ASTM D6281-23
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Airborne Asbestos Concentration in Ambient and Indoor Atmospheres as Determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy Direct Transfer (TEM)
Standard Test Method for Airborne Asbestos Concentration in Ambient and Indoor Atmospheres as Determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy Direct Transfer (TEM)
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is applicable to the measurement of airborne asbestos in a wide range of ambient air situations and for detailed evaluation of any atmosphere for asbestos structures. Most fibers in ambient atmospheres are not asbestos, and therefore, there is a requirement for fibers to be identified. Most of the airborne asbestos fibers in ambient atmospheres have diameters below the resolution limit of the light microscope. This test method is based on transmission electron microscopy, which has adequate resolution to allow detection of small thin fibers and is currently the only technique capable of unequivocal identification of the majority of individual fibers of asbestos. Asbestos is often found, not as single fibers, but as very complex, aggregated structures, which may or may not also be aggregated with other particles. The fibers found suspended in an ambient atmosphere can often be identified unequivocally if sufficient measurement effort is expended. However, if each fiber were to be identified in this way, the analysis would become prohibitively expensive. Because of instrumental deficiencies or because of the nature of the particulate matter, some fibers cannot be positively identified as asbestos even though the measurements all indicate that they could be asbestos. Therefore, subjective factors contribute to this measurement, and consequently, a very precise definition of the procedure for identification and enumeration of asbestos fibers is required. The method defined in this test method is designed to provide a description of the nature, numerical concentration, and sizes of asbestos-containing particles found in an air sample. The test method is necessarily complex because the structures observed are frequently very complex. The method of data recording specified in the test method is designed to allow reevaluation of the structure-counting data as new applications for measurements are developed. All of the feasible specimen preparation techn...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method2 is an analytical procedure using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the determination of the concentration of asbestos structures in ambient atmospheres and includes measurement of the dimension of structures and of the asbestos fibers found in the structures from which aspect ratios are calculated.
1.1.1 This test method allows determination of the type(s) of asbestos fibers present.
1.1.2 This test method cannot always discriminate between individual fibers of the asbestos and non-asbestos analogues of the same amphibole mineral.
1.2 This test method is suitable for determination of asbestos in both ambient (outdoor) and building atmospheres.
1.2.1 This test method is defined for polycarbonate capillary-pore filters or cellulose ester (either mixed esters of cellulose or cellulose nitrate) filters through which a known volume of air has been drawn and for blank filters.
1.3 The upper range of concentrations that can be determined by this test method is 7000 s/mm2. The air concentration represented by this value is a function of the volume of air sampled.
1.3.1 There is no lower limit to the dimensions of asbestos fibers that can be detected. In practice, microscopists vary in their ability to detect very small asbestos fibers. Therefore, a minimum length of 0.5 μm has been defined as the shortest fiber to be incorporated in the reported results.
1.4 The direct analytical method cannot be used if the general particulate matter loading of the sample collection filter as analyzed exceeds approximately 10 % coverage of the collection filter by particulate matter.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropri...
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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6281 − 23
Standard Test Method for
Airborne Asbestos Concentration in Ambient and Indoor
Atmospheres as Determined by Transmission Electron
1
Microscopy Direct Transfer (TEM)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6281; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
2 standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
1.1 This test method is an analytical procedure using
standard.
transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the determination
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
of the concentration of asbestos structures in ambient atmo-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
spheres and includes measurement of the dimension of struc-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tures and of the asbestos fibers found in the structures from
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
which aspect ratios are calculated.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1.1 This test method allows determination of the type(s)
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
of asbestos fibers present.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1.2 This test method cannot always discriminate between
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
individual fibers of the asbestos and non-asbestos analogues of
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
the same amphibole mineral.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.2 This test method is suitable for determination of asbes-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
tos in both ambient (outdoor) and building atmospheres.
1.2.1 This test method is defined for polycarbonate
2. Referenced Documents
capillary-pore filters or cellulose ester (either mixed esters of
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
cellulose or cellulose nitrate) filters through which a known
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
volume of air has been drawn and for blank filters.
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
1.3 The upper range of concentrations that can be deter-
Atmospheres
2
mined by this test method is 7000 s/mm . The air concentration
D1357 Practice for Planning the Sampling of the Ambient
represented by this value is a function of the volume of air
Atmosphere
sampled.
D4483 Practice for Evaluating Precision for Test Method
1.3.1 There is no lower limit to the dimensions of asbestos
Standards in the Rubber and Carbon Black Manufacturing
fibers that can be detected. In practice, microscopists vary in
Industries
their ability to detect very small asbestos fibers. Therefore, a
D6620 Practice for Asbestos Detection Limit Based on
minimum length of 0.5 μm has been defined as the shortest
Counts
fiber to be incorporated in the reported results.
D7712 Terminology for Sampling and Analysis of Asbestos
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
1.4 The direct analytical method cannot be used if the
ASTM Test Methods
general particulate matter loading of the sample collection filter
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
as analyzed exceeds approximately 10 % coverage of the
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
collection filter by particulate matter.
4
2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 10312 Ambient air - Determination of asbestos fibres -
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air
Direct-transfer transmission electron microscopy method
Quality and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.07 on Sampling,
Analysis, Management of Asbestos, and Other Microscopic Particles.
3
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2023. Published September 2023. