total dust and asbestos concentrations during asbestos-containing materials abatement in korea

this study was performed during the abatement of two asbestos-containing materials (acm):baumlite board (cement flat board) and ceiling textile. the concentrations of total dust for personal sampling were 0.28 and 1.70 mg/m3 during baumlite board and ceiling textile abatements, respectively, when calculated with 8-hr time-weighted average (twa). the geometric mean (gm) asbestos concentrations were 0.005±1.9 and 0.007±1.6 f/cc for personal sampling and 0.004±1.1 and 0.008±1.6 f/cc for area sampling with 8-hr twa, respectively. asbestos exposure concentrations were not significantly different during abatement of the two materials (p>0.05). further, no statistical difference existed between personal and area samples during the two abatements (p>0.05). the concentrations of personal and area samples during both abatements were below the occupational exposure limit (oel: 0.1 f/cc) of the korean ministry of employment and labor (moel). the correlation between total dust and asbestos concentrations was low throughout both abatements.