we found that a range of 4.3-36.3 f/ccyear is a plausible estimate of a career drywaller's cumulative asbestos exposure from historical joint compound use. The estimated range for bystander exposures would be below (sometimes significantly below) this range depending on the frequency and duration of work near drywallers. Further, the estimated drywaller and bystander total fiber exposures were well below a recently published "noobserved adverse effect level, best estimate" for predominately chrysotile exposures of 89-168 f/ccyear for lung cancer and 208-415 f/cc-year for mesothelioma. We also determined that, even if the chrysotile or possibly talc ingredients in the drywall products had contained asbestiform tremolite, the cumulative tremolite exposures would have been well below a recently published tremolite no-effect level of 0.5-2.6 f/cc-year. Based on our calculations, typical drywall work using asbestos-containing drywall accessory products is not expected to increase the risk of asbestos-related lung cancer or mesothelioma. These conclusions are consistent with the lack of epidemiological evidence that drywall work resulted in an increased incidence of asbestos-related disease in the drywall trades.

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Exposures from Chrysotile‐Containing Joint Compound: Evaluation of New Model Relating Respirable Dust to Fiber Concentrations

Cited by 4 publications

References 29 publications

Assessment of Health Risk from Historical Use of Cosmetic Talcum Powder

Assessment of Health Risk from Historical Use of Cosmetic Talcum Powder

Comparative Risks of Cancer from Drywall Finishing Based on Stochastic Modeling of Cumulative Exposures to Respirable Dusts and Chrysotile Asbestos Fibers

An updated evaluation of potential health hazards associated with exposures to asbestos-containing drywall accessory products

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