Abstract
The identification of asbestos fibers in bulk or airborne samples can be made by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy. Since asbestos fibers have been shown to be a health hazard, it is important to identify their presence in environmental samples. Asbestos fibers require both chemical and morphological data for their identification. This FT-IR microscopical method uses light microscopy for morphological and infrared spectroscopy for chemical identity of microscopic fibers. For the six minerals defined by the EPA as asbestos, the infrared spectral analysis can be made on the same sample preparations that are used for polarized light microscopy(PLM) or phase contrast microscopy (PCM) counting. In this study, the detection limit for asbestos fibers in airborne samples was 2 × 20μm (˜˜240pg).The infrared spectra of microscopic fiber bundles of standard asbestos minerals were obtained using an IRμS™ infrared microspectrometer. Spectra were collected within the range of 4000 to 600 cm-1 (2.4 to 16.7 μm), at a spectral resolution of either 2 or 4 cm-1.
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Schedule a callMore From: Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America
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