Asbestos in Vermiculite and Vermiculite Containing Products IFMA February 18th, 2014 EMSL Analytical, Inc. Edward Cahill, VP, Asbestos Division Email: ecahill@emsl.com EMSL Analytical, Inc. 200 Route 130 North www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 800.220.3675 1
Vermiculite Analysis Copyright 2013 2
Vermiculite LIGHT MEDIUM DARK Copyright 2013 3
Vermiculite Ore Photo courtesy of www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com Copyright 2013 4
Asbestos in Vermiculite - History Libby, Montana USGS Photo Vermiculite expands or "pops" when heated. This creats pockets of air that make the material suitable for use as insulation. Dr. Alley founded the Zonolite Company and developed the mine at Libby The Libby mine was the source of estimated 70-90% of all vermiculite sold in the U.S. from 1919 to 1990 W. R. Grace bought the mine and processing facility in 1963 and operated it until 1990. EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 5
Vermiculite s Many Uses Fertilizer Block Fill Vermiculite fire board Copyright 2013 6
Vermiculite Uses General Loose fill Carriers Density modifiers Fire Protection Insulation Horticultural Hydroponics Potting soil Mixes Carrier for fertilizers and insecticides Industrial Absorbent Packing Brake Pads / Shoes Drilling Muds Filtration Beds Fireproof safes Furnaces Paints Sealants Construction Floor and Roof Screed Gypsum Plaster Loft Insulation Acoustic finishes Sound Deadening Spray on Fireproofing Copyright 2013 7
Asbestos in Vermiculite Libby, Montana Unfortunately, veins of asbestos contaminated most, if not all of the material taken from the mine; Libby Amphibole was an accessory mineral. EPA has been working in Libby since 1999 when an Emergency Response Team was sent to investigate local concern and news articles about asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 8
Asbestos in Vermiculite Libby, Montana EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 9
Asbestos in Vermiculite Libby, Montana Libby Amphiboles is a collective term for the complex mixture of amphiboles that are known to exist at the Libby site. In order of decreasing abundance: Winchite (non-regulated amphibole) Richterite (non-regulated amphibole) Tremolite (regulated amphibole) Not as prevalent but identified: Magnesioriebeckite (non-regulated amphibole) Edenite (non-regulated amphibole) Magnesio-arfvedsonite (non-regulated amphibole) EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 10
Asbestos in Vermiculite Health Effects Libby, Montana Asbestosis - A serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. It is a scarring of lung tissue caused by the presence of asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which occurs in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, chest (pleural cavity), abdomen (peritoneal cavity) Lung Cancer - An uncontrolled, malignant growth of cells in the lung tissue. Indistinguishable from lung cancer seen without asbestos exposure. Latency period (slow response, 15-40 years) for onset of disease from first exposure for Lung Cancer and Meso EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 11
Libby Montana Increased mortality rates are observed not only with the mine workers and their families but even in citizens with no direct connection to the mine Mortality rates 40 times higher than the rest of Montana and 60 times higher than rest of the US These mortality rates are associated not just with regulated asbestos but other amphiboles as well Libby Amphiboles = NRA NRA = Libby Amphiboles EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 12
Major Receiving Points Over 250 expansion sites EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 13
Asbestos in Vermiculite Libby, Montana Mine site mid 1900 s EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 14
Asbestos in Vermiculite Libby, Montana Mine site in 2009 EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 15
Asbestos in Vermiculite Libby, Montana Mine site today EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 16
Libby EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 17
Libby Contaminated Soil Returned to the Mine EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 18
Libby VAI Removed from Homes EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 19
The Scale of the Issue Production Levels and Ore Content 1,200 tons of mineral mined per day, with stack emissions at the mill of 10,000-24,000 pounds per day 80% of world production for 70 years, 50% of U.S. supply in 1990 Ore is up to 20% asbestos, airborne particles up to 40% asbestos (Grace insisted ore was <1% asbestos) 15.6 billion pounds of asbestos contaminated Zonolite shipped and distributed around North America EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 20
