Glasgow Scientific Services Asbestos Dr Jim Lister Environment Group Manager

Glasgow Scientific Services Asbestos Asbestos is the generic name for six naturally occurring minerals Physical properties Strength Flexibility Insulating Properties Resistance to heat and Chemicals Low electrical conductivity

Glasgow Scientific Services Types of asbestos Chrysotile (white) White curly fibres Amosite (brown) Straight sharp fibres Crocidolite (blue) Straight fibres Other Types Anthophyllite, Tremolite and Actinolite

Glasgow Scientific Services Asbestos - The Hazard  Asbestos is the single biggest cause of work related deaths in the UK. - HSE  3000 Deaths per year associated with Asbestos - due to past exposure  Airborne Hazard – Fibres are produced when asbestos containing materials are disturbed  Respirable fibres – enter lung – cause fatal disease  Materials that remain undisturbed – no risk to health

Glasgow Scientific Services Risk Factors Asbestos related diseases are caused by the inhalation of Asbestos fibres. Fibres have to be respirable. Specific dimensions Risk Factors CONCENTRATION + DURATION = DOSE Some evidence that Asbestos diseases follow a dose response relationship.

Glasgow Scientific Services Latency Period For Asbestos Disease Time taken from first exposure to discovery of illness. Shortest latency period is 5-10 years It can often take up to 40 years or more No safe level of exposure Secondary Exposure

Glasgow Scientific Services Asbestos diseases Fibres that are not cleared from the lungs and remain trapped in the body can cause a range of diseases. Asbestos lung cancer- fibres remaining trapped in the lung –severe respiratory damage High Asbestos concentrations Mesothelioma- translocation of fibres to the pleura causing malignant disease in the thin membranes lining the chest. - Lower Asbestos concentrations

Glasgow Scientific Services Identification of Asbestos - Principle Survey area-collect representative samples of all suspect materials. Visual Examination of Bulk Material Removal of sub-samples ( usually fibrous material ) from the bulk material Mounting sub-sample on slide and clearing with acid or solvent. Microscopal examination using plane and polarised light.

Glasgow Scientific Services Identification of Asbestos - Equipment Glass Jars or polythene bags for collection of samples Disposable gloves Tweezers/pliers Wash bottle (water) Microscope slides and cover slips Tissues Hydrochloric acid, solvent Polarising microscope

Glasgow Scientific Services Identification of Asbestos Assess and survey the area and secure a representative sample. Place sample jar/ bag in fume cupboard Sort through sample with tweezers – transfer any fibrous material to slide (ensure representative sample is taken, sample all fibres) Clear filler material

Glasgow Scientific Services Identification of Asbestos Examine the slide microscopically – scanning the entire slide – using plane light and polarising any suspicious fibres. Clean-up –Return Slides to glass Jar/ bag. –Clean the fume cupboard surfaces – vacuum cleaner fitted with suitable filter, wet wipes. –Place all material in labelled “asbestos” bag for special disposal.

Glasgow Scientific Services Example of ACM Board material 10-30% Amosite / Chrysotile

Glasgow Scientific Services Example of ACM - Insulation Pipe insulation 10-30% Chrysotile/Amosite/Crocidolite

Glasgow Scientific Services Example of ACM - Painted board 10-30% Amosite / Chrysotile

Glasgow Scientific Services Example of ACM - Asbestos rope 100% Chrysotile

Glasgow Scientific Services Example of ACM - Floor tiles Vinyl floor tiles 5-7% Chrysotile

Glasgow Scientific Services Example of ACM - Toilet Cistern Toilet Cistern 5-10% Chrysotile/Amosite

Glasgow Scientific Services Example of ACM - Corrugated Roofing Roofing / Cladding materials 10-30% Chrysotile/Amosite

Glasgow Scientific Services Example of ACM - Sprayed Insulation Sprayed Insulation – 100% Amosite/Crocidolite

Glasgow Scientific Services Chrysotile Asbestos Knee bend Teased out fibres Fine Wispy Fibres

Glasgow Scientific Services Chrysotile Asbestos Fibres glow bright white on polarisation.

Glasgow Scientific Services Amosite Asbestos Bundles of sharp tightly packed fibres Straight rigid fibres

Glasgow Scientific Services Amosite Asbestos Polychromatic “rainbow” effect on polarisation

Glasgow Scientific Services Crocidolite Asbestos Fibres Dark inky Blue Fibres not as rigid as Amosite Wispy fibres present where the fibre bundles are teased out

Glasgow Scientific Services Crocidolite Asbestos Fibre bundles exhibit a red/brown appearance on polarisation

Glasgow Scientific Services Cotton Fibres Distinct Cellular structure Fibres twisted and bent Often - Polychromatic effect without polarisation Ragged fibre ends

Glasgow Scientific Services Cotton fibres Polychromatic effect within cellular structure not along fibre

Glasgow Scientific Services Hemp Ragged fibre ends Cellular structure Polychromatic effect present with or without polarisation

Glasgow Scientific Services Hemp Polychromatic effect present with or without polarisation Ragged fibre ends

Glasgow Scientific Services Jute Distinct cellular structure, ragged fibre ends, polychromatic effect.

Glasgow Scientific Services Glass fibre Transparent Fibre Ends truncated Variable diameter No effect on polarisation

Glasgow Scientific Services Polymeric fibre (polyester) Regular diameter Single filament Bending or curvature Fibre ends blunt

Glasgow Scientific Services Polymeric fibre (polyester) Polychromatic effect