Exposure to Amosite-Containing Ceiling Boards in a Public School in Switzerland: A Case Study

David Vernez, Olivier Duperrex, Horacio Herrera, Vincent Perret, Isabelle Rossi, Frederic Regamey and Michel Guillemin
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David Vernez: Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
Olivier Duperrex: Head of school health services, Unité PSPS, Canton of Vaud, 1014 Lausanne, Switzerland
Horacio Herrera: Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
Vincent Perret: TOXpro SA, 1227 Carouge, Switzerland
Isabelle Rossi: Service of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Action, Canton of Vaud, 1014 Lausanne, Switzerland
Frederic Regamey: Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
Michel Guillemin: Professor Emeritus, University of Lausanne, 1014 Lausanne, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-13

Abstract: The measurement of an airborne concentration in Amosite fibers above 5035 F/m 3 in a school prompted a retrospective quantitative health risk assessment. Dose estimates were built using air measurements, laboratory experiments, previous exposure data, and interviews. A dose response model was adapted for amosite-only exposure and adjusted for the life expectancy and lung cancer incidence in the Swiss population. The average yearly concentrations found were 52–320 F/m 3 . The high concentration previously observed was not representative of the average exposure in the building. Overall, the risk estimates for the different populations of the school were low and in the range of 2 × 10 −6 to 3 × 10 −5 for mesothelioma and 4 × 10 −7 to 8 × 10 −6 for lung cancer. The results evidenced however that children have to be considered at higher risk when exposed to asbestos, and that the current reference method and target values are of limited use for amphibole-only exposures. This study confirmed that quantitative health risk assessments and participatory approaches are powerful tools to support public decisions and build constructive communication between exposed people, experts, and policy-makers.

Keywords: asbestos; amosite; ceiling boards; school; health risk assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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