Vermiculite Attic Insulation Between 10-30 Million Homes are Estimated to Contain Vermiculite! EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 21
Regulatory Guidance EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 22
May 21, 2003 EPA and ATSDR launch a national consumer awareness campaign for homeowners with vermiculite attic insulation (VAI) which may contain asbestos. People who have homes with vermiculite attic insulation should become informed, not alarmed, said Stephen L. Johnson, EPA s Assistant Administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 23
Key Recommendations for Homeowners Do not disturb vermiculite attic insulation. Don t go into the attic. Boxes or other items should not be stored in attics if retrieving them will disturb the insulation. Homeowners should never attempt to remove the vermiculite insulation. If removal is necessary, hire professionals trained and certified to safely remove the material. EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 24
Enter NY DOH ELAP Guidance on Vermiculite EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 25
NYS DOH ELAP 1984 - The Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) of the Wadsworth Center established, responsible for certification of labs performing environmental analyses on samples originating from NYS August 1992 Gravimetric Reduction with TEM confirmation requirement for nonfriable organically bound (NOB) Samples EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 26
New York Guidance - 04/11 Copyright 2013 27
New York Guidance 06/22/12 Copyright 2013 28
New York Guidance 07/09/13 Copyright 2013 29
New York Guidance 07/09/13 Copyright 2013 30
Samples Primarily Affected Spray on fireproofing Textures, Popcorn Ceilings, etc. Copyright 2013 31
Wisconsin DOH Copyright 2013 32
Minnesota DOH Copyright 2013 33
Wisconsin Minnesota New York Rhode Island? In Canada British Columbia Copyright EMSL 2013 34
Just a Libby Issue? Copyright 2013 35
USGS Study Conclusions The results of this mineralogical survey are preliminary The results of this preliminary survey are consistent and suggest that fibrous amphiboles, in more than trace amounts, may not be common in the ore zones of some types of vermiculite deposits. However, the asbestiform amphibole mineralogy of the Libby deposit is not unique. Copyright 2013 36
Vermiculite Analysis Copyright 2013 37
Analysis of Vermiculite The problems with Vermiculite Analysis Particle size prohibits making a proper slide mount Asbestos not always homogenous within the sample Asbestos can be locked between plates and therefore not easily detected Non-regulated Libby Amphiboles present Copyright 2013 38
Asbestos Contamination Copyright 2013 39
Libby Vermiculite Rice grain sized Asbestos chunks can sometimes be detected visually Copyright 2013 40
Libby Vermiculite Hand picking large amphibole chunks is straightforward. Their absence does not mean the sample is asbestos free. Copyright 2013 41
Looking for Smaller Fibers PLM Copyright 2013 42
Identification Strong Chrysotile, crossed polars, gypsum plate in (pos. SOE) Amosite Dispersion staining mode (blue/gold) Chrysotile kink bands Not true RI colors Copyright 2013 43
Quantitation Weak Limitations of the PLM Method Copyright 2013 44
What s the Percentage? 5% Copyright 2013 45
Quantitation Weak Calibrated Visual Estimation (CVE) of Asbestos Percentage from a combination of stereo and PLM Point Count using a single cross hair graticule or a 25 point Chalkley Array graticule. Copyright 2013 46
Analysis Only Good as the Prep Especially for Point Count Uniform Random Monolayer Copyright 2013 47
Analysis Only Good as the Prep Especially for Point Count Uniform Random Monolayer Copyright 2013 48
Quantification Issues Particle size (height) prevents making a nice monolayer prep Particle size (L and W) makes for large variability in percentage by point counting Copyright EMSL 2013 49
Fireproof Insulation - Stereo No Intact Exfoliated Vermiculite Books Only Thin Sheets/Flakes Copyright 2013 50
Textured Ceiling - Stereo A Few Exfoliated Books of Vermiculite Copyright 2013 51
Vermiculite Ore Photo courtesy of www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com Copyright 2013 52
Biotite - Montana Copyright 2013 53
Biotite ONTARIO, CANADA MEXICO Copyright 2013 54
Muscovite New Hampshire Copyright 2013 55
