ASBESTOS (bulk) by PLM various
MW: various
METHOD: 9002, Issue 2
CAS: 1332-21-4
EVALUATION: PARTIAL
EPA Standard (Bulk): 1%
9002 RTECS: C16475000 Issue 1: 15 May 1989 Issue 2: 15 August 1994
PROPERTIES: solid, fibrous, crystalline, anisotropic
SYNONYMS [CAS #]: actinolite [77536-66-4], or ferroactinolite [15669-07-5]; amosite [12172-73-5]; anthophyllite [77536-67-5]; chrysotile [12001-29-5]; serpentine [18786-24-8]; crocidolite [12001-28-4]; tremolite [77536-68-6]; amphibole.
SAMPLING
MEASUREMENT
BULK SAMPLE:
1 to 10 grams
TECHNIQUE:
MICROSCOPY, STEREO AND POLARIZED LIGHT, WITH DISPERSION STAINING
SHIPMENT:
seal securely to prevent escape of asbestos
ANALYTE:
actinolite asbestos, amosite, anthophyllite asbestos, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite asbestos
EQUIPMENT:
microscope, polarized light; 100-400X dispersion staining objective, stereo microscope: 10-45X
RANGE:
1% to 100% asbestos
ESTIMATED LOD:
<1% asbestos [1]
PRECISION:
not determined
SAMPLE STABILITY:
stable
BLANKS:
none required
ACCURACY RANGE STUDIED:
<1% to 100% asbestos
BIAS:
not determined
PRECISION:
not determined
ACCURACY:
not determined
APPLICABILITY: this method is useful for the qualitative identification of asbestos and the semi-quantitative determination of asbestos content of bulk samples. The method measures percent asbestos as perceived by the analyst in comparison to standard area projections, photos, and drawings, or trained experience. The method is not applicable to samples containing large amounts of fine fibers below the resolution of the light microscope
INTERFERENCES: Other fibers with optical properties similar to the asbestos minerals may give positive interferences. Optical properties of asbestos may be obscured by coating on the fibers. Fibers finer than the resolving power of the microscope (ca. 0.3 µm) will not be detected. Heat and acid treatment may alter the index of refraction of asbestos and change its color.
OTHER METHODS: This method (originally designated as method 7403) is designed for use with NIOSH Methods 7400 (phase contrast microscopy) and 7402 (electron microscopy/EDS). The method is similar to the EPA bulk asbestos method [1].
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition, 8/15/94
