| Asbestos Testing - Why? | | | | - Avoid heating/cooling draughts |
| Asbestos testing seeks to detect the presence of | | | | - Minimize the handling time and amount |
| asbestos in any given material. When any asbestos | | | | - Spray the sample with fine water and/or detergent |
| containing material is disturbed, it releases very thin | | | | droplets |
| invisible fibers that may remain suspended in the air | | | | - Use a sharp knife to cut neatly through the whole |
| for many hours, and have a causative association | | | | depth |
| with a plethora of disease manifestations involving | | | | - Place a plastic spread below the collection area |
| the epithelial lining of human visceral cavities, including | | | | - Minimize exposure to self/those in the vicinity |
| the deadly mesothelioma. Much asbestos containing | | | | - Handle the sample alone |
| material is being unearthed nowadays due to intense | | | | - Wear gloves and mask |
| remodeling and renovation of old structures, dating | | | | - Drop neatly into an appropriate container |
| back to days when asbestos was extensively used in | | | | After collection: |
| construction. | | | | - Minimize dispersal |
| Asbestos Testing- When? | | | | - Proper sealing of the container |
| EPA's Sample List of Suspect Asbestos-Containing | | | | - Patching of the sampled area |
| Materials Exit Ecology lists the possible candidates for | | | | - Proper disposal of the plastic spread |
| asbestos testing. When in doubt, err on the side of | | | | - Cleaning of the area |
| caution. Any surfacing agent or thermal insulation | | | | - Label the sample meticulously |
| material used in buildings constructed earlier than 1980 | | | | Asbestos Testing |
| is presumed as containing asbestos (WISHA Interim | | | | Asbestos testing is carried out by a certified |
| Interpretive Memorandum #99-1-C, January 19, | | | | laboratory using polarized light microscopy (PLM) as |
| 1999), until proved otherwise by laboratory analysis. | | | | per the EPA recommendations. |
| Asbestos Sampling | | | | Asbestos Testing- Results and Interpretation |
| Precautions | | | | This form of asbestos testing is qualitative as well as |
| Before collection: | | | | quantitative .The results are given as the percentage |
| - By either specialized laboratory personnel or under | | | | (1 to 100) and type of asbestos (chrysotile or white |
| guidance. | | | | asbestos, Amosite or brown asbestos, and |
| During collection: | | | | Crocidolite or blue asbestos). |
| - Minimize dispersal of fibers | | | | |