NIOSH Comments to DOL on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration'sNotice of Proposed Rulemaking on Occupational Exposure to Asbestos, Tremolite, Anthophyllite, and Actinolite by R. A. Lemen, April 9, 1990

摘要

The testimony concerns the response to NIOSH to the OSHA notice of proposedrulemaking to remove nonasbestiform tremolite (14567738), anthophyllite (17068789), and actinolite (77536664) from the asbestos standard. The testimony contains comments on a review of the literature by OSHA on exposure to nonasbestiform minerals, and fiber characteristics studies reviewed by OSHA. The testimony also contains an assessment of the scientific literature by NIOSH, reviews of epidemiologic studies, animal studies, and reviews by other scientific bodies concerning the issue at hand. NIOSH concludes that, for regulatory purposes, cleavage fragments of the appropriate aspect ratio and length from the nonasbestiform minerals should not be considered less hazardous than fibers from the asbestiform minerals, independent of the mineralogic habit.