EPA-905/4-77-003
ASBESTOS
OF
Billy Fairless, Ph.D.
u s ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION V
Surveillance and Analysis Division
Central Regional Laboratory
, 1819 West Pershing Hor.d
v,'7, .. Ji ''-'v-^acy Chicago, Illinois 60609
230 Soucn i\,;.;.-.-,- r-e-t
, .Tr-^olr. 6060iT
-------
-------
TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read luilructions on the rerrnv bulore completing)
1. REPORT NO.
EPA-905/4-77-003
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
2.
ASBESTOS FIBER CONCENTRATIONS IN THE DRINKING WATER
OF COMMUNITIES USING THE
AS A POTABLE WATER SOURCE
7. AUTHOR(S)
BILLY FAIRLESS
WESTERN ARM OF LAKE SUPERIOR
9. PERFORMING ORG -\NIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V
Central Regional Laboratory
1819 W. Pershing Road
Chicago, IL 60609
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION- NO.
5. REPORT DATE
January 24, 1977
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
16. ABSTRACT
Suspended solids data and asbestos fiber concentrations are presented as measured
by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy of potable water supply samples
collected from around the
western arm of
Lake Superior
The data show a trend of decreasing concentrations as
in a counterclockwise manner around the western arm of
agreement between concentrations measured
during the fall of 1973.
one proceeds
from Silver
the Lake. A qualitative
t>y X-ray diffraction and
electron microscopy is apparent.
-4
X
r
V)
17.
Bay
by transmission
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
a. DESCRIPTORS
Asbestos
Electron Microscopy
Water Supply
X Ray Diffraction
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
UNLIMITED
b. IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
Lake Superior
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report)
20. SECURITY CLASS (This page)
c. COSATl Field/Group
13B
21. NO. OF PAGES
22
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
-------
-------
INTRODUCTION
Carcinogenic activity has been associated with asbestos fibers by many
investigators (1). This fact together with the discovery (2) that
suspended solid material in the water in the western arm of Lake Superior
contains asbestos fibers were major reasons the Region V, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency decided to initiate the Lake Superior Asbestos Study.
This study (3) was planned and is being carried out by personnel in the
Surveillance and Analysis Division to: (1) Determine concentrations of
asbestos fibers in the water and air around the western arm of Lake
Superior. (2) To measure the amounts and characteristics of asbestos
fibers in potable water intakes (PWI) using Lake Superior water as their
source; (3) to provide background data to support estimates of future use
of Lake Superior water for human consumption and (4) to measure the
environmental effects should all industrial discharges into the Lake be
terminated. The present communication is restricted to the potable water
intake investigation. Other parts of the study will be reported as addi-
tional analytical results are accumulated and evaluated.
-------
-------
-1 -
THE STUDY PLAN
The study plan called for twelve weekly surveys of potable water intakes
around the western arm of Lake Superior (3). These were completed during the
Fall of 1973.
At each of the stations a 250 ml, 1/2 gal and 5 gal sample was collected.
No preservative was used but all 250 ml samples v/ere filtered within 24
hours after sample collection. The 1/2 gal samples v.-ere stored and were
to be used only if additional analyses were requested at a later date.
Five to ten liters of the 5 gal samples were filtered under air pressure
through a tared 0.45 u millipore filter and the residue analyzed for sus-
pended solids and for mineral content by x-ray diffraction. A 200 ml
aliquot from the two hundred and fifty milliter samples were vacuum filtered
through a 0.1 u millipore filter and the residue analyzed for fiber con-
tent using an electron microscope. Suspended solids, amphibole by x-ray
diffraction, amphibole and chrysotile fiber number and mass concentrations
by electron microscopy were measured on each sample. In addition the
length and width of each fiber seen with the electron microscope was measured
and reported. - »v
Figure 1 gives a detailed description of each sampling statro'n.
-------
-------
- 2 -
Figure 1
U.S. EPA Region V Lake Superior Asbestos Study PWI Stations
1. Thunder Bay, Ontario - tap on outside of south side pumping building,
incoming rav/ water.
2. Grand Marais, Minnesota - water plant intake from the tap behind the
wet well pump.
3. Silver Bay, Minnesota - water plant pump house tap off intake line
after pump.
4. Beaver Bay, Minnesota - water plant incoming pipe to right side of
filter tanks.
