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NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGENEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGEEnvironmental Health and Safety DepartmentEnvironmental Health and Safety Department
ASBESTOSASBESTOSTraining ProgramTraining Program
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ObjectivesObjectives
To define asbestosTo define asbestos
Identify asbestos containing materials Identify asbestos containing materials (ACM)(ACM)
Identify the health hazards of ACMIdentify the health hazards of ACM
List ways to avoid asbestos exposureList ways to avoid asbestos exposure
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What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is the name applied to six naturally occurring minerals that are mined from the earth. The different types of asbestos are:
Amosite Chrysotile Tremolite Actinolite Anthophyllite Crocidolite
Chrysotile is the most common,and is found in over 95% of allasbestos containing material.
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Asbestos Properties
•All types of asbestos tend to break into very tiny fibers.
•Once released into the air, they may stay suspended there for hours or even days.
•Asbestos fibers are virtually indestructible.
•The properties of asbestos are what makes itso dangerous.
•Once inhaled it is impossible to remove fromlung tissue.
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Where is Asbestos Found?
Asbestos can be found virtually anywhere and is still mined in other countries.
•Sprayed on fire proofing and insulation in buildings •Insulation for pipes and boilers
•Wall and ceiling insulation
•Ceiling tiles
•Floor tiles
•Putties, caulks, and cements
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Where is Asbestos Found ?
•Roofing shingles
•Siding shingles on older buildings
•Wall and ceiling texture in older buildings and homes
•Joint compound in older buildings and homes
•Brake linings and clutch pads
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Asbestos Properties
•Asbestos is most hazardous when it is friable. •The term "friable" means that the asbestos is easily crumbled by hand, releasing fibers into the air. •When asbestos is friable, it is easily inhaled.•Sprayed on asbestos insulation is highly friable.
•Asbestos is non-friable when it is bound into other fibers. These fibers are harder to break down, but can be released by drilling, sanding or grinding the material.
•Asbestos containing floor tile and asbestos containing lab benches are an example of non-friable asbestos.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTACT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY DEPARTMENT AT EXT. 4078 BEFORE WORK IS PERFORMED.
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Health Effects•The body cannot break down or remove asbestos fibers once they are lodged in lung or body tissues.
•They remain in place where they can cause disease.
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Diseases Associated with AsbestosDiseases Associated with Asbestos
Asbestosis Asbestosis – Caused by repeated, long-Caused by repeated, long-
term exposure to airborne term exposure to airborne asbestosasbestos
Lung CancerLung Cancer– The risk of lung cancer The risk of lung cancer
increases with repeated increases with repeated exposure to airborne exposure to airborne asbestosasbestos
MesotheliomaMesothelioma– Can be caused by even a Can be caused by even a
minimal exposure to airborne minimal exposure to airborne asbestos and is generally asbestos and is generally fatalfatal
Injured Lung
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Avoiding Asbestos Exposure
•If you do not know whether something is asbestos or not, assume that it is until it is verified otherwise.
•You cannot tell if floor or ceiling tiles contain asbestos just by looking at them.
•If you have reason to suspect that something is asbestos DO NOT DISTURB IT.
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Asbestos Program & NotificationAsbestos Program & Notification
Asbestos Program Notification MemoAsbestos Program Notification Memo– The memo provides a brief summary of the results of a survey The memo provides a brief summary of the results of a survey
conducted to determine the presence, location, and condition of conducted to determine the presence, location, and condition of asbestos on campusasbestos on campus
– Click link to view memoClick link to view memo
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU WOULD LIKE MORE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON ASBESTOS PLEASE CONTACT EHS INFORMATION ON ASBESTOS PLEASE CONTACT EHS @ 594-4078@ 594-4078