ASBESTOS by TEM: METHOD 7402, Issue 2, dated 15 August 1994 - Page 3 of 7 SAMPLING: 1. 2.
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Calibrate each personal sampling pump with a representative sampler in line. For personal sampling, fasten sampler to worker's lapel near worker's mouth. Remove the top cover from cowl extension ("open-face") and orient sampler face down. Wrap joint between extender and monitor body with tape to help hold the cassette together and provide a marking surface to identify the cassette. Where possible, especially at low %RH, attach sampler to electrical ground to reduce electrostatic effects during sampling. Submit at least two field blanks (or 10% of the total samples, whichever is greater) for each set of samples. Remove top covers from the field blank cassettes and store top covers and cassettes in a clean area (e.g., closed bag or box) during sampling. Replace top covers when sampling is completed. Sample at 0.5 to 16 L/min [3]. Adjust sampling rate, Q (L/min), and time, t (min), to produce fiber density, E, of 100 to 1300 fibers/mm 2 [3.85 · 10 4 to 5 · 10 5 fibers per 25-mm filter with effective collection area (A c= 385 mm 2)] for optimum accuracy. Do not exceed ca. 0.5 mg total dust loading on the filter. These variables are related to the action level (one-half the current standard), L (fibers/cc), of the fibrous aerosol being sampled by:
NOTE: The purpose of adjusting sampling times is to obtain optimum fiber loading on the filter. A sampling rate of 1 to 4 L/min for 8 h (700 to 2800 L) is appropriate in atmospheres containing ca. 0.1 fiber/cc in the absence of significant amounts of non-asbestos dust. Dusty atmospheres require smaller sample volumes ( ≤400 L) to obtain countable samples. In such cases take short, consecutive samples and average the results over the total collection time. For documenting episodic exposures, use high rates ( 7 to 16 L/min) over shorter sampling times. In relatively clean atmospheres, where targeted fiber concentrations are much less than 0.1 fiber/cc, use larger sample volumes (3000 to 10000 L) to achieve quantifiable loadings. Take care, however, not to overload the filter with background dust [3]. At the end of sampling, replace top cover and small end caps. Ship samples upright with conductive cowl attached in a rigid container with packing material to prevent jostling or damage. NOTE: Do not use untreated polystyrene foam in the shipping container because electrostatic forces may cause fiber loss from sample filter.
SAMPLE PREPARATION: 7.
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Remove circular sections from any of three quadrants of each sample and blank filter using a cork borer [4]. The use of three grid preparations reduces the effect of local variations in dust deposit on the filter. Affix the circular filter sections to a clean glass slide with a gummed page reinforcement. Label the slide with a waterproof marking pen. NOTE: Up to eight filter sections may be attached to the same slide. Place the slide in a petri dish which contains several paper filters soaked with 2 to 3 mL acetone. Cover the dish. Wait 2 to 4 min for the sample filter(s) to fuse and clear. NOTE: The "hot block" clearing technique [5] of Method 7400 or the DMF clearing technique [6] may be used instead of steps 8 and 9. Transfer the slide to a rotating stage inside the bell jar of a vacuum evaporator. Evaporate a 1by 5-mm section of a graphite rod onto the cleared filter(s). Remove the slide to a clean, dry, covered petri dish [4]. Prepare a second petri dish as a Jaffe wick washer with the wicking substrate prepared from filter or lens paper placed on top of a 12-mm thick disk of clean, spongy polyurethane foam [7]. NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition, 8/15/94
