The name given to a group to a group of minerals occurring naturally is called asbestos. It is resistant to corrosion and heat and it serves as an insulator for pipes, floor tiles, materials required for buildings, clutches, and brakes in vehicles. With asbestos analysis, you can identify the presence, the type of asbestos, and the percentage of airborne fibres are in the same. On conducting this test, measures of remedy are planned for the protection of human health.
Asbestos is regulated in many countries as it can be significantly harmful to the environment as well as health. Asbestos occurs naturally and contains microscopically small fibres that can lead to several ailments such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Testing Techniques
Testing of asbestos can help in finding out the hazardous as well as the non-hazardous breathable fibres to prevent exposure. This is crucial in discerning the risks involved in working with ores, soils, and concentrates. The analysis also involves what percentage is can be inhaled without harm and the determination of the risk of exposure.
Asbestos is a combination of six minerals. They are chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, actinolite, tremolite, and anthophyllite. These minerals at one point used to be sold commercially as asbestos but they are not the only minerals that possess these properties. It was discovered later that these diseases are caused by the same high aspect ratio and bio insolubility. Other fibres that can cause hazards are erionite, richterite, and winchite.
How Is Asbestos Identified?
Asbestos analysis should be left to the experts. The length of the asbestos mineral fibres ranges from 2 to 5 millimetres. The raw appearance of asbestos is concealed by bonding and processing the fibres. This makes it impossible to identify asbestos-containing minerals (ACM) without the use of magnification and expertise. A powerful microscope is required as well as someone who has in-depth knowledge of the same.
The only way you can confirm the presence of asbestos is by collecting samples and sending the same to a laboratory that has been accredited by NATA. This process is known as sampling and it can disperse the fibres of asbestos. If they are not performed with care, the dispersion can lead to contamination of the area. The Australian Work Health and Safety Legislation does not identify the use of n ‘asbestos gun’ as an approved method of identification of asbestos
Types Of Asbestos Testing
Asbestos testing in Australia is always carried out by NATA-recognized laboratories like Asbestos Check from Safe Environments. The tests are:
- Stereo Microscopic Asbestos Analysis: Material samples that are suspected of having asbestos are first put in a dust cabinet and are brought under a stereomicroscope that can magnify up to 10 to 40 times for testing all kinds of fibres. The morphology of the same helps in the identification of fibres such as chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite. The fibres that do not contain asbestos such as organic fibres or synthetic mineral fibres (SMF). If there is asbestos, they are extracted by breaking the material apart. The fibres are then analyzed on microscopic slides with oils that have varying refractive indexes.
- Crossed Polars/Birefringence Testing: This test discerns whether the material is crystalline or amorphous. Assessments can be made if the fibres are asbestiform. Asbestiform is the morphology of the fibre that has a high aspect ratio, occurs in bundles, and has splayed ends. Chrysotile asbestos may have a signature curvature. This kind of testing is the numerical difference between the highest and the lowest refractive index that the fibre possesses. This can be observed using the ‘search-light’ effect. High birefringence will enhance the brightness of the fibre at 45 degrees on the vibration plane. Asbestos will ‘disappear’ under the microscope after being rotated and viewed at a 0/90 degree bias.
- 1st Order Red Retardation Plate: 1st order red retardation is added. This describes which axis of asbestos has the highest refractive index. Length slow orientation is exhibited by chrysotile and amosite asbestos Dehydration through heat treatment can make crocidolite asbestos change to length slow.
- Plane Polarised Light: Colour and pleochroism can be seen on viewing fibres under plane polarised light. Shifting observation can initiate a change in colour concerning the axis that vibrates. For example, crocidolite asbestos will change from grey to blue. Amosite and chrysolite do not show colour or pleochroism when brought under plane polarised light.
- Dispersion Staining: This is an optical trick that analyses the relative difference in refractive index between the asbestos fibre and the refractive index oil through a shift in wavelength. Whether the fibre has a higher or lower refractive index than the oil is determined by the shift in wavelength as the refractive index of the oil is known.
Conclusion
Many asbestos analysis methods can be done to identify minerals. The most commonly used tests are polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). If asbestos enters the lungs, it can lead to asbestosis This can harden the connective tissue and in the worst cases, cause cancer. They are most commonly used in the construction of buildings despite being banned since 2003.
Having asbestos in home or office can also create a number of legal concerns.
This work demands safety measures, including asbestos testing, inspection, special equipment & clothing, work area containment and much more to get the job done perfectly. Asbestos Disposal
Hiring trained and licensed professionals gives you peace of mind that your home or office is free from these harmful fibres.
The professionals deploy relevant skills to handle asbestos removal, thus reducing the exposure of fibres to the atmosphere.
Hiring asbestos removalists is all about ensuring your personal safety.
The professionals are well-versed with the laws governing, testing, removal, disposal and demolition of asbestos.
