Boston Steam Pipe Burst—No Such Thing as "Safe" Asbestos Level

Boston, MAOn Wednesday night a steam pipe burst on Harrison Avenue in Boston, spewing asbestos into the air and covering roads and parked cars. According to news reports, no one was hurt, which is not surprising. Asbestosis, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases caused by breathing airborne asbestos fibers typically take many years to develop.

The steam pipe, belonging to Trigen Boston Energy Corp., burst at around 10 pm between Harrison and Traveler streets, near the Boston Herald. Trigen spokesman Rowen Sanders said an outside firm tested the air quality, and it's "well within acceptable parameters", but more tests will be conducted.

"There may be some pieces of asbestos, but it's definitely not a majority asbestos material," he added.

Although air quality tests determined that the escaped steam did not send asbestos into the air, fire officials said that was still their biggest concern. "The least of our worries is steam, but the most of our worries is the pipes [that] may be contaminated with asbestos, so when it pops up it gets into the environment, so we just want to make sure that it is in fact just steam and not any asbestos," said Boston Fire Dept. Chief Andre Stallworth, according to WDH TV.

What are acceptable parameters, according to Trigen's Rowen Sanders? There is no such thing as a safe level.

Experts have known for some time that a safe level of exposure to asbestos is a myth and these "safe" levels are not the product of objective scientific research. Instead, they typically stem from the asbestos industry in defense of profits. And in recent years the asbestos industry has downplayed so-called safe levels by reluctant concessions to the health of workers and the community—and asbestos lawsuits.

"Safe" means the acceptable number of deaths that the government has tolerated and deemed acceptable at the time the standard was set. Clearly, safe asbestos level is unacceptable.

The Occupational Safety and Health Commission (OSHA) has set a permissible asbestos exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter (f/cc) for work in all industries, including construction, shipyards, and asbestos abatement work. This standard has also been adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 763). On the other hand, OSHA adds that that the asbestos PEL is a target guideline for regulatory purposes only, and does not establish any level of "safe" asbestos exposure. OSHA says in its Asbestos Final Rule: "The 0.1 f/cc level leaves a remaining significant risk."

Asbestos-related disease is referred to as the creeping disease. Because of the size and shape of microscopic asbestos fibers, they can remain suspended in the air for long periods of time and can easily penetrate body tissues after being inhaled or ingested. These fibers are extremely durable and can remain in the body for many years, eventually causing asbestosis and mesothelioma.