2014 Conference on Monitoring and Surveillance of Asbestos-Related Diseases. With millions of square meters of materials containing asbestos still in place in buildings and industrial equipment, the risk of asbestos exposure remains and will persist for several decades. Approximately nine hundred thousand workers are potentially exposed to asbestos in the French construction sector. According to the conclusions of The French National Mesothelioma Surveillance Program (PNSM) published in two thousand and eleven: Occupations most at risk are: Plumbers, pipefitters, sheet metal workers boilermakers, electricians, welders and flame cutters installationIn two thousand and ten: almost one hundred and sixty thousand workers of the general scheme of Social Security occupying “plumbing-heating activities”: eighty-five % of occupational diseases related to asbestos. But paradoxically: Few exposure data are available for these workers. This can be explained by: Size and dispersion of the majority of concerned enterprises, occasional and short-term exposure, duration of difficult samples, logistical constraints linked to conventional sampling method. To overcome these difficulties the lack of exposure data, INRS decided to investigate an alternative to conventional sampling.

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Presentation of INRS04/07/2014 1INRS Presentation04/07/2014 1Présentation INRS15/02/10 1
Use of a passive badge for sampling asbestos
among building finishing workers
Espoo, FINLAND – 13 February 2014
Céline EYPERT-BLAISON
A. Romero-Hariot, P. Laine, S. Veissière, L. Fréville, M.C. Starck, F. Clerc, P. Wild

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 With millions of square meters of materials containing asbestos still in place in buildings and
industrial equipment, the risk of asbestos exposure remains and will persist for several
decades
 Approximately 900,000 workers are potentially exposed to asbestos in the French
construction sector
Context
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 According to the conclusions of The French National
Mesothelioma Surveillance Program (PNSM) published
in 2011, occupations most at risk are: Plumbers,
pipefitters, sheet metal workers boilermakers,
electricians, welders and flame cutters installation
 In 2010: almost 160 000 workers of the French
general scheme of Social Security occupying "plumbing-
heating activities“: 85% of occupational diseases related
to asbestos
 But : Few exposure data for these workers
 Size and dispersion of the majority of concerned
enterprises, occasional and short-term exposure,
duration of difficult samples, logistical constraints linked
to conventional sampling method

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 Developed in the United Kingdom. Used
by Burdett et al. (2007) for the evaluation
of exposure of UK industrial plumbers to
asbestos.
 A badge in conductive plastic.
A collection system by electrostatic
attraction, lightweight, autonomous,
inexpensive, reusable, possible sampling
over long periods.
It can be sent by post.
Personal Passive Sampler
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1) Assess the performance of
a passive sampler for
asbestos fibers sampling
2) Apply passive sampling to
a selected population of
employees potentially
exposed: plumbers-heating
engineers ©Serge MORILLON – INRS
Better understanding level of knowledge and
awareness of their Asbestos Risk in order to improve it

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 Estimation of the equivalent sampling rate
 In order to complete the work carried out in UK by the Health
and Safety Laboratory (HSL)
 An estimation in function of physical parameters which could
influence its sampling and compatible with the occupational
ambient conditions
 Contrary to the UK study, the electrets used were
polycarbonate and not polypropylene. Both polymers have
similar dielectric properties.
 Contrary to polypropylene, polycarbonate can be prepared by
indirect method in the same manner as cellulose ester
membranes placed in cassettes in the case of conventional
sampling. No bias due to the preparation method.
1st Part: Laboratory experiments
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 Protocol
 Exposure of passive samplers and cassettes with
filters (= our references) to an aerosol of chrysotile
fibers in a generation system
 Study of influence:
> The concentration in chrysotile fibers
> The Relative Humidity (RH) for 2 levels [20% - 50%]
> The air velocity for 2 levels [0.3 m.s-1 - 0.03 m.s-1]
 Preparation of filters and electrets by the same
normalized indirect method followed by an
Analysis and asbestos fibers counting by
Transmission Electron Microscopy
Estimation of the sampling rate
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©INRS

