Quick screening test for asbestos.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Carter JW II ; Kim, Walter S. ; Kupel, Richard E.
• Description:
  A quick screening test is described for spot checking of asbestos (1332214) in bulk samples. When the presence of acoustical plaster or other calcium containing materials is suspected, a magnesium reagent containing p-nitrophenylazo-alpha-naphthol is added. If a blue color develops the sample is washed with glycerin. The glycerin washed sample is again tested with magnesium reagent. If a blue color develops, chrysotile (12001295) may be present and samples should be sent to a laboratory for confirmation of results. If the test is negative the sample must be tested for iron released from amosite (12172735) and crocidolite (1332214). The sample is reacted with iron reagent containing phenanthroline. If a red color develops the sample is washed with a acetic and sulfuric-acid mixture. After washing, hydrogen-fluoride and iron reagent are added. Development of a red color indicates the presence of amosite or crocidolite. Samples are identified by transmission electron microscopy to confirm results. Of 174 samples tested without the acid wash steps, 126 were correctly identified as positive or negative. There were 48 false positive tests and no false negatives. With the addition of the acid wash steps, false positives were completely eliminated. The authors recommend the use of this screening test for compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's lower limit of 1 percent asbestos in bulk material. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asbestos Dust Inorganic Chemicals Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Minerals Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Analytical-methods Asbestos-dusts Dust-analysis Materials-testing NIOSH-Author Sampling-equipment Sampling-methods
• ISSN:
  0002-8894
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  198-201
• Volume:
  42
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00114443
• Citation:
  Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1981 Mar; 42(3):198-201
• CAS Registry Number:
  Amosite asbestos (CAS RN 12172-73-5) ; Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4) ; Chrysotile (CAS RN 12001-29-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1981
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:39477e639a13b3649f2f272bb72bf8662b6fd427b2541b50b8267c6ca1bb79358e9c0c8df080fb2854b5021af71f1cf7d6159a0d80545a5b2a99c7a2f328a215
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184424/cdc_184424_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 512.05 KB ]