Eurofins services

Asbestos Lab Analysis

Asbestos Analysis: Airborne Fiber Count (NIOSH 7400)

Asbestos analysis includes testing of air sample for asbestos and other fibers by PCM. It is used primarily for estimating asbestos concentrations in air. It is used to show compliance with limits set by NIOSH, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies. The method does not differentiate between asbestos and other fibers and can also be used to estimate the airborne concentration of other, non-asbestos materials such as fibrous glass. Fibers less than 0.25 microns in diameter will not be detected with this method.

Asbestos Analysis: CARB 435

Asbestos analysis includes testing of rocks (and soils) for asbestos using the California Air Resource Board 435 (CARB 435) method. The CARB 435 method is a specialized method used for testing asbestos content in the serpentine aggregate storage piles, on conveyer belts, and on covered surfaces such as roads, play-yards, shoulders and parking lots. The method includes crushing the sample using a mill to produce a sample size of less than 200 tyler mesh (75 microns) and then reporting the asbestos content by performing a 400 point count technique which has a detection limit of 0.25%.

Asbestos Analysis: CARB 435 (Pre-Crushed)

Asbestos analysis includes testing of rocks (and soils) for asbestos using the California Air Resource Board 435 (CARB 435) method. The CARB 435 method is a specialized method used for testing asbestos content in the serpentine aggregate storage piles, on conveyer belts, and on covered surfaces such as roads, play-yards, shoulders and parking lots. The method includes reporting the asbestos content by performing a 400 point count technique which has a detection limit of 0.25%.

Asbestos Analysis: EPA 200 Point Count

Asbestos analysis includes testing of bulk building materials for asbestos by performing 200 point counts (EPA 600/R-93/116). This is a detailed and more labor-intensive technique for estimating asbestos in a building material and is less subjective than a visual estimate. While the visual estimation of asbestos in a building material works well for most samples, this methodology can be very important when low asbestos concentration in a building material is suspected or detected. This methodology, which has a detection limit of 0.5%, increases the accuracy and precision of the asbestos concentration determined in a sample and is widely used to comply with NESHAP regulations requirement of performing point counting on samples with low concentrations of asbestos.

Asbestos Analysis: EPA 400 Point Count

Asbestos analysis includes testing of bulk building materials for asbestos by performing 400 point counts (EPA 600/R-93/116). This is a detailed and more labor-intensive technique for estimating asbestos in a building material and is less subjective than a visual estimate. While the visual estimation of asbestos in a building material works well for most samples, this methodology can be very important when low asbestos concentration in a building material is suspected or detected. This methodology, which has a detection limit of 0.25%, increases the accuracy and precision of the asbestos concentration determined in a sample and is widely used to comply with NESHAP regulations requirement of performing point counting on samples with low concentrations of asbestos.

Asbestos Analysis: EPA 1000 Point Count

Asbestos analysis includes testing of bulk building materials for asbestos by performing 1000 point counts (EPA 600/R-93/116). This is a detailed and more labor-intensive technique for estimating asbestos in a building material and is less subjective than a visual estimate. While the visual estimation of asbestos in a building material works well for most samples, this methodology can be very important when low asbestos concentration in a building material is suspected or detected. This methodology, which has a detection limit of 0.1%, increases the accuracy and precision of the asbestos concentration determined in a sample.

Asbestos Analysis: EPA Method 600/R-93/116

Asbestos analysis includes testing of bulk building materials for asbestos by performing a visual estimation using the EPA Method 600/R-93/116. This asbestos analysis method is the most widely used method for estimating asbestos is bulk building materials and works well for most sample types. However, it might require a more detailed method like point counting for accurate estimation of asbestos in samples with low asbestos concentration. This method is also not applicable for samples containing large amounts of fine fibers below the resolution of the PLM (< 0.3 microns). The method separates the sample material into various layers based on their morphology and then detects for the presence of the different asbestos fibers in each of these layers. The report will express the percentage of the different asbestos fibers detected in each of the different layers based upon the visual estimation.

Asbestos in Soil Analysis: EPA Protocol Modified Qualitative (Soil)

Asbestos analysis includes testing of soil matrix for asbestos by modifying the EPA Method. The EPA method has primarily been designed for determining the asbestos concentration in building materials, however this method is capable of identifying asbestos in a soil matrix only on a qualitative (detected/ not detected) basis. It might however require a more detailed method like the CARB 435 for the accurate estimation of asbestos in the soil sample. The report will indicate the presence of the different asbestos fibers detected in the soil sample based upon a visual examination on a qualitative basis as being detected or not detected.

Asbestos in Soil Analysis: EPA Protocol Modified Semi-Quantitative (Soil)

Asbestos analysis includes testing of soil matrix for asbestos by performing a visual estimation. The method involves preparing the sample in specific manner that helps in the detection and the semi-quantification of the asbestos fibers in the soil sample. It might however require a more detailed method like the CARB 435 for the accurate estimation of asbestos in the soil sample. The report will express the percentage of the different asbestos fibers detected in soil sample on a semi-quantitative basis as either being less than 1% or greater than 1%, based upon a visual estimation.

Asbestos Analysis: Gravimetric Point Count

Asbestos analysis includes a detailed and very labor-intensive testing of bulk building materials for its organic components, inorganic acid-soluble and insoluble components and asbestos concentration based on 400 point counts (EPA 600/R-93/116). This is a detailed and more labor-intensive technique for estimating asbestos and other components in a building material and is less subjective than a visual estimate. This asbestos analysis methodology, which has a detection limit of 0.25%, increases the accuracy and precision of the asbestos concentration determined in a sample. The report will express the percentage of the different asbestos fibers detected based upon the 400 point counts and also provide a percentage concentration of the organic, inorganic acid-soluble and insoluble components in the whole sample.