CO Asbestos Abatement flashcards
CO Asbestos Abatement · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Asbestosis
- Diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, typically requiring years of high cumulative exposure and showing a dose-response relationship unlike mesothelioma.
- Mesothelioma
- A rare malignant tumor of the pleura or peritoneum that can result from brief or low-level asbestos exposure and usually appears 20 to 50 years after exposure.
- Latency period
- The interval between initial asbestos exposure and disease diagnosis; typically 10 to 20 years for asbestosis, 15 to 30 for lung cancer, and 20 to 50 for mesothelioma.
- Smoking synergy
- Asbestos and tobacco smoke interact multiplicatively for lung cancer risk, producing roughly 50 to 90 times the risk of unexposed nonsmokers rather than a simple additive effect.
- Gastrointestinal cancer link
- Ingested asbestos fibers, cleared from the lungs by mucociliary action and swallowed, are associated with stomach and colorectal cancer, though risk is lower than for respiratory cancers.
- Amphibole versus chrysotile
- Amphiboles such as crocidolite and amosite are straighter, more durable, and more carcinogenic than chrysotile, which clears from the lung more readily.
- Pleural plaques
- Nonmalignant areas of fibrosis on the pleura that serve as a marker of past asbestos exposure but do not themselves progress to mesothelioma.
- IARC Group 1
- The classification of asbestos as a known human carcinogen, covering lung cancer, mesothelioma, laryngeal and ovarian cancers, and asbestosis.
- ACM definition
- Asbestos-containing material is any material containing more than one percent asbestos by weight, per EPA and Colorado definitions.
- Friable ACM
- Asbestos-containing material that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure, such as sprayed fireproofing or pipe insulation.
- Category I nonfriable
- Nonfriable asbestos-containing material unlikely to become friable during normal use, including floor tile, gaskets, and roofing materials.
- Category II nonfriable
- Nonfriable asbestos-containing material that may become crumbled or pulverized when handled, such as some exterior siding and roofing products.
- Thermal system insulation
- Pipe, boiler, duct, and tank insulation such as magnesia block or corrugated air-cell material, a common friable ACM in older buildings.
- Presumed ACM
- In schools, thermal system insulation and surfacing material are treated as asbestos-containing unless sampling and analysis prove otherwise.
- Homogeneous area
- A building area with uniform color, texture, and construction date used to organize sampling; sample counts depend on its size.
- PLM analysis
- Polarized light microscopy is the standard bulk method for identifying asbestos in samples; gravimetric reduction is used to remove organic components first.
- Colorado Regulation 8 Part B
- The state asbestos rule administered by CDPHE's Air Pollution Control Division, governing inspections, notifications, certification, and work practices.
- RACM
- Regulated asbestos-containing material includes friable ACM, nonfriable that has become friable, Category II that may be pulverized, and nonfriable that will be sanded or ground.
- Demolition notification
- Required for every demolition regardless of asbestos content, and all RACM must be removed before demolition begins.
- Renovation notification
- Required before renovation that disturbs RACM, identifying the owner, contractor, project scope, RACM amounts and locations, and start and end dates.
- Notification timing
- Notice must reach CDPHE at least 10 working days before start and no more than 20 working days before, with updates if the start date changes.
- Certified inspector
- A person certified under Colorado rules to conduct the thorough pre-renovation or pre-demolition inspection and prepare the written report identifying ACM.
- Negative pressure enclosure
- A regulated work area maintained under negative pressure with HEPA-filtered exhaust to prevent fiber release during abatement.
- Clearance inspection
- A post-abatement inspection and air monitoring step confirming the work area is clean before containment is removed or the space is reoccupied.
- Wetting and sealing waste
- Asbestos waste is wetted, placed in leak-tight labeled containers such as six-mil bags or drums, and shipped with required waste records.
- Asbestos landfill
- A disposal facility permitted to accept asbestos waste, where waste is covered at the working face the same day under NESHAP requirements.
- Contaminated soil sampling
- Bulk soil sampling and activity-based sampling are used to characterize asbestos risk in soil before selecting remediation options.
- Soil remediation options
- Asbestos-contaminated soil may be excavated and disposed, capped and contained, or left in place with institutional controls and disturbance restrictions.
- 1989 EPA ban
- Partially vacated in 1991, the surviving rule bans new asbestos uses and phases out corrugated paper, rollboard, commercial and specialty paper, and flooring felt.
- 2024 chrysotile rule
- EPA's TSCA rule prohibiting ongoing chrysotile uses including chlor-alkali diaphragms, sheet gaskets, oilfield brake blocks, and aftermarket automotive friction products.
- Not an outright ban
- Asbestos remains legal in some legacy and imported products in the U.S., so suspect materials are presumed ACM until sampled and analyzed.
- NESHAP Subpart M
- The federal rule at 40 CFR 61 Subpart M governing asbestos demolition and renovation work practices and waste disposal, implemented in Colorado by Regulation 8 Part B.