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Asbestos is commonly found in many building materials and household
items. It is a commercial term applied to the asbestiform varieties
of six different minerals (Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite, Tremolite, Actinolite, Anthophyllite).
The properties of asbestos that caused it to be widely used commercially are:
- The ability to be separated into long, thin, flexible fibers
- High tensile strength
- Low thermal and electrical conductivity
- High mechanical and chemical durability
- High heat resistance
Asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen. Asbestos exposure may cause mesothelioma
and lung cancer. Asbestos poses the greatest danger when it becomes airborne.
Demolishing, repairing, or just disturbing suspect materials may cause the asbestos
fibers to dislodge and release into the air. Thus before you disturb any material
you suspect might contain asbestos, it would be a good idea to have a sample of that
material tested by a qualified laboratory. Our fully-accredited laboratory provides
fast and confidential testing.
Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) is widely used to measure fiber concentrations of air samples.
This is routinely done at asbestos abatement sites and can be applied for environmental
monitoring, personnel monitoring, and clearance testing for minor abatement projects.
The PCM technique has the advantage of fast turnaround time and low cost.
Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) is the technique most often employed for the analysis
of bulk building materials. The light microscopy technique utilizes the unique features
of polarized light to observe mineral specific optical properties. In this manner, PLM
can differentiate asbestos from non-asbestos fibers and further classify the various
species that compose the asbestos mineral family. Moreover, the technique records the
identity of the non-asbestos fibrous component of each bulk building material sample.
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