Fiber EPA

Asbestos is released to water from a number of sources, including erosion of natural deposits and waste piles, corrosion from asbestos-cement pipes, and disintegration of asbestos roofing materials with subsequent transport via rainwater into cisterns, sewers, etc. (Millette et al. 1980). Waste water from asbestos-related industries may also carry significant burdens of asbestos fibers (EPA 1976). The total amount of asbestos released to water has been estimated to be 110,000-220,000 pounds (50-100 metric tons) per year (NRC 1984). 

Asbestos fibers are nonvolatile and insoluble, so their natural tendency is to settle out of air and water, and deposit in soil or sediment (EPA 1977, 1979c). However, some fibers are sufficiently small that they can remain in suspension in both air and water and be transported long distances. For example, fibers with aerodynamic diameters of 0.1-1 pm can be carried thousands of kilometers in air (Jaenicke 1980), and transport of fibers over 75 miles has been reported in the water of Lake Superior (EPA 1979c). Adsorptive interactions between the fibers and natural organic contaminants may favor coagulation and precipitation of the fibers (EPA 1979c). 

Butoxyethanol is regulated under the Clean Water Act s Effluent Guidelines as stated in Title 40, Part 414 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The point source category for which 2-butoxyethanol is controlled as a bulk organic chemical is organic chemicals, plastics, and synthetic fibers (EPA 1987). 

The toxicological problems associated with asbestos have been widely pubHshed and asbestos has been banned from most uses by the EPA. However, modem diaphragm cell chlorine plants have not had difficulty meeting the required exposure limits for asbestos fibers, and, as of 1990, the chlorine industry had an exemption allowing the continued use of asbestos as a diaphragm material. 

The salt is packaged ia 45-kg multiwaH bags or fiber dmms of 45, 170, or 181 kg. It is available ia both powdered and granular forms with densities of 1.04 and 1.44 g/cm (65 and 90 lb/fT), respectively. Only the powdered grade is authorized by and registered with the EPA for use ia pesticide formulations, with the further proviso that it must be tinted blue or green, or otherwise discolored. The word poison appears on all labels together with first-aid information. 

A significant advantage of the PLM is in the differentiation and recognition of various forms of the same chemical substance polymorphic forms, eg, brookite, mtile, and anatase, three forms of titanium dioxide calcite, aragonite and vaterite, all forms of calcium carbonate Eorms I, II, III, and IV of HMX (a high explosive), etc. This is an important appHcation because most elements and compounds possess different crystal forms with very different physical properties. PLM is the only instmment mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the detection and identification of the six forms of asbestos (qv) and other fibers in bulk samples. 

Junge, D. C., and Boubel, R. W., "Analysis of Control Strategies and Compliance Schedules for Wood Particle and Fiber Dryers," EPA Contract Report No. 68-01-3150. PEDCO Environmental Specialists, Cincinnati, 1976. 

With respect to the formation of unwanted polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the pyrolytic process, it has been shown that conditions can be maintained where such fonuation is negligible according to EPA and OSHA standards. As production rates are increased, it will be incumbent on any manufacturer to maintain a set of operating parameters which produce an environmentally-benign product however, current information regarding the process for fiber formation reveals no barriers to accomplishing this. 

The primary use of acrylonitrile is as the raw material for the manufacture of acrylic and modacrylic fibers. Other Major uses include the production of plastics (acrylonitrile-butadiene- styrene (ABS) and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), nitrile rubbers, nitrile barrier resins, adiponitrile and acrylamide (EPA 1984). 

Air samples collected in one acrylonitrile-fiber plant ranged from 3 to 20 mg/m3 (EPA 1980a). Mean 24-hour acrylonitrile concentrations in atmospheric samples collected within 5 km of 11 factories producing or using acrylonitrile ranged from less than 0.1 to 325 pg/m (Suta 1979). The occurrence of acrylonitrile was correlated to wind patterns the highest concentrations were downwind of and in close proximity to the plant. The median concentration of acrylonitrile for 43 measurements in "source-dominated areas" (i.e., near chemical plants) was 2.1 pg/m (Brodzinsky and Sing 1983). There were no data available on the concentration of acrylonitrile in air near chemical waste sites, but because acrylonitrile is easily volatilized, this is an exposure pathway of concern. 

