Asbestos Testing
Asbestos testing is a key step in the removal of dangerous asbestos containing products from a home, school, workplace or other structure. Thousands of components of millions of buildings across the United States have a toxic level of asbestos, the carcinogenic mineral that can cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Removal of Asbestos Products or Samples
If an asbestos building component is left in place and is in good condition, it may not present any danger. In contrast, asbestos products that are old, in poor condition, "friable" (crumbling), or merely being manipulated as they are being removed may expose individuals in the immediate area to a cloud of asbestos fibers — fibers that may inadvertently be inhaled, since they're too small to see with the naked eye.
Asbestos Testing , Removal & Sampling
Thus, it's often recommended that asbestos testing and asbestos removal be done by professionals. Essentially all American cities of significant size have asbestos testing laboratories to which asbestos products samples can be sent. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if there are components of your home that you suspect may contain asbestos, you should call such a testing lab for advice about how to take a sample, or to arrange a qualified professional to take the sample.
Asbestos Testing with Polarized Light Microscopy
Asbestos testing must be done by polarized light microscopy (PLM) analysis, in accord with the EPA regulations.
PLM analyses tell both:
- The particular type of asbestos in the sample, and
- The percentage of asbestos in the sample.
Between 90 and 95 percent of the asbestos used in buildings in the U.S. is chrysotile, or "white asbestos."
Find an Asbestos Testing Laboratory Near You
If you're concerned about asbestos in your home, school, workplace or elsewhere, contact mesothelioma centers to be connected with an asbestos law firm near you to discuss your legal rights. A law firm can also refer you to a reputable asbestos testing lab.