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 12 fibers generations carried out in the generation system, combining levels of studied
parameters:
> Significant decrease of the load during the first days - No link between level of initial charge
and discharge level
> Variation of the mean concentration between 0.11 and 0.36 f.cm-3
> Variation of equivalent sampling rate between 0.11 and 0.26 L.min-1
 Bayesian modeling: no significant effect of RH, air velocity, electric charge
or fiber concentration on the equivalent flow rate
 Equivalent Sampling Rate:
0,15 L.min-1
with a 95% confidence interval of [0.11 – 0.21]
1st Part: Main results
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8. Modifier le titre2nd Part: Field experiments
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 Aim: Exposure to asbestos fibers over a
one-week activity ?
 Volunteer recruitment by the Confederation
of Self-Employed Builders and Small Building
Enterprises (CAPEB)
 2 Campaigns organized:
 January 2012:
> 97 volunteers / 50 returns
(maximum delay times:139 days)
 June 2012:
> 30 volunteers / 20 returns
(under 29 days)
©Serge MORILLON – INRS

9. Modifier le titreOrganization of field campaigns
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Missions volunteers:
 One week long, wear the badge during their work time
 Fill their notebook
 Promptly return Badge & Notebook to INRS for analysis
Notebook:
 Individual questionnaire (age,
qualification, knowledge of MCA,
precautions they take when they think
to be in the presence of asbestos ...)
 Interventions sheets to fill in
throughout the test period (date,
duration of the intervention so wearing
open badge, ambient conditions
during intervention, materials
encountered and actions taken, etc.)

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 A total of 63 badges & notebooks were treated:
 66% of workers were their own boss
 More than two thirds were between 35 and 54 years and have over 20 years experience
 Only 2 volunteers received training in the prevention of risks related to asbestos,
whereas it’s a French regulatory obligation
 They consider their level of knowledge of asbestos materials "Poor" (44%) to "Good
Enough" (41%)
 54% say they recognize asbestos from personal experience and 24% say they do not
know
 4 volunteers received special medical care but during previous work experience
 Usually, when they identify asbestos materials:
> 10% do not take precautions
> 73% wear a mask but in half of cases, it’s an ineffective disposable paper mask
Questionnaires main results
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 63 badges analyzed: 22 with asbestos fibers (35%)
Interventions & Asbestos Exposures
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 Collection of chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite
 Asbestos concentrations (WHO fibers counted by
ATEM): from 4 to 640 F.L-1 (evaluated on the basis of our
estimation of the equivalent sampling rate of the badge)
 Refractory Ceramic Fibres also collected by 2 Badges
 Operators exposed:
 41% had never perceived risk
 One third never use means of prevention
 Actions carried out mainly welding, drilling, cleaning
and finishing
 Mostly handled materials: tresses and plaster
 Those who have never perceived risk were bosses
with experience of over 10 years
NO
56%
YES
36%
n.a.
8%
If you are sure or suspect the
presence of asbestos, do you
use means of prevention?

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 Passive Sampler
 Estimation of the equivalent sampling rate together with its 95% credible interval for
conditions compatible with real work situations (RH, air velocities, asbestos
concentrations)
 Collection of asbestos fibers and mineral fibers as RCF
 The equivalent sampling rate will be refine during field measurements with comparison on
conventional sampling of operators working on removal of asbestos
 A real tool for workers who ignore or overlook the presence of asbestos
Conclusions
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 Workers
 Necessity to improve the awareness of plumbers at risk of exposure to asbestos fibers:
 Information on potentially polluting work and risks
 Reminder of good work practices [eg humidification, dust aspiration]
 Means of collective protection & individual (knowledge & use) [eg: vacuum cleaners equipped
with high efficiency filters and not domestic hoover]
in order to protect themselves but also people nearby their activity who can be
exposed…
 Reminder of their obligations, especially in term of training
 Extension of such study to other potential exposed workers (electricians or maintenance
operators for instance) and / or other type of fibers (RCF)

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Presentation of INRS04/07/2014 13INRS Presentation 13