A study featured in the July issue of the Journal of Environmental Management investigated and compared two asbestos abatement methods for their operational efficacy and suitability in a healthcare setting.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in thousands of products throughout the 20th century. The mineral is a human carcinogen that is known to cause a range of diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma cancer. The latter is often considered the most aggressive form of asbestos-related cancer as mesothelioma patients typically pass away within four to 18 months of diagnosis.
The study analyzed asbestos abatement of asbestos-contaminated floor tile and mastic in a healthcare setting because medical facilities must uphold a safe and healthy environment for patients and visitors, as well as employees. The two asbestos abatement methods analyzed in this study included (1) manual removal of floor tile and chemical stripping of mastic and (2) the wet grinding method.
“Healthcare facilities undergoing renovation have specific concerns that are exacerbated when the restoration requires asbestos abatement of aged floor tile and mastic. The current state of the art for removal of these materials involves manual removal of floor tile and chemical stripping of mastic. Utilization of these stripping chemicals is a concern for facilities whose perception is based on a safe, caring, and healthy environment. In this study, wet grinding is evaluated as an alternative to chemical stripping of asbestos-containing floor tile mastic,” stated researchers.
Although the two methods were found to be statistically similar in terms of cost and asbestos fiber emissions, data from the study indicates there are benefits to the wet grinding method that make it an advantageous alternative for asbestos abatement in a healthcare setting.
For example, the wet grinding method does not release an odor like the chemical stripping method does, which is very important for healthcare settings since the odor can linger for days after the removal is complete. Additionally, due to the chemicals in the mastic remover, the odorous “fumes are effusive, pervasive, and persistent causing irritation to the respiratory tract, general unease and discomfort, and various physiological symptoms.”
Although the wet grinding method is more time consuming and has more potential to render non-friable material friable, considering the other safety measures that result in equal emissions among the two methods, the wet grinding method is more advantageous for healthcare settings. The researchers concluded, “wet grinding technique presents a viable alternative to the chemical stripping method. It is especially advantageous in situations where odor emissions might be perceived as problematic, such as in the case of the healthcare setting.”
Additional information on asbestos and mesothelioma may be found through the mesothelioma Center.