Scotch® Magic Tape™ and the Analysis of Settled Dust

Abstract

An environmental “sticky” tape lift contains hundreds to tens of thousands of individual particles. Each particle is unique, and its optical properties indicate the particle’s identity and history. Environmental particles are not isolated and by association occur with other particles, which may provide information on the source of an individual particle. The physical placement of particles on a surface carries information about the individual particles as well as the microenvironment associated with the surface at that location. Sampling is a destructive process because information is lost no matter how the surface is sampled. Therefore, the chosen sampling procedure must retain the data required for the analysis. Tape lifts can retain data on particle concentrations, particle identification, particle sources, transport mechanisms active at the sample location, and more. The type and quality of tape, how it is processed, and how it is analyzed will affect the extent to which the environment has been characterized. 3M Scotch® Magic™ Tape (Magic Tape) and the light microscope have been used to make tape lifts by the author since 1970 for characterizing environments. The advantages and disadvantages of using this sampling method are briefly discussed.