Extreme airborne asbestos concentrations in a public building

• Published in: British Journal of Industrial Medicine Vol. 49; no. 7; pp. 486 - 488
• Main Authors: Ganor, E, Fischbein, A, Brenner, S, Froom, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.07.1992; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Air Pollution, Indoor; Applied sciences; Asbestos; Asbestos - isolation & purification; Asbestos, Crocidolite; Atmospheric pollution; Cement plants; Cost estimates; Dining rooms; Disease risk; Environmental Exposure; Exact sciences and technology; Health hazards; Indoor pollution and occupational exposure; Insulation; Kibbutz; Pollution; Public buildings; Public health; Asia; Israel; Indoor pollution; Ambient air concentration; Asbestos; Chemical analysis; Insulating material; Public building
• ISSN: 0007-1072; 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.49.7.486

Fibre concentrations of asbestos were measured in the air of a communal dining room in which the damaged ceiling had a sprayed on coating of insulation containing asbestos. The average concentration of crocidolite asbestos fibres was 4 f/cm3, 20 times the highest air concentration that appears to have been reported previously for a public building. It is concluded that although air concentrations of asbestos fibres in public buildings containing asbestos insulation materials are usually low, high concentrations can occur. This may have implications for the risk of exposed persons developing diseases associated with asbestos.