It has been estimated that over 100,000 workers are potentially exposed to acrylonitrile during production and use (NIOSH 1977, 1988). Occupational exposures include plastic and polymer manufacturers, polymer molders, polymer combustion workers, furniture makers, and manufacturers of fibers and synthetic rubber (EPA 1980a). Other populations who could have elevated exposure to acrylonitrile are residents in the vicinity of industrial sources or chemical waste sites. 

United States, See also American entries Army Corps of Engineers Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal entries Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Government entries National entries OSHA ozone exposure limits U.S. entries acrylic fiber consumption in, ll 220t acrylic fiber production in, 11 189 advanced materials research, 1 696 air separation industry in, 17 754 aliphatic fluorocarbon production in,... 

Asbestos. EPA issued a proposed rule concerning identification and correction of friable asbestos-containing materials in schools. Based on data voluntarily submitted, EPA estimated that at least 8,600 public schools attended by over 3 million children contain such materials. However, EPA reportedly has no information on another 44,000 schools. Classroom concentrations of asbestos fibers in some schools have been found to approximate concentrations in homes of asbestos workers who do not have shower or laundry facilities at work. Since children exposed to asbestos will live long enough to allow the cancer latency period to elapse, the presence of friable asbestos materials in schools represents a potentially enormous public health problem. The final asbestos rule will reportedly be promulgated in the near future. (The rule was published May 27, 1982.) No other regulations regarding asbestos have been issued. 

Asbestos by Transmission Electron Microscopy Analytical Method for the Determination of Asbestos Fibers in Water (EPA/600/4-83-043)... 

Organic Chemicals, Plastics, and Synthetic Fibers - Effluent Limitations for Direct Discharge Point Sources That Do Not Use End-of-Pipe Biological Treatment One-day maximum Maximum for monthly average 325 g/L 111 g/L 40 CFR 414.101 EPA 1987e... 

Uses In polyvinyl acetate to improve fiber-tear properties plasticizer for polystyrene in epoxy resins and polyvinyl acetate to improve adhesion and resistance to chemical attack as an insulator fluid for electric condensers and as an additive in very high pressure lubricants. In fluorescent and high-intensity discharge ballasts manufactured prior to 1979 (U.S. EPA, 1998). 

Bernstein, D. N., T. T. Drew, and M. Kuschner (1980). The translocation and fate of sized man-made mineral fibers following exposure by intratracheal instillation in rats, pp. 343-390. In Levin, A., ed. Proceedings of the National Workshop on Substitutes for Asbestos. EPA Doc. No. 560/3-80-001. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Washington, DC. 

El Du Pont Haskell Laboratory Pathokgy report no 37-80, Hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) H-8419-MR-1785—Textile Fibers Dept 2-Year Inhalation Test CD Rats. EPA/OTS doc EYI-OTS-0382-0040. Wilmington, DE, 1980... 

Phenol is produced through both natural and anthropogenic processes. It is naturally occurring in some foods, human and animal wastes, and decomposing organic material, and is produced endogenously in the gut from the metabolism of aromatic amino acids. Phenol has been isolated from coal tar, but it is now synthetically manufactured (EPA, 2002). Currently, the largest use of phenol is as an intermediate in the production of phenolic resins, which are used in the plywood, adhesive, construction, automotive, and appliance industries. Phenol is also used in the production of synthetic fibers such as nylon and for epoxy resin precursors such as bisphenol-A. 

Another problem encountered was the impurity content of the filter paper used in the high volume samplers to collect the particulate samples. The conventional filter material used by EPA was glass fiber filter media. However, this was not compatible with INAA because of its high and varied impurity content. Discussions with K. Rahn of the Ford Reactor at the University of Michigan revealed that Whatman-41 filter paper was the most desirable medium for use with INAA (see Ref. 2). Our analyses showed Whatman-41 to be very low in impurities with consistent impurity levels from batch to batch. Average impurity levels, based on 12 batch analyses, are shown in Table III. Although the levels for calcium, chlorine, sodium, aluminum, and iron appear large, they rarely affected elemental levels found in filtered particulates. Impurity levels did not vary more than 25% from the mean. 

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