5. Two Harbors, Minnesota - water plant intake
6. Duluth, Minnesota - raw water intake laboratory tap of Lake Wood
Pumping Station.
7. Cloquet, Minnesota Water Line - small pump tap in the Stock Pumping
Station.
8. Ashland, Wisconsin - intake well tank on 12th Avenue, East Ashland.
9. Ontonagon, Michigan - tap from raw water intake line in basement of
water plant.
10. Eagle Harbor, Michigan - tap on top of pump at the water plant pump -
house. v
11. Marquette, Michigan - tap on sink in basement of Lake Shore Drive
water plant.
12. Superior, Wisconsin - tap after pump inside Minnesota Point Pumping
Station.
-------
-------
- 3 -
Figure 2 shows the relationship of the stations to the currents in that
area of the Lake. The order of the stations will remain the same for all
subsequent data presentation; namely from the North West shore of the
Lake down current as shown in the figure.
In addition to sample analytical data weather stations were established
at Grand Marais, Duluth and Ontonagon which measured precipitation, wind
speed, wind direction and air temperature.
-------
-------
to
c
n>
o
.o
o
-*»
n>
c
•o
n>
-$
_j>
o
-j
o
—1.
(O
0»
fi>
o
c
-s
(D
3
VI
Ou
«-*•
rr
50
n>
to
•Ua
O
•a
O
^
m
ro
'£>
O
3
-------
-------
- 5 -
FIGURE 3
Suspended Solids Data
*
Figure 3 is a summary of suspended solids data. The concentrations vary
with both location and time and we were not able to detect a relationship
between suspended solids concentrations and asbestos fiber concentrations.
-------
-------
- 6 -
z: c &
tO TJ -S
—• (D -O
—• -$ C
w -j. n>
ro
to
c
tt>
CO
m o 3>
fit 3
IQ ct- 3-
—JQ—'
ro 3 w
CU 3
a: to. CL
o> o
CT
O
O O
S —• c:
fl> O —i
<~H -O d
ro c <-(•
-s ro 3-
3
ro
ro
m ro
w -s
-s
cr co
o o>
-5 *<
CO
ro
-s
OT
O>
CO —I
-s 3-
Ol C
3 3
CX. CL
ro
3 -5
DJ
-5 CO
PJ Qj
bo
O
00
on
_.
CT>
0
0
CD
ro
_,
ro
ro
ro
o
«-j
0
in
>sj
O
•
>«j
co
10
CO
en
•
o
0
•
CT»
CT>
_.
•^J
CO
—
o
o
LO
CO
O
CO
_j
O
co
CT>
O
CO
0
co
o
cr>
CO
0
•
en
0
•
-p»
co
0
*
-£•
cn
O
•
^4
CO
O
*
-p.
10
o
CO
ro
o
cn
en
0
-&
CO
o
cy>
0
—
cn
cn
0
~-j
cr>
O
M3
cn
CO
co
0
-d
•«-J
O
*
ro
00
o
*
-vl
Oi
o
cn
cn
o
*
CO
0
CO
0
o
cn
-vi
_.
*»
U3
O
CTl
O
O
CO
o
_•
ro
IN5
t^
o
ro
—
ro
cn
01
CO
o
CO
r>o
ro
»-j
CO
«_J
•
CO
— ^
o
ro
««i
O
UD
—
CO
CO
co
CO
ro
-t»
CO
-pi
cn
CO
O
lO
CO
o
ro
-Fi
— |
_«j
CO
ro
co
CO
cn
co
CO
cn
ro
_j
CO
CO
CT>
_
U3
ro
— '
cn
CTi
ro
•^j
to
~j
r\>
ro
~A
cn
CO
o
ro
en
ro
CO
o
.£>
U3
CO
_.
o
o
CO
CO
o
-fc»
U)
o
CO
ro
o
CO
cn
o
cn
.£>
O
-Pa
cn
•
cn
o
m
ro
o
•
cn
CO
o
cn
co
O
CO
Ol
o
•••j
CO
o
<-O
-p»
o
CO
-C>
o
CO
._J
0
-vl
CO
o
o
-p»
o
~J
o
U3
OJ
—J
CD
ro
o
cn
cn
o
-^i
cn
0
CO
-P»
_•
cn
en
_.
o
1JO
-.
