Does the Presence of Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buildings Post-construction and Before Demolition Have an Impact on the Exposure to Occupants in Non-occupational Settings?

Our plain-English summary of Does the Presence of Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buildings Post-construction and Before Demolition Have an Impact on the Exposure to Occupants in Non-occupational Settings?, by R. Singh, A.L. Frank (Curēus, 2023).

The study

• Authors: R. Singh, A.L. Frank
• Journal: Curēus
• Published: 2023;15(4):e37305
• Type of article: Review
• Cited by: 8 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

This narrative review aims to determine if asbestos-containing materials in buildings pose a hazard to building occupants in non-occupational settings. This paper is limited to the post-construction and pre-demolition stages of a building. The researchers selected 19 studies from the 126 studies screened, concerning exposure to asbestos fibers in non-occupational building settings, with a focus on post-construction and pre-demolition phases. The literature review found that certain conditions, such as the measurement techniques, standards, and previous data availability, prevent a conclusive answer to the research question. Some studies have pointed towards an effect of asbestos-containing materials on health of occupants in non-occupational settings. But, there are some that do not suggest a positive relationship between non-occupational exposure and the presence of asbestos-containing materials, and therefore these provide scope for further research, as these studies also do not rule out the relationship completely. The present study highlights the gaps in current knowledge and indicates areas for further research. Until conclusive evidence based on revised threshold standards and accurate measurement techniques is available, asbestos-containing materials may be considered unsafe for use in non-occupational settings, especially ones that young people and children occupy.

Copyright © 2023, Singh et al.

In plain English

This was a narrative review of published research, not a new study of people or buildings. The authors asked whether asbestos-containing materials in buildings, between construction and demolition, affect the exposure and health of occupants in non-occupational settings. In January 2023 they searched PubMed for free full-text papers, screened 126 records and included 19, excluding occupational studies. The authors reported that measurement techniques, standards and the availability of earlier data prevented a conclusive answer. Most included sources suggested some relation between these materials and health effects. Studies showing no relation still left room for further research, and none clearly ruled out risk. One included case report described a 26-year-old with mesothelioma whose only exposure was six years at a school with asbestos-containing materials. The authors concluded that, until better evidence is available, asbestos-containing materials may be considered unsafe in non-occupational settings, especially those occupied by children and young people. They noted that limiting the search to free full texts may have excluded relevant studies.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Narrative review of peer-reviewed literature found through a PubMed search (free full texts only), screened by title and abstract
• Who was studied: 19 published studies selected from 126 PubMed records screened; search done in January 2023; occupational exposure studies excluded
• Exposure: Non-occupational exposure to asbestos fibers from asbestos-containing materials in buildings during the post-construction and pre-demolition phases
• Main results:
  • The review found that measurement techniques, standards and the availability of earlier data prevented a conclusive answer to the research question
  • Most included sources suggested some relation between asbestos-containing materials in buildings in non-occupational settings and health effects
  • Included studies that showed no such relation also suggested scope for further research or better methods, and none clearly ruled out risk
  • Two included studies saw no need for intervention in buildings with asbestos-containing materials unless repair work was being done
  • One included case report described a 26-year-old diagnosed with mesothelioma whose only exposure was six years at a school with asbestos-containing materials
  • The authors noted very scarce data on lifelong cumulative exposure of individuals in non-occupational settings
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that, until conclusive evidence based on revised threshold standards and accurate measurement techniques is available, asbestos-containing materials may be considered unsafe for non-occupational settings, especially those occupied by young people and children. They also concluded that the risk cannot simply be called negligible.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The review was limited by the search terms used, and as a narrative review its sources may be non-exhaustive
  • Only free full texts on PubMed were included, so some relevant studies may have been excluded
  • The time window was limited to about three decades before 2022, so studies before 1992 were not included

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM), Non-Occupational Exposure.

Related studies

• Asbestos release from whole-building demolition of buildings with asbestos-containing material — R.A. Perkins, J. Hargesheimer, et al. (2007)
• Estimating the Additional Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Korea: Focused on Demolition of Asbestos Containing Materials in Building — Y.C. Kim, W.H. Hong, et al. (2016)
• Does the roof type of a house influence the presence of adult Anopheles stephensi, urban malaria vector? - evidence from a few slum settings in Chennai, India — S. Ravishankaran, A. Asokan, et al. (2022)
• Accuracy of a mobile app to identify suspect asbestos-containing material in Australian residential settings — M.H. Govorko, L. Fritschi, et al. (2018)
• Worker exposure to asbestos during removal of sprayed material and renovation activity in buildings containing sprayed material — N.W. Paik, R.J. Walcott, et al. (1983)
• Mesothelioma among employees with likely contact with in-place asbestos-containing building materials — H.A. Anderson, L.P. Hanrahan, et al. (1991)

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