FROM REALITY TO REGULATIONS: REVISITING THE CURRENT OSHA STANDARDS AND PRACTICES IN LIGHT OF ERIONITE, ASBESTIFORM MINERALS IN THEIR GEOLOGIC SETTINGS, AND OTHER NEW CHALLENGES

The original OSHA regulations were promulgated at a time when chrysotile, Amosite, crocidolite, asbestiform tremolite, asbestiform anthophyllite, and asbestiform actinolite were the six asbestos varieties of concern, due to their use in commerical products and the potential for occupational exposures. However, in the 21st century, new public health and safety challenges face us. For example, the fibrous mineral erionite has been identified as a Group 1 Carcinogen, yet OSHA does not specifically regulate it by name. Some talc products contain fibers with short-range intergrowths of talc and anthophyllite, but these fibers are not regulated by name. Asbestos fibers can be altered by the heat of truck or train braking or by forest fires, and we need to be able to differentiate between regulated fibers that are altered versus fibers that have been completely converted from their original structure. Minerals such as glaucophane, wollastonite, and palygorskite can grow in fibrous habits, but their health effects are either not well known or unknown. We will discuss the health effects that led to regulating asbestos, the current language of the regulations and policies, and the realities of emerging potential health risks.