—1
to
_J
— 1
cn
cn
o
co
o
-P>
o
o
to
ro
-.
~vj
o
en
01
*
to
o
.&
o
o
'-O
ro
ro
to
-P>
_,
O
CD
-C>
cn
o
-p>
CO
o
-pa
-P»
O
ro
-^
o
ro
o
o
ro
ro
o
CO
'-O
o
•
-pa
CO
o
•
to
cn
o
ro
cn
o
•
cn
O
O
cn
CO
O
-p»
cn
O
CO
-P»
CD
en
CO
CD
en
o
CD
ro
->
0
co
e*j
CD
cn
to
o
en
ro
0
•
cn
o
o
•
ro
ro
O
»
cn
to
o
•
CO
CO
0
en
en
CD
-P»
->l
O
cn
CO
->
cn
o
to
cn
_,
ro
o
to
ro
O
to
en
o
to
CO
o
o
~^i
to
0
•
to
-pa
O
-•vl
to
—I
o
to
CO
ro
ro
CO
ro
to
to
cn
to
-P>
•JD
to
•o
ro
cn
o
CO
O
o
. — ^
-~j
o
ro
-P>
0
CO
_.
-Pi
_.
ro
CO
-------
-------
- 7 -
The next figure (4) shows the concentrations of amphibole asbestos found
using x-ray diffraction techniques (3). The analyses of these samples
were carried out by a group working at the National Water Quality Labora-
tory in Duluth and under the direction of Dr. Phil Cook.
-------
-------
- o -
—• o
CO
cn
CO
in
2C~O
(0 (D
— * ~J«
V) O
— »
CL*
-s
c
fD
rt
rt
0>
m
fa
CQ
_~J
fD
rc
fa
-s
CT
O
-$
o
3
rt
O
at
IQ
O
3
j>
co s:
3" G>
0
«J
o
— < ct-0
&> ro
3 -S
a.
r—
77
a>
c*
fD
rt
0
_~t
c
rt
—\
O
rc
0)
-s
CT
O
-s
co
CO
fD
OJ
<
fD
-s
CO
Cu
*^
CO
-J»
_l
<^
n>
-s
cn
fa
**^
0
-$
CO
3
a.
_^
CJ
-s
pj
*J«
-H
zr
c
r?
O.
fD
-s
CO
fa
*<
c
(D
A
O
O
A
O
a
_1
A
O
O
A
O
O
A
0
*
O
A
O
*
o
A
0
O
— J
A
O
O
cn
A
o
o
*™J
o
O
~^
A
O
O
A
0
O
A
CD
O
A
O
«
0
A
O
0
A
0
O
A
0
*
0
A
O
*
0
A
O
O
— '
A
0
O
— '
A
O
O
~^
A
O
CD
*""*
A
O
O
"™J
O
o
A
O
O
A
0
O
A
O
•
O
— '
A
CD
0
A
O
O
__i
A
CD
•
O
— '
A
O
•
0
o
o
— '
A
CD
O
— '
A
O
CD
— '
A
O
O
""^
A
O
O
"™J
o
o
A
O
CD
O
o
~~l
o
•
o
— '
A
O
O
— i
A
O
o
o
•
o
— '
A
O
•
O
A
O
O
— '
A
0
o
— '
A
O
o
~~>
A
O
0
"~J
A
O
O
— '
A
O
O
O
O
CD
CD
ro
o
*
CD
— • '
A
O
O
ro
o
o
A
CD
•
O
ro
o
•
o
CO
o
0
ro
CD
O
.£=•
A
O
O
ro
A
o
o
ro
CD
CD
CO
A
O
o
A
CD
O
O
0
ro
o
•
o
cn
O
I_l
CT>
O
O
O
•
O
CO
o
1-1
o
0
o
CO
o
CD
a->
o
o
CO
0
*
o
co
o
'—>
"^
o
o
o
_,
ro
o
*
o
CO
o
l_l
o
o
o
CT>
0
4
—1
cn
O
•
—J
O
o
o
CT>
o
o
ro
o
o
CTl
p
o
•^
o
o
cn
0
o
CO
o
ro
cr>
0
,
ro
CD
•
— i
ro
CD
ro
CO
CD
!_,
^
CD
•
__j
— '
O
•
CD
cn
0
CD
O
O
co
0
LJ
-F=.
