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Asbestos emissions from baghouse controlled sources.
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
|August 1, 1975
Summary
Baghouses effectively remove over 99% of asbestos mass emissions. However, they still release significant numbers of fine asbestos fibers, posing potential occupational health risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Occupational Health
- Industrial Hygiene
Background:
- Limited data exists on the absolute efficiency of baghouses in reducing fine asbestos particle emissions.
- Recirculating air for energy conservation in asbestos processing can exacerbate occupational health risks due to particulate emissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the emission reduction efficiency of baghouses in asbestos processing plants.
- To quantify the number and size distribution of asbestos fibers emitted despite high mass removal efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Conducted emission testing at five asbestos processing facilities utilizing baghouse controls.
- Analyzed membrane filter samples of baghouse effluent using optical and electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Baghouses demonstrated high mass removal efficiency, frequently exceeding 99.00%.
- Despite high mass efficiency, significant numbers of fine asbestos fibers (<1.5 µm) were emitted (10^7–10^8 fibers/m³).
- Fewer, but still notable, longer fibers (>1.5 µm) were emitted (10^4–10^5 fibers/m³).
Conclusions:
- While effective for mass reduction, baghouses may not sufficiently control fine asbestos fiber emissions.
- The presence of numerous small asbestos fibers warrants further investigation into their occupational health impact.