Technical reference“Management of Hazardous waste (Asbestos waste)”
1 General characteristics
Asbestos is a generic term used to refer to natural fibrous minerals. The extremely thin diameter, 0.020.35 µm needle-like shapes are the features of these fibrous minerals (Fig.1). The use of asbestos had
become widespread for various purposes, such as construction material, electric appliances, andhousehold products because of both its low price and excellence in heat-, chemical- resistance, andelectrical insulation. It had been widely used not only for making products, like the decorative board,wall material, corrugated walling, and asbestos-cement pipes but also for spraying on walls and ceilings(spray-applied asbestos) to increase fire-resistance and sound insulation and coating for thermal pipe
insulation as well by mixing with mortar. However, public recognition of the health hazards of scatteredasbestos, which are long duration inhalation of a huge amount of asbestos fibers can lead to various
serious lung conditions, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, led to its prohibition in usage.
Sprayed asbestos was banned in the 1970s and after the 1980s, a ban on the manufacturing and use ofasbestos-containing products has proceeded to remove the asbestos from schools and public facilities indeveloped countries. Therefore, it is rather predictable the contamination of asbestos in the damagedbuildings and the waste from structures caused by disaster as the building’s ages. On the other hand, as
for the Asia and Pacific countries, the contamination of asbestos is different in each domestic situation,
depending on the time of importing the building materials, manufacturing and regulation of domestic
asbestos-containing products, and the progress of removal work. In accordance with Japanese
regulations, there are two categories as the relevant Asbestos waste within disaster waste, there are
Waste consisting of Asbestos, the waste from materials consisting from asbestos itself (e.g. removal ofsprayed asbestos and fire-resistant insulation materials), and Waste containing Asbestos, the waste fromasbestos-containing products.(e.g. wall material, corrugated walling, and asbestos-cement pipes which
are formed with asbestos, containing 0.1 % and more as a reinforcement fiber) As for Asbestosconsisting waste, Urgent actions (the removal and the collection) before a full-scale demolition work arerequired. Filters of dustproof musk and working clothes worn at the urgent actions should be disposedof as Asbestos-containing waste.

1(a) Chrysotile(b) Riebeckite(c ) Amosite

Figure 1 Closeup photos of asbestos(Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan: Measures against asbestos in buildings, p.1, Nov.
2014.)

2 Generation characteristics by disasters
The potential possibility of Asbestos waste generation by disasters, mainly earthquakes, tsunami (tidal
waves), and typhoons are shown in Table 1. It is assumed that the highest possibility of Asbestos waste
generation is when an earthquake occurs. The Asbestos waste may be also generated by the scale anddamage of other disasters, including tsunami, overflow, and typhoon, while the provision at normal
times becomes important.
Table 1 Possibility of Asbestos waste generation by disasters
disasters

earthquake

tsunamioverflow(tidal wave)

Possibility

highmediummediumtyphoon /volcanic

Cycloneeruptions

medium

Low tomedium(Disaster Waste Management Guideline for Asia and the Pacific, Table 2-4,
K. Heinrich, C. Purchas: New Zealand Disaster Waste Management Planning Tool, June 2018.)

Asbestos was widely used in near to 3,000 materials and most of them are asbestos industrial products
and construction products. More than 80% is composed of construction products. Like all kinds ofconstruction products, in chimneys, silos, steel frames, buried objects (e.g. sewer pipes), or any
structures fixed to the land (e.g. chemical plants), are thought to contain asbestos, careful attention
should be required. Building equipment, including water supply and draining, ventilation, airconditioning, and smoke exhaustion could also contain asbestos. Nevertheless, as serious asbestosrelated health injury appears, the manufacturing and use of asbestos-containing products are banned inmany countries and regions. Based on this, it is assumed that much attention is required for older
buildings. Major asbestos waste is derived from construction materials, such as sprayed asbestos, heatinsulating, lagging, and fireproof insulation materials, and a molded plate containing asbestos can easily
release fibers in this order. In particular, sprayed asbestos, being used as fireproof insulation (asbestos
rate of 60 percent by weight), sound insulation, dew condensation prevention materials(70 percent by2

weight), and also rock wool (less than 5 percent by weight) as heat-insulating and lagging material,
requires attention for its scattering nature.
In the event of a disaster, as an example shown in Fig.2, it becomes necessary to take appropriate
measures for protection from asbestos exposure and airborne, as asbestos-consisting construction
materials will be exposed by collapsed and damaged buildings and being at risk of asbestos becoming
airborne through demolition and renovation of buildings and waste treatment. The appropriate measures
are also required because it is predictable that wastes, mixed with various kinds of materials including
asbestos-containing materials, are generated in the case of a massive outflow of damaged buildings by
tsunami or flood, as well as a large scale of earthquakes.

