Respirable Crystalline Silica and Asbestos Exposures in Manmade and Natural Disasters

Workers, volunteers, and the public are exposed to respirable crystalline silica, asbestos, and heavy metals from both natural and manmade disasters. This presentation looks at the potential occupational health exposures and the controls that could be used to reduce risk.

1. Respirable Crystalline Silica and Asbestos Exposures in Natural and Manmade Disasters AIHA New Jersey Local Section Presented by: Bernard L. Fontaine, Jr., CIH, CSP, FAIHA November 16, 2023

2. 2 Disclaimer This transformative remix of scientific work constitutes a fair-use of published copyrighted material as provided by section 107 of the United States copyright law. Some of the content material contained herein including but not limited to statements or photographs may contain content not authorized by its owner. However, for training and educational purposes only, the use of this information is allowed based on fair-use and applicable licenses. WHWB, AIHA nor the AIHA New Jersey Local Section endorses brand name of products, use or application described in this presentation. The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc. has no financial interest. The following presentation cannot be reproduced, sold, distributed, or otherwise used in any other than training and educating people on the subjects related to the advancement of occupational and environmental health and safety profession and the career opportunities for protecting workers and the work environment both now and in the future.

3. Understand the current state of knowledge of asbestos, crystalline silica and heavy metals in the built environment. Learn about the potential occupational and environmental exposures to vulnerable populations of workers and public. Demonstrate the potential exposure to asbestos, crystalline silica and metals during manmade and natural disasters. Describe some of the research and testing to evaluate potential occupational, public and environmental health concerns. Discuss capacity to educate governments, universities, OEHS professionals, and students about these hazards and controls. 3 Objectives

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5. Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposures Industry Samples Bulk SiO 2 (%) Sample SiO 2 % Mean (µg/m 3 ) Median (µg/m 3 ) Variance STD CI (95%) ACGIH TLV↑ Agriculture, Forestry 22 32.9% 9.5% 0.029 0.028 0.000 0.019 0.008 63.6% Mining 69 57.3% 18.2% 0.012 0.008 0.000 0.016 0.004 8.7% Construction 3984 27.7% 14.9% 0.024 0.016 0.001 0.025 0.001 32.6% Manufacturing 18488 36.7% 13.2% 0.024 0.016 0.001 0.029 0.000 31.0% Trans/Com Electric/Gas 168 20.4% 12.1% 0.033 0.018 0.003 0.052 0.008 41.1% Wholesale Trade 188 33.3% 19.0% 0.025 0.019 0.001 0.023 0.003 38.3% Retail Trade 22 29.1% 18.3% 0.025 0.013 0.001 0.035 0.015 27.3% Finance/Insurance 20 16.3% 7.6% 0.023 0.012 0.000 0.022 0.010 45.0% Services 251 35.0% 19.2% 0.023 0.013 0.001 0.034 0.003 23.9% Public Administration 58 22.9% 11.6% 0.019 0.013 0.000 0.018 0.005 22.4% Source: Longitudinal Study of OSHA IMIS Database on Crystalline Silica Dust Exposures, Academia.edu.

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9. The W.R. Grace mine outside Libby, Montana. Source: AP/Rick Bowmer.

10. Source: Asbestos Awareness 2021 Source: Asbestos Awareness 2021

11. Notes on Asbestos. Source: Marco Louters. Global Locations of Naturally Occurring Asbestos Source: Asbestos Awareness 2021 Source: Asbestos Awareness 2021

12. Man-made disasters can be divided into 3 categories: Technological Disasters:  Examples include industrial accidents like chemical spills, transportation accidents, and mining accidents. Social Disasters:  Examples include warfare, genocide, civil unrest, hyperinflation, and terrorism. Environmental Disasters:  Examples include deforestation and climate change.

13. Natural disasters are large-scale geological or meteorological events that have the potential to cause loss of life or property. These types of disasters include: Tornadoes Severe Storms Hurricanes Tropical Storms Floods Wildfires Earthquakes Drought Landslides

14. Demolition of the former Law Enforcement Center caused concerns among some residents regarding dust from the site. The City says residents are not in danger from asbestos. Source: Mitch Melberg • Williston Herald

15. Global Dust Storm, Sandstorm and Haboob Potentials and Rating Source: Natural Science Vol.5 No.10(2013), Article ID:37734,11.

