Money Tox - Don't Blow a Gasket

BrooklynDodger considers Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology the journal where expert testimony goes to get peer reviewed. The Dodger suspects reviewed by other defense experts. Once it’s peer reviewed, the abstract travels the world like a virus spread by medline, and the full text gets to be considered by IARC and NTP.

This paper has a unique statement of sponsorship: “This study was funded, in part, by a diesel engine manufacturer who has elected not to be identified. The sponsor supplied funds only to conduct the described sampling and laboratory analyses, as part of an ongoing industrial hygiene investigation. The investigation was not conducted in the sponsor’s facility and did not involve their employees.” [If someone figures out there was a risk, the Sponsor, a deep pocket corporation, is still off the hook. Kind of like Novak concealing his source.]

Abstract of abstract with comments:
They measured asbestos fiber release from gaskets during all facets of a complete disassembly and cleaning of a medium duty diesel engine by a "journeyman" mechanic. …Twenty seven of thirty three gaskets contained chrysotile asbestos in concentrations that ranged from 5 to 70%. All but one air monitoring sample reported results below the limit of reliable detection even though plumes of visible dust were evident during various removal, cleaning, and buffing procedures. The detection limit for airborne asbestos fibers in this investigation was influenced by the presence of other shop dust in the air. [Dodger: the other junk in the air coated the filters, thereby hiding the asbestos fibers. “Reliable detection” means ignoring fibers which were there.] Our investigation demonstrates that using shop-standard procedures in an established repair facility, a journeyman mechanic has … exposure to airborne asbestos fibers during disassembly of an engine, approximately 10% or less than that currently considered to be acceptable by OSHA.

BrooklynDodger: Taking into account the non zero zero fiber samples, we expect the TWA exposure to be upwards of 0.01 fibers/cc. Twice, three times, five times? OSHA estimates the risk of cancer at 0.1 fiber/cc to be 7 per thousand, about doubling the population risk of cancer. Being a linear thinker, the Dodger figures the risk of lung cancer from a working career at this job is around 1 per 1000, which is a significant risk.

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Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology Volume 41, Issue 2 , March 2005, Pages 113-121

Asbestos exposure from gaskets during disassembly of a medium duty diesel engine

Larry R. Liukonena and Francis W. Weirb, , aTech Con Inc., 5990 Scandia Lane, Burleson, TX 76028, USAbFrancis W. Weir, Ph. D., Inc., 14334 Schroeder Road, Houston, TX 77070, USA Received 28 June 2004. Available online 10 December 2004.

Abstract
Diesel engines have historically used asbestos-containing gaskets leading to concerns of fiber release and mechanic exposure. Other published studies regarding asbestos fiber release during gasket removal have reported on short-duration events; were conducted under simulated work conditions; or had other limitations. There are no comprehensive studies relating to diesel engine gaskets under conditions similar to those reported herein, evaluating asbestos fiber release from gaskets during all facets of a complete disassembly and cleaning of a medium duty diesel engine in a busy repair and service shop by a journeyman mechanic. Asbestos content of all gaskets was identified; all disassembly tasks were described and timed; and personal and area air monitoring was conducted for each task. Twenty seven of thirty three gaskets contained chrysotile asbestos in concentrations that ranged from 5 to 70%. All but one air monitoring sample reported results below the limit of reliable detection even though plumes of visible dust were evident during various removal, cleaning, and buffing procedures. The detection limit for airborne asbestos fibers in this investigation was influenced by the presence of other shop dust in the air. Our investigation demonstrates that using shop-standard procedures in an established repair facility, a journeyman mechanic has very little potential for exposure to airborne asbestos fibers during disassembly of an engine, approximately 10% or less than that currently considered to be acceptable by OSHA.

Keywords: Diesel engine; Asbestos; Gaskets; Mechanics; Workplace exposure; Exposure assessment

The authors each provide independent consultative services to a variety of organizations assisting them in resolving industrial hygiene and/or toxicology related issues. From time to time, as in the project forming the basis for this study, we work jointly. This study was funded, in part, by a diesel engine manufacturer who has elected not to be identified. The sponsor supplied funds only to conduct the described sampling and laboratory analyses, as part of an ongoing industrial hygiene investigation. The investigation was not conducted in the sponsor’s facility and did not involve their employees. The sponsor exerted no influence on the content of a report, nor did they contribute in any manner to the preparation of the manuscript. Since the thrust of the study was to examine a generic procedure with direct application to all similar equipment, the identity of the specific engine used in the study, although well described by type and configuration, is not of importance to the interpretation of the data for the reader. All interpretation of the data and opinions relating to the investigation are those of the authors. Time and costs associated with the interpretation of the data and preparation of the manuscript were funded by the authors.Corresponding author. Fax: +1 832 237 7504