Page:NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods - 9002.pdf/1

 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