From: Paul Doherty (pauld@exploratorium.edu)
Date: Mon May 23 2005 - 09:13:23 PDT
Message-Id: <34692085970f09befd70910f49a95685@exploratorium.edu> From: Paul Doherty <pauld@exploratorium.edu> Subject: Re: pinhole asbestos on magnets Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 09:13:23 -0700
Hi Debbie
Perhaps the magnets are wrapped in fiberglass not asbestos?
The radar magnets cannot be heated to the high temperatures that would
require asbestos insulation or they would lose their magnetization.
You could bring a magnet or all the magnets to TI and Eric and I will
try to identify the coating for you.
If it is fiberglass you could remove it with no problem (or even just
leave it in place.)
Regarding asbestos, It is best not to breathe in asbestos dust.
One rule of engineering is that it is hard to make dust.
However, having said this, in mines and large manufacturing plants even
a small portion of the processed material can produce a lot of dust. So
mineworkers and those in the asbestos industry often suffered from
asbestos produced lung disease.
One thing you could do is to paint the magnets with epoxy paint to
reduce the possibility of asbestos dust coming off the magnets.
Radar magnets are too valuable an asset to dispose of, they should be
recycled for school or museum use once they are made safe.
Paul D
On May 23, 2005, at 6:01 AM, Debbie Berlin wrote:
> My school has old radar magnets off WWII ships. They appear to be
> insulated by asbestos. White flaky bits are exposed and can come off
> with handling. Does anyone know:
> a) what sort of health risk this poses, and
> b) how to dispose of them properly, assuming they are a risk?
>
> Thank you for your help,
> Debbie
>
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