(a) Insulation material washed away by the(b) Residual spray material

tsunamiFigure 2 Examples of asbestos-generation status at the site of a disaster(Ministry of the Environment, Japan: Handling guides for prevention of airborne asbestos in a disaster, p.29, Sep.
2017.)

3 Priority in treatment
Though asbestos has strong chemical stability, its use and production of it have been banned
worldwide for health-hazard reasons, for example, its cancer-causing effect. Thus, extreme caution intreatment and handling should be required. Based on the risk for human health, asbestos-consisting
waste and asbestos-containing waste should be removed immediately from the place where people do
any kind of activities. Thus, the priority level in treatment is high at the initial phase and emergency
phase. On the other hand, in terms of the place generating waste, the priority level is not high at water
sources, rivers, and oceans due to its chemical stability, In the case of residential areas, the prompt
removal of waste is necessary. Hence, regarding asbestos-consisting waste and asbestos-containing
waste, to prioritize identifying the materials first and for the treatment, it should be defined on a case bycase basis.

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Table 2 Priority on each phase and place
Phase

Initialemergency

Place

Recovery/Reconstruction

Place for life-saving activities

high

high

－

Place where disaster recovery and

high

high

high

mediummediummediumreconstruction is needed
Contamination-vulnerable place(Headwaters, Rivers, Oceans,
Residential areas）

4 An example of handling and treatment flow
An example of handling and treatment flow for asbestos waste is shown in Table 3. This flow chart isformulated using the flow chart in “the handling manual book on prevention against airborne release ina disaster (revised)”. In accordance with the categories of cities and regions by the waste management
condition in normal time, shown at the technical reference No.1, ✓✓ indicates required item, ✓indicates desirable item respectively in this chart.

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Table 3 The example of a flow chart in handling and treatment of Asbestos waste
Phase

Ways of preventing asbestos-airborne fibers and exposure

City/Region category

A
NormalPreparedness in normal times

B

C

✓✓

✓✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓

✓✓

✓

✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓

✓

✓

✓✓

✓

✓

✓✓

✓

✓

✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

↓

time
InitialA Disaster occurs

response↓
To alert persons’ in charge↓

Emergency
response↓↓

Damaged buildings

Mixed wastes/Collapsed house

Identifying Asbestos exposure

↓

↓

↓

Emergency measures

Emergency measures↓(Collection e.g. Sprayed asbestos)↓
RecoveryandReconstruction↓Preliminary survey
Contain Asbestos←

Non- asbestos

↑

↓

↓

↓

↑

Work plans

↓

↑

↓

↓

Deliberation・Notification

Removal

↓
↓

↑

↓

↓
↓

↑

↓

↓ doubtable case↓↓

Demolition↓

Waste Asbestos↓

Collecting・Transporting↓

Collecting・Transporting

Temporary storage・Segregation・↓

Stockpile(Temporary storage)・Segregation

Separation↓↓

・Separation↓↓

Collecting・Transporting↓↓
Landfill

Whole

Environmental monitoring ・ On-site inspection(Ministry of the Environment: Japan: Handling guides for prevention of airborne asbestos in a disaster, p.5, Sep.2017.)

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5 Procedure in handling and treatment.
5.1 Preparedness in normal times
To conduct immediate action responding to asbestos –exposure and airborne asbestos in the event of adisaster, it is essential to recognize the distribution of buildings that remains asbestos in the normal time.
In particular, the buildings having sprayed asbestos should be paid much attention to. a list of asbestoscontaining construction materials and the period on the market shall be obtained from related documents
for statistics or substantial investigation by each country. Even though in cases where we cannot get the
information, recording only the time when the buildings were constructed is sometimes useful.
It is necessary to alert persons in charge of the activities for life-saving and removal of impedance
shortly after a disaster occurs to the location of the building that remains asbestos, the characteristics ofasbestos-containing materials in appearance, the scattering nature of asbestos, and hazardous influence
by inhalation and exposure to asbestos. Thus, the responsible departments in local government shouldorganize the contents of these caution in advance in the normal time and prepare to inform them to theabove-mentioned persons immediately shortly after a disaster. It is also useful to secure the materials
needed for emergency response and make a schedule regarding measures to prevent asbestos scatteringand being exposed.

