A home or building that is suspected to contain asbestos should undergo extensive asbestos analysis and testing to ensure that it is safe for all of its occupants.  A home or building containing asbestos can be extremely harmful to the health of all who occupy the building.  Through thorough asbestos analysis and testing, the building can be assessed and the level of asbestos exposure risk can be determined and dealt with appropriately.

Understanding Asbestos

To better understand the various forms of asbestos analysis and testing, it is helpful to know a little more about its structure.  Asbestos is a fibrous material made or metamorphic minerals from the hydrous magnesium silicate group.  Metamorphic minerals are those that form at high temperatures and pressures, while a silicate is a material formed by silicon and oxygen.  Asbestos has long been known for its fire-retardant properties and was even used in ancient Egyptian burial cloths.

To aid in its ability to resist heat, asbestos is often combined with cement or woven into fabrics.  In addition, asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye, ranging in length from 3.0 to 20.0 macrons in length and being as thin as 0.01 macron.  By comparison, human hair can be as thick as 17 to 181 macrons.  These fibers were formed by molecules lining up and forming crystalline structures.  Unfortunately, these crystalline structures tend to be weak and, therefore, can break easily and form even small fibers of asbestos.  The smaller they become, the lighter they become, making them even more easily inhaled by humans.

Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM)

Polarized Light Microscopy, or PLM, is a form of asbestos analysis and testing that has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).   This form of testing, however, is unable to identify asbestos in samples containing very fine asbestos fibers.  It is also not very effective in identifying asbestos within a tightly bound matrix of materials.  Instead, PLM is best for identifying bulk amounts of asbestos.  Therefore, it is not the best choice of asbestos analysis and testing in areas where the asbestos may be less obvious to find.

Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM)

Phase Contrast Microscopy, or PCM, is useful when measuring fibrous asbestos dust that is greater than 0.3 microns in diameter and longer than 5 microns length.  If the fibers are smaller than this specification, however, PCM will be unable to identify the existence of asbestos in the area or material.

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

Transmission Electron Microscopy, or TEM, is the most sophisticated means of asbestos analysis and testing for both airborne and waterborne asbestos.  It is also effective in analyzing and testing for asbestos in soil and in other bulk samples.  It accomplishes this through a complex system utilizing Energy Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis, or EDX, and Electron Diffraction, or SAED.

EDX, as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy, or SEM, are both well suited for analyzing the structure and composition of solid materials.   X-ray Diffraction, or XRD, is used to analyze free silica and to identify crystalline phases.

When selecting the form of asbestos analysis and testing, it is best to go with the most sensitive and sophisticated tools.  Otherwise, fibers may be left unidentified and, therefore, left behind.  This can cause a wide variety of health problems for anyone who occupies the structure in which the fibers have been left behind.