Technical Guidance for Asbestos Risk in Soils

1Neptune and Company, Inc.

Technical Guidance for Asbestos Risk in Soils

Neptune and Company, Inc.

Denver, COwww.neptuneandco.com


• Many guidance documents available cover specific topics: – cancer potency factors related to dust

inhalation, particulate modeling, dispersion processes for asbestos in soils, etc.

• Guidance that combines all of these topics does not exist– Results in the lack of a straightforward

path for calculation of asbestos risk in soils– External review of risk calculations is

therefore difficult and time consuming

Background


• No guidance available on statistical sampling design assuming a baseline risk threshold for asbestos– E.g., If assuming a 1E-06 risk, how many

samples should a field team collect?– Why do sites fail if zero fibers are present?

• What method of sampling should be used?

• What about quality assurance/quality control?– Data Quality Objectives (DQO) process

Background (continued)


• Guidance that integrates all existing guidance together to aid risk assessors, contractors, consultants, and managers:– Neptune (2011)

– Excel Workbook (example slides at end) • Optimal sample size calculation• Receptor-specific particulate emission models• Pooled analytical sensitivity• Receptor-specific risk calculation

Solution


• Berman and Crump (2003)– Treats amphibole and chrysotile fibers

separately– Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)– Cancer risk from fibers:

• > 10 um in length• < 0.4 um in width

• U.S. EPA (2002)– Particulate Emission Factor (PEF) models

Guidance Follows…


• Issues related to asbestos in soils• Activity Based Sampling vs. Berman and

Crump (2003) for characterizing risk• Site assessment, analysis methods,

sampling design, and quality control• Sample size calculations• Data validation steps for asbestos data• Exposure concentration estimation• Characterizing asbestos-related risk

Guidance covers…


Risk Calculation Workbook

Disclaimer: Screenshots of asbestos guidance spreadsheet are given as examples only.Disclaimer: Screenshots of asbestos guidance spreadsheet are given as examples only.


Particulate Emission Factors



Pooled Analytical Sensitivity



Sample Size Calculation



ReferencesBerman DW, Crump KS, (2003) Final draft: Technical support document for a protocol to assess asbestos-related risk. Prepared for Mark Follensbee, Syracuse Research Corporation, Syracuse, NY, and the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. USEPA #9345.4-06. Limited revision draft.

Neptune and Company, Inc. (Neptune), 2011. Technical Guidance for the Calculation of Asbestos Related Risk in Soils for the Basic Management Incorporated (BMI) Complex and Common Areas. Prepared for Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. February 2011.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), (2002) Supplemental Guidance for Developing Soil Screening Levels for Superfund Sites, Office of Solid Waste

and Emergency Response #9355.4-24, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.


Questions?

www.neptuneandco.com

Contact our Denver office for more information:Contact our Denver office for more information:

Dr. Michael Balshi ([email protected]) Dr. Michael Balshi ([email protected])

Dr. Paul Black ([email protected]) Dr. Paul Black ([email protected])

Technical Guidance for Asbestos Risk in Soils

Documents

Transcript of Technical Guidance for Asbestos Risk in Soils