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Informative Articles

Asbestos Home Testing- Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Asbestos home testing is a process of testing the presence of asbestos in homes in general and building materials in particular. Asbestos is a mineral fiber resistant to heat, chemicals, and electricity. Building and insulation...

Asbestos - Mesothelioma
Asbestos is the biggest work place killer today. Those who have worked with asbestos or who are regularly in contact with someone who has are at risk from asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. All these are fatal respiratory diseases which are...

Press Release

Asbestos Victims Under Attack by Proposed Asbestos Legislation

Asbestos-exposed individuals have a high risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related diseases. Woodland Hills, CA July 21, 2004 -- Mesothelioma Advisor...

mesothelioma cancer
MESOTHELIOMA Mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor of the pleura or peritoneum. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos. Asbestos is Usually used as a fire resistant and heat resistant insulating material. You can get three types of asbestos white...

The Importance Of Asbestos Disease Information
Over the past few years, there has been requirement for asbestos disease information. This is mainly because of asbestos, a harmful contaminant that once finds widespread application in industries, construction processes and building materials....

 
Asbestos Testing- Search For The Devil

Asbestos Testing – Why?

Asbestos testing seeks to detect the presence of asbestos in any given material. When any asbestos containing material is disturbed, it releases very thin invisible fibers that may remain suspended in the air for many hours, and have a causative association with a plethora of disease manifestations involving the epithelial lining of human visceral cavities, including the deadly mesothelioma. Much asbestos containing material is being unearthed nowadays due to intense remodeling and renovation of old structures, dating back to days when asbestos was extensively used in construction.

Asbestos Testing- When?

EPA's Sample List of Suspect Asbestos-Containing Materials Exit Ecology lists the possible candidates for asbestos testing. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. Any surfacing agent or thermal insulation material used in buildings constructed earlier than 1980 is presumed as containing asbestos (WISHA Interim Interpretive Memorandum #99-1-C, January 19, 1999), until proved otherwise by laboratory analysis.

Asbestos Sampling

Precautions

Before collection:

- By either specialized laboratory personnel or under guidance.

During collection:

- Minimize dispersal of fibers
- Avoid heating/cooling draughts
- Minimize the handling time and amount
- Spray the sample with fine water and/or detergent


droplets
- Use a sharp knife to cut neatly through the whole depth
- Place a plastic spread below the collection area
- Minimize exposure to self/those in the vicinity
- Handle the sample alone
- Wear gloves and mask
- Drop neatly into an appropriate container

After collection:

- Minimize dispersal
- Proper sealing of the container
- Patching of the sampled area
- Proper disposal of the plastic spread
- Cleaning of the area
- Label the sample meticulously

Asbestos Testing

Asbestos testing is carried out by a certified laboratory using polarized light microscopy (PLM) as per the EPA recommendations.

Asbestos Testing- Results and Interpretation

This form of asbestos testing is qualitative as well as quantitative .The results are given as the percentage (1 to 100) and type of asbestos (chrysotile or white asbestos, Amosite or brown asbestos, and Crocidolite or blue asbestos).

About The Author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.

Copyright Kirsten Hawkins - http://www.asbestosblog.org