16. 20 Military Theater Locations of Dust Storm, Sandstorm and Haboobs

17. US forward base feels the brunt of a sandstorm from the western desert near Al Assad in Iraq. Source: Reuters.

18. Iraqi Sandstorm Credit: Defense Imagery Author: LCpl Andrew P. Roufs , USMC Source: Army Medical Depart. (AMEDD),The Borden Institute

19. US forward base feels the brunt of a sandstorm from the western desert near Al Assad in Iraq. Source: Reuters.

20. Young Afghan refugee hides behind a tent from a dust storm in Kabul on in October, 2008 Photograph: Manpreet Romana/AFP Mali, 2001. Women caught in a sand storm - reducing agricultural productivity Photograph: Remi Benali/Corbis Yemen, 2003. Boy rides a donkey during a sandstorm in Wadi Mur Photograph: Christophe Boisvieux/Corbis Chinese farmer walks amid a heavy sand storm in Minqin county, in China's Gansu province. Northern China

21. Earthquake Disaster and Building Collapse in China Source: : National Geographic – Earthquakes 101, 2016

22. This handout photo provided by Nepal Prime Minister's Office shows an earthquake-affected area in northwestern Nepal, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023

23. Taliban fighters guard at the site of an earthquake in Zenda Jan district in Herat province, of western Afghanistan, on October 8, 2023.

24. Strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh early Wednesday, US Geological Survey said.(Representative Image/AFP )

25. Dust from Rubble Removal Three Days after Earthquake in Iran. Source: Abdolrahim Rafati, The Iran Project (2012)

26. Volunteers Clear Debris Searching for Survivors in Turkey. Source: Tom Howell - Daily Record/Getty Images

27. People Clear Rubble in Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal Source: Tom Howell - Daily Record and Getty Images

28. Rescue and Recovery Workers in Mexico Earthquake Source: News4sanantonio.com

29. Cleanup Operation and Workers in Haiti Source: World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization – Earthquakes

30. Dust from Building Construction Work in Kathmandu, Nepal Source: ABC News, 2015

31. S ource : Ebrahim Noroozi and Rahim Faiez/AP

32. Building Demolition After Earthquake Source: Raken

33. Christchurch Resident Greg Mitchell Shovels Debris After Earthquake Source: AP/Daily Mail Report, 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand, 2011

34. 42 Theaters of War and Conflict 2023

35. Person walks in destruction by Israeli bombing in Gaza City, Oct. 11, 2023. Source: Fatima Shbair/AP Workers clear rubble Thursday, September 11, 2023 after bombing of a mine in Donetsk. Source: Sergei Grits/AP Saada in northern Yemen was almost completely destroyed in six wars still lies in ruins. People live in the rubble. Source: Alexander Smoltczyk Remains of the old center of Saada. People pick their way past the ruins. Source: Alexander Smoltczyk

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37. Source: Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

38. Source: Oren Ziv/ and Ramez Mahmoud/AP

39. Asbestos and Crystalline Silica Exposures

40. States Most Affected by Wildfires California Arizona Montana Nevada Oregon New Mexico Idaho Utah Washington Wyoming Colorado Alaska Buildings Damaged by Wildfires Oregon wildfire has caused evacuations and sparked blazes across the Columbia River in Washington state. Tristan Fortsch/KATU-TV via AP Source: U.S. Forest Service

41. During mop-up activities, firefighters can be exposed to smoke and dust as they dig out or apply water to extinguish smoldering materials. Source: Northern Rockies Fire Science Network, September 2020. Firefighters dig fire line on the 2017 Rice Ridge Fire in western Montana. Photo by Kari Greer, Northern Rockies Fire Science Network, September 2020.

42. 54 Combined Joint Task Force 50 search, rescue and recovery personnel conduct operations of areas damaged by Maui wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 15, 2023. Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Foster/U.S. Army National Guard via Reuters

43. Marcal paper plant in Elmwood Park, NJ (2019) Source: Thomas E. Franklin

44. Source: Mesothelioma.com Photo by Emily Clemenson November 25, 2019

45. Asbestos Spreads Through Demolition December 4, 2017. Photograph by Zac Pingle

46. 58 Firefighters pour water on an industrial fire Thursday in Richmond, IN. Source Michael Conroy / AP

47. 59 Measuring exposure to respirable silica dust. Photo by Justin Stewart, 2019.

48. 60 Measure exposure to asbestos Photo by North Star Environmental Services. Measure exposure to asbestos Photo by Architecture and Design Australia.