PLM First Order Red-Crossed Polars, Compensator In Vermiculite Lepidolite Fuschite Biotite Muscovite Pollock (ite) Copyright 2013 56
PLM Crossed Polars Vermiculite Lepidolite Fuschite Biotite Muscovite Copyright 2013 57
Libby Vermiculite Micas and vermiculite have many similar properties but it was Vermiculite and specifically Vermiculite from Libby Montana that ended up in most building materials Copyright 2013 58
Analysis Options Loose Fill Vermiculite Copyright 2013 59
Vermiculite Options Cincinnati Method Vermiculite separated into floats, sinks and suspended fractions. Analysis is by PLM / TEM CARB (CA Air Resource Board) 435 Method or EPA 600 Milling followed by PLM Sample is milled, followed by a PLM point count EPA 600 Milling followed by TEM Analysis Can break out of mass percent with and without the contribution of Libby Amphiboles ASTM TEM Qualitative Method Excellent fiber ID but no quantification Addison Davies Method Remove vermiculite prior to analysis Copyright 2013 60
The Cincinnati Method Research Method for Sampling and Analysis of Fibrous Amphibole in Vermiculite Attic Insulation EPA/600/R-04/004 (January 2004) Copyright 2013 61
A Cincinnati Method Alternative CARB 435 or EPA 600 with Milling Fine fibers like these can be missed by the Cincinnati method. As an alternative to the Cincinnati method, a CARB style milling prior to analysis can be used. Copyright 2013 62
CARB 435 Style Milling After milling, a PLM CVE, 400 or 1000 point count Copyright 2013 63
ASTM TEM Qualitative Ignore floats Ignore sinks Analyze the suspension Copyright 2013 64
ASTM TEM Qualitative Drop Mount (quick and cheaper) or Filtration ($uperior) Copyright 2013 65
ASTM TEM Qualitative Magnification at 20,000X so can see even individual asbestos fibers / fibrils ID by EDXA and SAED Positive / Negative only, no quantitation Copyright 2013 66
TEM is Good for ID of Libby Amphiboles Libby Amphibole Standard Like actinolite / tremolite, with addition of Na & K Copyright 2013 67
Addison Davies NY: These Interim guidelines are effective until new testing methods are established that effectively remove vermiculite from test samples and accurately identify asbestos. Copyright 2013 68
Analysis Options Vermiculite Containing Materials Spray On Textures Plasters Popcorn Ceilings etc. Copyright 2013 69
VCM Analysis Options EPA 600 R-93-116 (knowing limitations) CARB (CA Air Resource Board) 435 Method or EPA 600 Milling followed by PLM Sample is milled, followed by a PLM analysis Gravimetric Reduction Prep followed by PLM/TEM EPA 600 Milling followed by TEM Analysis Can break out of mass percent with and without the contribution of Libby Amphiboles Addison Davies Method Remove vermiculite prior to analysis Copyright 2013 70
Methods with Matrix Removal EPA (600) PLM NOB EPA (600) TEM NOB NY State ELAP 198.6 (PLM) NY ELAP 198.4 (TEM) Chatfield SOP (TEM) Copyright 2013 71
Gravimetric Reduction (198.6) 480 o C (900 o F) filtration HCl acid treatment Copyright 2013 72
Monokote MSDS Spray-On can have quite a bit of removable matrix Copyright 2013 73
2g of VCM (spray on) Copyright EMSL 2013 74
Spray On Residue After Grav Copyright EMSL 2013 75
Analysis Options Above and Beyond Beyond the ELAP 198.1 then 198.6 approach TEM by ELAP Method 198.4 is an obvious next step though particle size can be an issue (light milling) Copyright 2013 76
TEM Advantages Magnification at 20,000X (vs 400X) so we can see even individual asbestos fibers / fibrils ID by EDXA ID by SAED Copyright 2013 77
NY Guidance: More? Than Answers These Interim guidelines are effective until new testing methods are established that effectively remove vermiculite from test samples and accurately identify asbestos. Based on Addison Davies? Copyright 2013 78
Method Performance Negative Vermiculite Spiked (10 Labs) Zonolite Negative Spray On Fire Proofing Spiked Positive Monokote Cincinnati EPA 600 EPA 600 EPA 600 with Milling ASTM D5721 ASTM TEM Qualitative EPA 600 with Milling EPA 600 with Grav Reduction EPA 600 with Milling and Grav Reduction ASTM D5721 ASTM TEM Qualitative Copyright 2014 79
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Acknowledgements Rob DeMalo, EMSL Analytical, Inc. Owen S. Crankshaw, Research Environmental Scientist RTI US EPA, http://www2.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-familyasbestos-contaminated-vermiculite-insulation NYS DOH ELAP, http://www.wadsworth.org/labcert/elap/asbestos.html USGS, http://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/b2192/ NYS DOL, http://www.labor.state.ny.us/formsdocs/wp/cr56.pdf EMSL Analytical, Inc. www.emsl.com Copyright 2013 81