5.2 Initial response
The responsible departments in local government should alert citizens and persons taking initial actionin the buildings/structures that remain asbestos, asbestos characteristics, and hazardous influence byinhalation and exposure of asbestos. and conduct appropriate protection by providing personal
protective equipment to them. Protective equipment, such as helmets, goggles, cotton-, rubber- work
gloves, rubber safety boots, a dustproof mask with particulate filters, and a protective suit are required,thus these items are needed to be ready in normal times. (e.g. Fig.3)

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(a) Protective clothing(b) Work scenery

Figure 3 Examples of protective clothing((a) Ministry of the Environment, Japan: Manual for asbestos exposure prevention and asbestos scattering leakage
prevention measures related to the dismantling of buildings, p.253, Sept. 2017. (b) Asbestos Center, Japan:
http://www.asbestos-center.jp/asbestos/byphoto/index.html)

5.3 Emergency response
In this phase, the situation of asbestos being exposed to the atmosphere should be investigated in thefollowing order; to determine the areas to be subjected, to list up the buildings that remain asbestos, todecide the damaged buildings to investigate, to investigate asbestos being exposed, to share the situation
to owners or managers of the buildings.
Then urgent measures preventing scattering of and exposure to asbestos should be implemented. The
highest-priority measure is to prevent scattering by means of covering the asbestos being exposed to theatmosphere by plastic sheets or moistening and solidifying the subjected waste/structure by water orchemicals. When it is difficult to take these measures, keep the persons out of the area by sectioning by
ropes to prevent exposure to asbestos. After that, the information should be provided to neighbors. Fig.4
shows the example of warning and No entry signs, that is mandatory posted to workers and citizens.

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Figure 4 Signboards to alert neighbors(Ministry of the Environment, Japan: Handling guides for prevention of airborne asbestos in a disaster, p.46, Sep.
2017.)

5.4 From pre-survey to demolition work plan
The authority investigates the building by visual inspection, design specifications documents, andrecords of maintenance. If it is not clearly identified, a detailed specific analysis should be conducted asshown in Table 4. (See appendix 1 for more details). Identified asbestos should be labeled immediately
to support the smooth demolition work.
Based on preliminary survey results, persons in charge prepare the demolition work plan including
asbestos control measures. Required official notifiable notification must be submitted in accordancewith the national/local regulation as in the same as in normal times.
Table 4 Analysis methods to identify asbestos
Preliminary analysis

Specific analysis

・Visual inspection

・Qualitative analysis with optical microscope

・Portable Asbestos Analyzer

・Qualitative analysis with optical microscope

・Maginified observation

and X-ray diffraction analysis
・Quantitative analysis by x-ray diffraction

5.5 Demolition work
Persons in charge of the demolition works are recommended to follow the local existing guidelines.
Asbestos-containing wastes, such as boards, should be removed manually with care as much as possible
to prevent dust generation. Removed asbestos wastes must be solidified and double wrapped in a waterproof thick plastic bag and clearly labeled in accordance with each domestic regulation (Fig.5). The
asbestos-containing waste must be stored separately from other wastes in order not to mix them up, tokeep the living-environment safe.

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Figure 5 Handling of Asbestos waste after removal(Ministry of the Environment, Japan: Manual for asbestos exposure prevention and asbestos scattering leakage
prevention measures related to the dismantling of buildings, Mar. 2021.)

5.6 Removal of asbestos from a mixed state waste
The local government must confirm the existence of Asbestos-containing waste, including sprayedasbestos, asbestos-containing heat insulation, and fire-proof insulation in the mixed waste generated in
the areas damaged by Tsunami or floods as much as possible. These wastes should be removed andcollected immediately. Asbestos-containing boards should also be better not to keep at storage sites
long-term to prevent releases of asbestos into the air due to the deterioration in the dry condition.

5.7 Collection and transportation
Asbestos-consisting wastes are not to be brought into temporary storage sites, basically, but required to
be delivered to final disposal sites which are allowed to accept its category, ensuring compliance withrelated domestic laws. Asbestos-containing wastes are also desired to be delivered to final disposal sites
directly, not via temporary storage sites as much as possible. For transporting, asbestos waste should becollected separately from other wastes and transported to the final disposal site directly. In order toprevent airborne release, garbage vehicles with mechanical compactors should not be used to collect andtransport Asbestos wastes. In the case of asbestos-consisting wastes and /or asbestos-containing wastes
are found in the process of fractionation and refining of disaster wastes at temporally storage sites, thelocal government or the designated institution conducts the analysis immediately.

