Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Report No. TA 79-41, Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center, Aurora, Illinois

摘要

Environmental and personal air, dust, and bulk samples of aerosol attic insulation material were analyzed at the request of the Federal Air Surgeon, Department of Aviation Administration, to determine if 700 employees in the Chicago Air Route Traffic Center in Aurora, Illinois were exposed to hazardous airborne asbestos (1332214) concentrations. All samples were collected on membrane filters and analyzed by phase contrast microscopy. Bulk samples were tested by polarzing and dispersion staining techniques. The insulation material contained either 2 percent or 50 to 80 percent asbestos. Air samples of less than 11,792 asbestos fibers per cubic meter were below OSHA criteria of 2 million asbestos fibers per cubic meter. Dust samples did not contain asbestos. The authors conclude that a hazard from asbestos did not exist for employees at the time of this study, except in nonroutine functions such as maintenance work in the attic or during renovations. They recommend that anyone entering the attic wear disposable protective equipment, and any renovations be performed in a manner acceptable to OSHA.