Asbestos (actually Government Regulation) is a sore spot.

Posted by Joe on Oct. 19, 1998 at 09:17:52

In Reply to: Asbestos Or Not? You Tell Me!
posted by Kevin Daly on Oct. 19, 1998 at 08:18:55

: Hi Folks,

: I have some more info about my molded brake linings. They were manufactured by P.T. Brake Lining Co., Inc. of Lawrence MA. I don't think they're around anymore as the label appears quite old!

: The edge code reads AFC6FEFC. According to Joel Rapose's chart, FE is asbestos. The rest of the edge code however is a mystery to me. If they do have asbestos in them, is this stuff really that dangerous if proper ventilation/respiration procedures are followed? It's my understanding that the asbestos linings stopped the cars the best. Any feedback is as ususal greatly appreciated.

: Regards,

: Kevin Daly

Dear Kevin and others

Well, now you got me going!

In this writer's opinion, the health hazards of Asbestos have been severely overrated.

This all stems from a position taken by the U.S. Government in the 1970's which most in the industry (power industry and others) today think was ill considered and reactionary.

The net effect of the US position is to virtually *ban* the use of asbestos for a variety of applications for which it was supremely adapted. (i.e. thermal insulations, fire blankets and regrettably, brake linings.)

While I don't claim to be an expert on Asbestos and I will concede that for certain types of asbestos, a definite hazard exists, I have to consider that in many respects, the US position has hurt both American competitiveness and our national position in many arenas.

The Canadian Government in the wake of the American ban on asbestos commissioned an internal survey of their own condition and the health hazards of asbestos. The Canadians took a different tack on evaluating the hazard than the Americans: the Canadians surveyed the top 100 causes of illness and death among Canadians. They found (like the Americans) that the top killer was heart disease in it's many forms and that asbestosis and related illnesses were somewhere around 98th on their list. (Falling down the stairs in your own home as a cause of death was 92nd on the Canadian List!)

Rather than impose an outright ban on asbestos, the Canadians instead reasoned that their regulatory and health care Canadian Dollar (no jokes please) was better spent on issues and matters of greater "bang for the buck" than an outright ban on what many considered to that time a beneficial natural element. Thus, the Canadians have no laws that I am aware of with regard to asbestos and its uses. The United States stands virtually alone in the world with it's regulatory position.

Actually, the American "eagerness" to initially saddle ourselves with the regulatory nightmare that the asbestos regulations represent has created a significant "backlash" with regard to some other needed but neglected regulations. The recent flack over "waterproof" sunscreen for children comes into this category. (God forbid don't get it in your eyes!)
I will also grant critics of the Canadian survey their own opinion with regard to the relationship between Canadian Government and the Johns-Manville Company. It is true that asbestos mining is one of the Canadian major industries and they had a vested national interest in keeping the thing going. However, the fact remains that the outright ban in the US continues to be a major stumbling block with powerplant routine maintenance work, school suspended ceilings and vinyl flooring, brake and clutch linings, and millions of older but safe encapsulated domestic heating systems which could (and should) be upgraded in the name of energy efficiency.

It wouldn't surprise me that the Calcium Silicate insulation being used in the US as a substitute in thermal insulations has it's own peculiar adverse health effects. It is mechanically more friable, breaks down easier into an airborne dust, and is as yet, virtually unstudied.

For my Model A, I would not fear my brake linings providing some "reasonable" personal protection steps were taken. Goggles and paper respirator mask are a good idea, gloves also. Maybe even a set of paper coveralls if I plan on getting up close & personal. Use of water to keep the dust from becoming airborne is good as well. Power tools which could release a cloud of asbestos dust when used are best used outside in clean air. Cleanup and containment are the best policy and can be done at minimal personal risk in the home setting.

Well, there's one man's opinion - be it right or be it wrong.

Any comments anyone?

Best regards,
Joe


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