5.8 The final disposal
Asbestos-consisting wastes and asbestos-containing wastes are basically not recyclable and notsuitable for thermal pretreatment or other relevant pretreatment processes unless the system of melting
or other detoxification methods are established in the local situation. As for landfill disposal, land
reclamation is imperative and disposal into the ocean, rivers, and river beds must be avoided. Once thecountry has regulations and criteria for landfill sites for asbestos-consisting wastes and asbestoscontaining wastes, the disposal into these landfills is essentially recommended. Fig. 6 shows structures of a9leachate controlled-type landfill and an isolation-type landfill, where asbestos wastes are landfilled in Japanas examples.
It is highly expected that the Asbestos waste is disposed of to the single compartment or section in thelandfill sites as much as possible, not being mixed with other wastes, with the measures of moistening or
disposal in the sealed containers or other methods to prevent scattering of asbestos. The section landfilledwith the asbestos wastes must be recorded and posted by warning signs.

a)b)Landfill site for hazardous industrial wastes (Isolated type)

Landfill site for domestic wastes and industrial wastes (Leachate-controlled type)Figure 6 An example of a landfill site for asbestos waste in Japan(Ministry of the Environment, Japan: https://www.env.go.jp/en/recycle/manage/waste.html)

10[References]
1) European Comission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion: Practicalguidelines for the information and training of workers involved with asbestos removal or
maintenance work, Oct. 2011. https://osha.europa.eu/en/legislation/guidelines/practical-guidelinesfor-the-information-and-training-of-workers-involved-with-asbestos-removal-or-maintenance-work(accessed on 11th November, 2019)2) Government of South Australia: Disaster Waste Management Guidelines, Jul. 2018.
https://www.dpc.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/38354/Disaster-Waste-ManagementGuidelines.pdf (accessed on 19th March, 2020)
3) K. Heinrich, C. Purchas: New Zealand Disaster Waste Management Planning Tool, Jun. 2018.
https://www.boprc.govt.nz/media/796631/pt2finalnewzealanddisasterwastemanagementplanningtoo
ljune2018.pdf (accessed on 7th January, 2020)
4) Ryan Smith: NATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR DISASTER WASTE MANAGEMENT IN FIJIAsbestos, Jan. 2011.
https://www.sheltercluster.org/sites/default/files/docs/extract_fiji_national_guidelines_on_disaster_waste_management_asbestos.pdf (accessed on 19th March, 2020)
5) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Office ofCompliance: Guidance for Catastrophic Emergency Situations Involving Asbestos, Jan. 2009.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/guidance-catastrophic-emergency-asbestos200912.pdf (accessed on 7th January, 2020)
6) Zhang Shigang(UNEP Representative, China): Asbestos - hazards and safe practices for clean up
after earthquake, Jun. 2008. https://www.who.int/hac/crises/chn/asbestos/en/ (accessed on 11th
November, 2019)7) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan: Measures against asbestos inbuildings, Nov. 2014. https://www.mlit.go.jp/kisha/kisha08/07/070425_2/01.pdf (accessed on 28th
January, 2022)
8) Ministry of the Environment, Japan: Handling guides for prevention of airborne asbestos in adisaster (in Japanese), Sep. 2017. http://www.env.go.jp/air/asbestos/saigaiji_manual.html (accessedon 28th January, 2022)
9) Ministry of the Environment, Japan: Manual for asbestos exposure prevention and asbestos
scattering leakage prevention measures related to the dismantling of buildings (in Japanese), Mar.
2021. https://www.env.go.jp/air/asbestos/post_71.html (accessed on 28th January, 2022)
10) Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan: The analytical manual of asbestos for pre survey
based on the Asbestos Ordinance[Version.1.20] (in Japanese), Mar. 2018.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11300000Roudoukijunkyokuanzeneiseibu/0000201490.pdf (accessed on 11th November, 2019)11) Environmental Regeneration and Conservation Agency of Japan : Asbestos and Health hazards (inJapanese), Jun. 2019. https://www.erca.go.jp/asbestos/what/kenkouhigai/index.html (accessed on
1111th November, 2019)12

[Appendix 1]
1.

