Asbestos Analysis-Methodologies

The optical and electron microscope laboratories have been analyzing samples for asbestos since 1978.  EMS can supply you with any level of analysis for asbestos including:
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction and energy dispersive x-ray analysis for positive identification of all asbestos structures below SEM, PLM, and PCM resolution.
Methodologies for air:
· AHERA 40 CFR Part 763 for school clearances
· NIOSH 7402 which complements NIOSH 7400 for PCM equivalent size fibers
· U.S. EPA Draft Contract 68-02-3266 authored by Yamate, etal (Level I, II and III)
· ISO 10312
Methodologies for bulk, soil, lung tissue, sediment and waste water which includes quantitative weight percent:
· EPA 600/4-83-043 and EPA 600/R-93/116.
Methodology for analysis of wipes and microvacs of dust:
·ASTM Document D5755
Methodology for analysis of drinking water (for fibers greater than 10 µm in length):
·EPA 600/R-94-134
Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) with dispersion staining for identification of bulk material for asbestos down to 1%.

Methodology for PLM Analysis:
· EPA 600/R-93/116
· NIOSH 9002
Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) for analysis of air filters for fibers. Methodology for airborne fibers:
· NIOSH 7400A
· OSHA ID 160 (fiber count)
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for identification of fibers as asbestos with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDS) for elemental analysis. There are size and identification limitations.  Fibers must be greater than 0.2 µm in diameter, and asbestos fibers must be identified as "suspected asbestos" because there is the possibility of other mineral fibers being present with the same chemical composition. 

Methodologies:
·U.S. EPA Draft, 9-19-86
·ASTM proposed methods.
X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) for quantification of bulk asbestos-containing materials in the 1% region and when fibers are too small to resolve by PLM Methodology for bulk materials:
·NIOSH 9000, quantitative analysis
Superfund method (TEM and PLM) for the determination of releasable asbestos in soils and bulk materials

Methodologies:
· EPA 540-R-97-028
· Accredited by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NVLAP, for bulk sample analysis by PLM and air     samples by TEM
· Certified as a California Hazardous Waste Testing Laboratory for asbestos
· Certified by the State of California for asbestos in water by TEM
· Certified by the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles
· PCM analysts are in the AIHA Asbestos Registry

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