2. Roofing cement is a petroleum-based product with asphalt binders and primers mixed in, and it is NOT environmentally friendly. Disposal of these products are "nightmares" to our supply system and our landfills.

3. Curing compounds consist of waxes, chlorinated rubber, resins, and highly volatile solvents. However, these are water- based curing compounds that are environmentally friendly.

4. Oil - based paints consist mainly of a drying oil (usually linseed), and they are mixed with one or more pigments (unsoluble solids). The disposal of oil-based paints is also a "nightmare to the supply system and our landfills.

These construction products are also covered in the NAVFAC MO 110, Paints and Protective Coatings.

Asbestos

Another air pollutant that you must be knowledgeable of and concerned with is asbestos dust. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that can be woven like wool. Through a variety of processes, asbestos can be turned into thousands of construction products. These products were used extensively from the 1930s through the 1960s. Asbestos, used by mankind for over 2,500 years, was found to be a health hazard in the early 1900s.

Then, only miners and workers in industrial manufacturing plants were believed to be affected by asbestos. However, as research continued, asbestos was discovered to be the main cause of asbestosis, a generic term for a wide range of asbestos-related disorders and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, at one time, was a rare form of lung cancer. Now it occurs much more frequently among people exposed to asbestos dust particles.

The three terms associated with asbestos dust particle length that you need to know are micron, nanometer, and angstrom. To give you an idea of their size, realize that in 1 meter, there are 1 million microns, 1 billion nanometers, and 10 billion angstroms. Within this size range, air that appears to be dust-free can contain millions of disease-producing asbestos particles. These minuscule asbestos particles have led to many laws, regulations, and clean-up problems. These invisible particles can remain suspended in the air for months. To solve this problem, you must take air samples to ascertain the severity of the situation. To remove these particles, the air must be scrubbed with a special air filtration machine, called a High Efficient Particulate Air (HEPA) filtered vacuum. This vacuum will filter out 99.97 percent of asbestos particles from the air.

Normally, asbestos removal is not conducted by NCF personnel. See COMSECONDNCB/ COMTHIRDNCBINST 5100.1 (series) for detailed guidance on NCF asbestos policy and procedures. However, if you are stationed at an overseas Public Works Department (PWD), you might have to "abate" (contain or dispose of) this fibrous material. To remove asbestos, you must be qualified through the National Asbestos Training Center (NATC) or equivalent agencies. OPNAVINST 5100.23 (series) covers asbestos very thoroughly, or you may refer to the Department of Labor (DOL) or CFR 1910.1001 and 1926.58 for control of asbestos exposure. For many years, asbestos was used for the following types of applications:

Roofing, siding, and flooring products

Friction products, that is, brakes and clutch facings

Reinforcing materials in cement pipe, concrete asbestos board (CAB), lagging, and thickening agents used in some paints

Thermal and acoustical insulation

In all cases, you must constantly research the laws governing asbestos. If you continually work with or around asbestos, stay informed of current regulations and laws regulating the use of it. Asbestos laws are constantly changing and being updated. At the present time, legislation is proposed to outlaw all forms and uses of asbestos. When you doubt whether you've had contact with asbestos, consult your safety office.

This chapter provides various, but limited insight about PRCPs, construction administration, training, safety and environmental pollution. This information given you and the references listed are what you need to study to advance, hone your skills, and to become an "outstanding" Seabee.