The inspection methods of asbestos wastes (sprayed, coating, insulating, lagging)

1.1 Visual simple inspection
This Inspection is a basic identification using the mobility of asbestos and requires much experience.
Inspectors must wear a dust-proof mask, goggles, and protective clothing to prevent exposure toasbestos from generating during the work.

(a) Steel frame fireproof coating material(b)Fig. Appendix1 Examples of Asbestos-containing material((a) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan: Building material survey manual containing
asbestos in buildings, p.38, Nov. 2014. (b) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan: Guide toasbestos safety measures for buildings, p.6, Aug. 2015.)(1) Pick up a cotton-like object and /or fibrous object and put it into your palm. Rub it in any direction
with a finger. If the fiber bunches in the form of eraser crumbs (or a spill), the possibility of asbestos
is high. In the case that the fiber crumbs, it might be rock wool. The fibers should be handled withrubber gloves for protection.
(2) Examine if there is the residue after burning the object by a torch burner (hopefully under 500℃).
Mush the residue with a spoon and check if it is powdered. Chrysotile Is unlikely to be powdered.
Using a high-temperature burner when examining objects, in the case of fibers of crocidolite, theymelt and cannot be observed. On the other hand, a lighter makes objects sooty and it sometimes
becomes difficult to observe if it is asbestos.
1.2 Simple inspection by magnified observation(1) Observation using an X 15-X 20 magnifier. Asbestos, not being a fiber, but being fiber bundles is
included in building materials. This can be one of the validations of containing asbestos. If it isdifficult to examine, re-examine after heating the objects. In the case of rock wool, it will be burnedand curled up. However, as asbestos is not burned and fiber bundles are left, it is possible to judge
that it is asbestos.

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(2) Observation at X 100 in a stereomicroscope (e.g. USB-connected digital microscope) for the objects.
If it is asbestos, fiber bundles can be examined. In this case, it is difficult to examine, re-examining
after heating the objects is a means of identifying asbestos. If it is rock wool, it will become burnedand curled up. However, because asbestos does not become burned and fiber bundles are left, it ispossible to judge.
2. The inspection methods of asbestos-containing waste
As there are various kinds of fibers, except asbestos included in building materials,
it should be checked for fiber bundles first and moved on to the work for simple identification.

(a) Asbestos-containing slate corrugated sheet(b) Living room ceilingFig. Appendix 2 Asbestos included in building materials((a) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan: Building material survey manual containing
asbestos in buildings, p.44, Nov. 2014. (b) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan: Guide toasbestos safety measures for buildings, p.4, Aug. 2015.)(1) Examine the surface and the cracked part of building materials using a magnifier or a USB-connecteddigital microscope, or bare eyes if there are no tools. In the case of an eye observation, it is sometimes
possible to identify whether the object is fiber bundles of asbestos or single fibers by tilting the fiber
toward a bright light. If the surface and the cracked part are dirty with soil and unobservable, it
becomes easy to examine by removing the soil from the surface with a toothbrush or getting a new
cracked part.
(2) When identifying fibers and fiber bundles on the surface and the cracked part, or in the case when it
is difficult to examine it, heating the fibers by a torch burner is the means of identifying asbestos.
Organic fibers are easily burned and metamorphosed (e.g. curls). In the case of glass fiber, it melts
away relatively easily. As for artificial mineral fiber, such as artificial inorganic fiber and rock wool,
it generally becomes burned and curls up. Thus, if no such chemical reactions are observed, the fiber
is quite likely to be asbestos. The possibility would be higher when the additional inspection shows
the features of asbestos, including fiber bundles, needle-like (cuspidate) shapes. By keeping on

14

heating the fiber for a few minutes, Crocidolite and Amosite start to melt gradually from an edge,
and Chrysotile transforms and becomes friable. This could also be one of the criteria to judge.
3. The detailed inspection methods
When more detailed data of asbestos contaminating facts are required, polarised light microscopy(PLM) and phase-contrast microscopy can be used to examine, as well as X-ray diffraction analysis for
identification. However, it generally takes 3 or 4 days to obtain the results of analysis after taking fibers
to laboratories.

Fig. Appendix 3 asbestos inspection method(Ministry of the Environment, Japan: Handling guides for prevention of airborne asbestos in a disaster, p.141,
Sept. 2017.)

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