Thank you. Yes, we intend to empty the room during the abatement. The question I am trying to answer is whether the asbestos presents a hazard to the food products that are stored in the cooler room. All products are the property of our customer and come to us bagged, boxed, wrapped, etc. There is extremely low possibility of any type of adulteration. The abatement is scheduled as a safety precaution for human health. The question regarding food safety has been raised as a result of the planning. I have found nothing that mentions asbestos directly. I say there is no concern as the situation currently exists. The only concern is during the abatement, and the room will be empty. I'm looking for verification that my assessment is correct.
Hi Suzie,
Yr query has a wide scope and (I suspect) is technically not simple even to an asbestos expert which i am not. 
I am also rather unsure as to the specific meaning of “abatement” as it applies to this project.
The answer as usual for RAs is going to be multi-faceted. A brief literature appraisal of some of the “food” related aspects is given below but personally I recommend you get an an expert opinion.
Factors related are such as –
(1) Potential risk that food in the cooler could be (has been ?) cross-contaminated by asbestos fibres, eg via direct contact or airborne. Plus other food related to the envisaged "abatement" of course.
(2) Is the presence of asbestos (fibres?) in foods considered to be a potential food hazard ?
(1) requires a risk assessment specific to yr situation.
(eg nature of product/condition of room/asbestos fibre level in air/air flows/etc)
(2) Excluding the typical haccp caveats such as target consumer etc, a general definitive conclusion still seems lacking for whether ingestion of asbestos fibres is a significant BCP hazard in foods.
AFAIK, an inhalation pathway is long-established as a (long-term) carcinogenic hazard. In contrast, an ingestion pathway appears discounted in the majority of refs for drinking water but also see refs like (a1,1987), (a2,2003), (d,2013) below for “food”. Reservations over lack of data, interpretation, etc, are common. Some (current) specific warnings also exist (eg refs(c,c1) below).
Some opinions for drinking water/food are illustrated in these links/attachments –
(a)
In 1989, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; uses established before this date are still allowed. The EPA has established regulations that require school systems to inspect for damaged asbestos and to eliminate or reduce the exposure by removing the asbestos or by covering it up. The EPA has set a limit of 7 million fibers per liter (MFL) as the concentration of long asbestos fibers that may be present in drinking water.
http://dhhs.ne.gov/p...stos_index.aspx
asb1 - asbestos facts heet questions.pdf 36.88KB
12 downloads
(sorry for typo - "heet" should be "sheet")
(a1)
asb3 - Carcinogenic risks associated with INGESTION of asbestos (1987).pdf 3.16MB
23 downloads
(detailed review up to 1987)
(a2)
The asbestos content of solid foodstuffs has not been well studied because of the lack of a simple, reliable analytical method. Foods that contain soil particles, dust, or dirt probably contain asbestos fibres; crude estimates suggest that the intake of asbestos in food may be significant in comparison with that in drinking-water (12). Concentrations of 0.151 MFL and 4.3–6.6 MFL in beer and 1.7–12.2 MFL in soft drinks have been reported (13)
asb4 - WHO (2003) asbestos in drinking water.pdf 191.63KB
11 downloads
(b)
Should I be concerned about asbestos in my drinking-water?
No. While studies have clearly shown that asbestos poses a serious health risk when it is dry and inhaled, there is very little evidence to show that asbestos fibres will cause any harm when they are wet and swallowed.
asb2 - Asbestos in Drinking Water, W.Australia Pub.Health (2010).pdf 87.27KB
13 downloads
© http://www.mesotheli...asbestos-fiber/
(no data given)
(c1)
We know now what they did not know then... that there are a number of potentially fatal diseases related to inhalation of asbestos fibers including mesothelioma, asbestosis, interstitial fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and lung cancer. Though the connection is less strong, many physicians believe that cancers of the digestive system and other organs may be related to the ingestion of asbestos through contaminated food and water supplies. Because the onset of these diseases can take up to 30 years, their connection to asbestos inhalation was painfully slow in coming.
http://www.naturalha...nfasbestos.html
(no data given)
(d)
Specification for food grade talc should limit the content of asbestos fibers even though the potential hazard of ingested asbestos fibers (even though the potential hazard of ingested asbestos) (typo?) is not clearly established.
http://www.fda.gov/F...S/ucm261481.htm
(2013 updated)
(e)
So whilst the changes under the new Regulations are relatively limited and HSE is expecting there to be a degree of non-compliance, HSE still cites asbestos as being the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK and enforcement activity remains high. To avoid potential large fines and criminal convictions, employers should ensure that all work involving asbestos is done safely and in compliance with the law
.
http://www.eversheds...o_be_introduced
(2012)
(f)
asbestos.png 121.42KB
0 downloads
Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens (2012)
(g)
Insulation
Insulation materials available do not meet the requirements for walls and ceilings in a food facility and are easily punctured or torn. Thus, insulation, where used, should be installed so that it is not exposed and is sealed off from food processing and handling areas. The type of insulation material used must also be considered. The insulation material should be:
nontoxic;
odorless;
unattractive to pests; and non-contaminating.
With these criteria in mind, asbestos insulation is avoided. Fiberglass batting insulation should also be avoided as it attracts insects and rodents, and the fibers may become airborne causing a contamination hazard. Acceptable materials may include: Styrofoam panels, foam glass, and urethane. For special applications requiring insulation of equipment (e.g., steam piping), it is recommended that manufacturers supply documentation of acceptance of the material in food applications
.
asb5 - sanitary design-construction food processing facilities,2014,.pdf 223.17KB
26 downloads
Answered