CD
l_j
CO
0
_l
-^
o
o
Ui
o
1-1
CO
o
CO
ro
o
•
ro
•*J
-pa
0
CO
0
•
rj
CO
o
*
ro
o
o
cn
O
!_,
ro
o
!_,
ro
o
CO
o
—i
^4
CO
O
CO
"^
O
'—•
ro
o
o
•~"*
o
•
o
— '
A
O
O
o
o
0
•
o
cn
o
•
o
0
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
*
ro
0
CD
cn
0
o
ro
0
o
"~l
A
0
•
O
— '
o
o
A
o
•
o
— '
o
•
o
A
O
O
— '
A
O
O
A
O
o
A
O
O
O
*
O
ro
o
o
~"
A
0
CD
A
O
0
~^
0
•
0
__1
o
o
ro
O
o
0
•
0
o
o
ro
o
o
0
o
o
0
o
o
CO
p
o
ro
CD
O
CO
ro
ro
CO
">%^,
ro
o
i^
cn
^o
"'_!
-C=.
^^
— 1
0
'-O
~~~^
ro
ai
_,
o
CO
_J
o
__,
0
,
O
"^
^
,
o
ro
-^
_,
o
CO
— '
,
— '
_.
4:1
.
— '
ro
CO
•O
~-j
OJ
-------
-------
- 9 -
The graph shown in Figure 5 has been constructed using the data shown
in the previous figure. To obtain the graphed values all data points
from a given sampling station were summed and the sum divided by the
number of samples.
-------
-------
- 10 -
0.48
0.44
0.40
to
£ 0.36
to
0) C
JO O
3E 0.32
O) (0
11 0.28
sz o
o.
II" 0.24
oc
If- 1
o x
co >, 0.20
E -Q
(O
.? 0.16
r—
£ 0.12
0.08
0.04
0
—
CM
«•!-
—
~
—
in
o
•
0
ID
r- If)
O O
_ • o
o
o
n r—
-«•
•
O
«3-
•
O r—
»"«™ *
0
<£>
0
•
0
CM CO
I 1 O CO CM i— O
O O O O
O O O O O
• • • •
0000
, , , _ f f
CO
0)
TJ
3
C (O
OJ
3
CT
fO
5-
O
OJ
Q.
3
oo
Figure 5
-------
-------
-11 -
Figure 6 is a table listing concentrations of amphibole fibers as deter-
mined by two different electron microscope laboratories (4, 5) the starred
values were reported by McCrone Associates and the unstarred values by the
Ontario Research Foundation. Additional samples were collected in the
Spring of 1974 at Grand Marais, Silver Bay, Beaver Bay, Two Harbors and
Duluth. We have chosen to call a particle having a width equal or less
than 1/3 its length a fiber.
-------
-------
- 12 -
—• o
vo
co
cn
co
n>
V)
n>
TJ
o
rt
o>
Q-
2
o
o
3
(D
o
o
rt-
0>
W
(Q
c
n>
cr>
CO
Q. C
n> ~o
n> ro
•o -5
s: o
(D -5
•—1
v> s:
?
•o
it-
CD
*
O
__j
*
0
*
0
*
o
-y
&>
-5
.0
C
ro
n-
d-
fD
o
*
<£>
*
O
O
ro
*
0
_!
"*J
m
DJ
to
fD
OJ
-s
cr
O
-s
o
p
o
CO
*
o
•
_£»
ro
*
O
o
CO
o
*
o
X-
o
— 1
C*
o
c-t-
O
rs
G>
to
o
=3
o
o
o
*
0
.ps
Co
0
*
o
J3
t/>
^T
oT
rs
Q.
0
O
o
X-
o
•
ro
cn
X-
O
CTi
ro
— . *
•
cr>
CO
*
o
X-
o
^
o
0
cn
o
»~4
O
"c
fD
—J.
Z^
ro
X-
co
„.
o
•
CO
„.
o
*
CO
^
~-'
CO
>r
O
^.
o
X-
•
ro
X-
,
X-
vo
X-
o
— 1
t
X-
—1
^
o
-T-
CJ
-s
cr
0
-s
(/?
en
O
-pa
•
p^
-
X-
31
CO
o
X-
X-
cn
fD
CJ
n>
-s
S3
*
^
O
o
CO
X-
0
CO
o
X-
X-
0
-s
CD
Q.
