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Contact:
Environmental Health
  and Safety
714 W. Lombard Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-706-7055
Fax 410-706-8212

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has long, thin fibers. It has properties of chemical resistance, heat resistance, and high tensile strength that make it an important building material. There are three main types of asbestos which are commonly found in buildings; chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue).   Asbestos- containing material (ACM) means any material containing more than 1% asbestos. The three main categories of ACM in buildings are Surfacing Materials, Thermal System Insulation, and Miscellaneous Materials. Here are some examples of the types of ACM that could be found in building products:

Surfacing Materials – sprayed or troweled-on walls, ceilings, and structural members. Used for acoustical, decorative, or fireproofing insulation.

Thermal System Insulation (TSI) – insulation on HVAC systems, pipes, boilers, tanks, gaskets, ropes, pipe lagging, and pipe wrap.

Miscellaneous Materials – floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roofing felts, concrete pipe, outdoor siding, fire doors, and fabrics.

ACM is only a potential concern if it becomes friable. Friable ACM means the material can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. Friable ACM can release fibers into the air more readily than non-friable asbestos. The condition of the ACM will also determine how friable it has become.

Asbestos fibers can be inhaled or ingested. The fibers can become lodged in the lungs and cause scar tissue to form. A fibrosis can develop into a disease known as Asbestosis. It is an irreversible disease and usually takes 10-20 years to progress. Early symptoms include coughing which progress into shortness of breath upon exertion then decreased pulmonary functions. Asbestos fibers accumulate in the lungs. As exposure increases, the risk of disease likewise increases. By minimizing exposure and accumulation, the risk of adverse health effects will be reduced. Other potential health effects are lung cancer and mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the chest). There is a synergistic effect of smoking cigarettes and exposure to asbestos. A greater risk of lung cancer has been found in people who worked with asbestos and smoked cigarettes. The earliest symptom of lung cancer includes a persistent cough. Tumors on the bronchi covering must be found by x-ray to confirm lung cancer.

The airborne concentration of asbestos can be measured with air sampling. OSHA’s Time-weighted average (TWA) limit for asbestos in an airborne concentration is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air as an eight (8)-hour time-weighted average.

During regular working hours inform your supervisor of the material you suspect as being ACM. If sampling is needed they will contact EHS and we will check the records, or if needed take a sample to be analyzed by the state lab. Only authorized and trained workers may remove or work with ACM. If you need additional information please contact your supervisor or EHS at 410-706-3490.

For more information on the Asbestos program, please contact Steve Deck at 410.706.3490 or via e-mail at sdeck@af.umaryland.edu.

OSHA Link