![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081009232706im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Research Activities
Research Activities
Asbestos Research
Issue
The Land Research Program in EPA's Office of Research and Development is investigating the potential risks of cleaning up contaminated sites where asbestos fibers are found such as asbestos mines.
Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength. It is commonly used as an acoustic insulator, thermal insulation, fire proofing, and in other building materials. Many products are in use today that contain asbestos.
Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne. When these fibers get into the air they may be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems. When asbestos contaminates soil, some forms can harm animals and plant life.
Science Objective
Health Effects Research
Research is focused on learning more about the health effects of the fibers at sites, the toxicity of different fiber sizes and shapes, and which types have the greatest potential to enter humans and cause harm.
Scientists are conducting a study to assess the health effects of these fibers from an asbestos mine in Libby, Mont. which has been designated a Superfund site. The research will support the site risk assessment, which will assess the risk to humans of various exposure scenarios and fiber types and provide information needed to determine remediation activities.
Asbestos research continues to answer key scientific questions about the health effects from environmental asbestos. In 2008, a study will be conducted that will evaluate and compare various asbestos fiber types. The research will provide information about the health effects from samples.
Research will be performed in the following areas:
- Comparative in vitro dissolution of asbestos fiber-containing samples
- Comparative in vitro cellular toxicity
- Comparative in vivo toxicity of asbestos fiber-containing samples (delivered primarily by intratracheal instillation in rats and mice)
- Subchronic inhalation toxicology of the Libby material in rats
- Dosimetric modeling of the results from the in vitro, comparative toxicity, and inhalation toxicology studies to provide a more informed risk assessment of the Libby asbestos material.
Asbestos Aerosolization Research
Research is being conducted to develop a method to evaluate aerosolization of asbestos fibers from soil surfaces into the air for use by EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER). There is a lack of data and appropriate methods to determine the degree of asbestos aerosolization at a contaminated site. The research will develop sampling and measurement methods.