Chemical Sampling Information
	Asbestos (all forms)
Quick Links General Description Exposure Limits Health Factors Monitoring Search    [use word(s)/phrase] Table of Contents By Name A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By CAS Number General Description Synonyms: Actinolite; Actinolite asbestos; Amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite); Anthophyllite; Anthophyllite asbestos; Chrysotile; Crocidolite (Riebeckite); Tremolite; Tremolite asbestos OSHA IMIS Code Number: 9020 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 1332-21-4 NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: CI6475000 Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 2212 171 (blue, brown); 2590 171 (white) [27 KB, PDF] NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Asbestos: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more Exposure Limits OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1001 Asbestos -- Cancer and Lung Disease Hazard; 0.1 F/cc TWA; 1.0 F/cc EL OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.1101 Asbestos -- Cancer and Lung Disease Hazard; 0.1 F/cc TWA; 1.0 F/cc EL OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1001 Asbestos -- Cancer and Lung Disease Hazard; 0.1 F/cc TWA; 1.0 F/cc EL American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.1 fibers/cc TWA; Respirable fibers: > 5 µm; aspect ratio ≥ 3:1, as determined by the membrane filter method at 400-450X magnification (4-mm objective), using phase-contrast illumination. Appendix A1 - Confirmed Human Carcinogen National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens; Appendix C - Supplementary Exposure Limits Health Factors National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Known to be a Human Carcinogen [192 KB, PDF] International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 1, carcinogenic to humans [1 MB, PDF, 454 pgs.] Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carcinogenic classification: Group A, known human carcinogen Potential symptoms: Asbestosis (chronic exposure): cough, dyspnea (breathing difficulty), interstitial fibrosis, restricted pulmonary function; finger clubbing; eye irritation; dry skin, corns; [potential occupational carcinogen]. Health Effects: Cancer (HE1); Asbestosis (HE10) Affected organs: Respiratory system, mesothelial membranes, eyes Notes: In addition to lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma, asbestos can also cause peritoneal (intestinal) mesothelioma (tumors of the membranes lining the abdominal cavity and surrounding internal organs). Some evidence also indicates an association of asbestos exposure with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, especially in men with asbestosis and pleural plaques. A study of mesothelioma in California indicated that cases in men involved a high probability of occupational exposure mostly to chrysotile asbestos (e.g., boilermaker, insulator, plumber, pipefitter, steamfitter, sheet metal worker, electrician, painter), although in Kentucky, two cases reportedly involved occupational exposure to crocidolite asbestos that had been used in the manufacture of cigarette filters. It has been estimated that 125 million people worldwide are occupationally exposed to asbestos, and that there are 90,000 to 100,000 fatalities per year resulting from occupational exposure. No evidence for a threshold or “safe” exposure level of asbestos has been obtained; i.e., no NOAEL has been determined. Date Last Revised: 06/27/2007 Literature Basis: NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Asbestos. International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Chrysotile. International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Crocidolite. EPA Air Toxics Website: Asbestos. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Technology Transfer Network. Aliyu, O.A., et al.: Evidence for excess colorectal cancer incidence among asbestos-exposed men in the beta-carotene and retinol efficacy trial. Am. J. Epidemiol. 162(9): 868-878, 2005 Breysse, P.N., et al.: Asbestos exposures to truck drivers during World Trade Center cleanup operations. J. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 2(8): 400-405, 2005. Dodson, R.F., Williams, M.G. and Satterley, J.D.: Asbestos burden in two cases of mesothelioma where the work history included manufacturing of cigarette filters. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health A 65(16): 1109-1120, 2002. Moline, J., Herbert, R. and Nguyen, N.: Health consequences of the September 11 World Trade Center attacks: a review. Cancer Invest. 24(3): 294-301, 2006. No Author: Asbestos CAS No. 1332-21-4. Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program, 2005. [192 KB, PDF] Pan, X.-L., Day, H.W., Wang, W., Beckett, L.A. and Schenker, M.B.: Residential proximity to naturally occurring asbestos and mesothelioma risk in California. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 172(8): 1019-1025, 2005. Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Asbestos. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 258-262. Reinstein, L. and Kazan-Allen, L.: Asbestos update. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50(1): 73-75, 2007. Sullivan, P.A.: Vermiculite, respiratory disease, and asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana: update of a cohort mortality study. Environ. Health Perspec. 115(4): 579-585, 2007. Suzuki, Y., Yuen, S.R. and Ashley, R.: Short, thin asbestos fibers contribute to the development of human malignant mesothelioma: pathological evidence. Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health 208(3): 201-210, 2005. Monitoring Methods used by OSHA Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method: sampling media: Mixed Cellulose Ester Filter (MCEF) 0.8 microns (open face) 25 mm cassette with 50 mm conductive cowl maximum volume: 2400 Liters   maximum flow rate: 5.0 L/min   minimum flow rate: 0.5 L/min (TWA) minimum volume: 25 Liters   maximum flow rate: 5.0 L/min   minimum flow rate: 0.5 L/min (EL) current analytical method: Phase Contrast Microscopy; PCM method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-160) method classification: Fully Validated note: Do not request multiple analytes. Do not overload. If dust is high, reduce air volume to avoid overloading. A minimum of 2 blanks or 10% are required for every set. Wipe Sampling Method: note: Do not use Whatman or other paper filters. Bulk preferred. Bulk method: sampling media: Bulk Samples current analytical method: Polarized Light Microscopy; PLM method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-191) note: Collect sample in a 20 mL scintillation vial. 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