Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Asbestos abatement of floor tile and mastic in medical facilities create heightened concerns over the emission of airborne asbestos particles. In the July 2010 Journal of Environmental Management author William P. Racine discussed the specific concerns that arise from the removal of aged asbestos floor tile and mastic.

Floor tiles that were installed before the 1980s most likely contain asbestos.  One can use solvents to chemically soften and remove floor tiles and mastic, however not without risk.  Not only do the solvent compounds pose a health hazard and have strong odors, scraping or removing the tile and mastic can disturb the asbestos fibers and cause them to become airborne.

Generally, owners of buildings where floor tile and mastic removal is regulated by the EPA and OSHA must determine the best approach to abatement operations to minimize the risk, assure compliance and still achieve an efficient and cost effective project. The focus of the study by Racine was to explain the differences concerning “operational’ efficacy and suitability in a healthcare setting” between the current preferred removal method, chemical stripping,  and an alternative, less odorous method, wet grinding method.

The data collected using a “mixed methods” approach showed the two were similar in cost and emissions. However, the wet grinding method offered some advantages to a hospital setting not found with chemical stripping including: the absence of chemical residue that is believed to remain on the substrate and the installer’s opinion that the wet grinding method was “more consistent with the manufacturer’s warranty provisions” and that the new material had a better adhesion to the substrate than with the chemical stripping method.

Regardless of the method used, any facility, construction company, or homeowner needing to remove aged floor tile and mastic should take all precautions to avoid any exposure to asbestos.  When airborne, asbestos fibers can easily be inhaled and lodge into the lining of the body’s internal organs.  Years later, this can develop into serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.