Asbestos Testing

Asbestos has been widely used as an additive to building materials and other commercial products for many years. Due to our current regulatory structure, it is possible that imported materials can still contain asbestos. The health hazards associated with asbestos exposure are well documented. As a result, both EPA and OSHA have regulations regarding the management of materials containing asbestos.

Asbestos is a term used to describe a group of six fibrous minerals which are easily recognizable using light microscopy. EPA established a method for the identification and quantitation of asbestos minerals in bulk samples in the early 1980s. This method is useful and required for the examination of samples collected from buildings that are to be renovated or demolished. The method defines the use of polarized light microscopy (PLM) to observe and measure certain optical properties which, when used collectively, enable the microscopist to identify the minerals classified as asbestos.

When renovation or demolition occur in structures that were built using asbestos containing materials, fibers of asbestos can be released to the air. This release can be the source of airborne exposure of construction workers, building occupants or the public to asbestos fibers. The quanititation of these fibers is required by OSHA for the comparison of the fiber concentration in air to their worker protection standards. Additionally, the completion of asbestos removal projects is documented using the collection and analysis of air samples for fiber concentration. This analysis is performed using microscopic techniques called phase contrast microscopy (PCM). The use of PCM techniques is defined in OSHA’s method ID-160 or NIOSH’s method 7400.

Pace has extensive experience in the use of both PLM and PCM techniques. Our microscopists are trained by world class microscopists and have experience in the analysis of bulk and air samples for the presence of asbestos and airborne fibers.

Testing Capabilities:

Asbestos minerals in bulk samples using PLM
Fibers in air samples using PCM

Methods:

We use EPA method EPA/600/R-93/116, July 1993 for the examination of bulk materials for asbestos.
We use NIOSH method 7400 (both a and b counting rules are available) for the analysis of fibers in air samples collected on mixed cellulose ester filters.

Instrumentation:

(2) Olympus polarized light microscopes
(2) Olympus phase contrast microscopes
(2) Fisher stereoscopes

Accreditations:

National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) - NVLAP Lab Code: 101292-0

Certifications:

Proficiency testing program participant for fiber count analysis

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