ST
-s
OJ
-J»
to
o
o
0
•
ro
T)
*
o
X-
o
o
o
CO
X-
o
— 1
ro
X-
CD
*
X-
-H
IJj"
C
ex
fD
-s
cn
0^
^•^
o
^
o
if.
o
cn
U3
^
ro
_i
0
-o
SZ
HH
CO
ro
ro
CO
^^*
I\J
«D
iS
S
(.0
U3
VD
^ —
ro
cr\
_,
O
co
o
"^^
— J
o
_l
'O
— 1
"•*•'
!
o
ro
-^
O
CO
.— J
^
— 1
•^
,
^-*
r\i
CO
fD -••
Q> O
=5
C
-s 5»
fD 3
Q.-O
•3-
cr -J-
<< cr
o
rn — •
— ' ro
ro
o 3s
-s
O
cr
fD
r+
3 O
-i. C/>
o
-s -n
o -'•
to cr
O fD
o -s
•a t/>
<<" -a
fD
a. -s
c
-s i—
U2 fD
O
-h
ta
c+
ft)
-s
-------
-------
- 13 -
As with the x-ray diffraction data the results from the EM experiments
may be shown in bar graph form as seen in the next figure (7).
-------
-------
- 14 -
13
12
11
>> 10
S 9
•f—
«-J
fc£ 8
0. 0
0
to in _
s- o 7
OJ S-
JQ O
•r— •r~
«c 6
t— O
T- O 5
JC
« CM
r- VD
, , r-^ 0
0
r™" P1™
°? CM n vo ro
o • i — i — o
t~*i • • •
0 O O
n rn „ „ _
IS)
CO
•o
c
«
S-
0
CQ
S_
O)
CQ
s_
(U
>
•a
C
-------
-------
- 15 -
The graphed values were obtained by averageing all sample concentrations
reported by both contracting laboratories from each sampling station.
The similarity between the electron microscope data from the two differ-
ent contracting laboratories and betv/een the x-ray diffraction and electron
microscope summary graphs gives us a considerable amount of confidence
that our analytical approach is fundamentally sound.
Figure 8
(during talk Figure 8 will be an overlay of
Figure 5 and Figure 7)
-------
-------
- 16 -
Figure 9 is a graph of fiber mass as calculated from electron microscope
measurements of each individual fiber length and width. Although the
mass data shows more scatter than the number concentration data, the
trends are the same as those shown on the previous slides.
-------
-------
- 17 -
**•
15
14
13
12
£ "
Jj 10
•t—
_J
s- >, 9
(O
CO
L
0)
CO
o
s_
3
3
OJ
CT
O
(O
C
O
cn
ro
o
i.
-------
-------
In summary the data confirms a relationship between asbestos concentra-
tions measured by x-ray diffraction and electron microscope techniques
for this area of the environment. There appears to be no relationship
betv/een suspended solids concentrations and the number of asbestos
fibers found in the different samples and finally, the analytical pro-
cedures are clearly sufficient to differentiate betv/een samples from
polluted and non-polluted sources.
-------
-------
- 19 -
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dr. J. Kramer, Dept. of Geology, McMaster University, Hamilton
Ontario Canada has recently prepared a bibliograph of asbestos
related publications. In addition see I. J. Selikoff et. al.
"Cardnogenicity of Amosite Asbestos," Arch. Environ. Health, 25,
183-6 (1972)
2. Dr. Phillip M. Cook, "Distribution of Taconite Tailings in Lake
Superior Water and Public Hater Supplier," Second Progress
Report, July 1973, U.S. EPA, National Water Quality Laboratory,
Duluth, Minnesota 55804
3. Lake Superior Asbestos Study, U.S. EPA, Region V, Surveillance
and Analyses Division, One North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois
60606
Dr. Eric Chatfield, "A Technique for Trace Asbestos Determinations
in Air and Water Samples", Proceedings of the Microscope Society
of Canada, page 24, June, 1974. Or contact Dr. H. Pullan, Director,
Department of Applied Physics, Ontario Research Foundation, Sheridan
Park, Ontario, Canada 416/822-4111.
5. Mr. Ian Stewart and Dr. Walter McCrone, American Laboratory, April
(1974) pages 13 - 18. Or contact Ian Stewart, Walter C. McCrone
Associates, 2820 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
312/842-7100.
-------
------- |