The difficulties with low-level asbestos exposure assessments in public, commercial, and industrial buildings.

A method by which the airborne concentration of asbestos, low enough to substantiate that a significant health risk does not exist, is presented. The method is different from that used for the determination of occupational exposure, which is shown to be inadequate in this concentration range and a justification of how this alternative procedure might be used to achieve compliance is put forward. The difficulties associated with both the physical measurement and the significance of the concentrations that are determined are discussed.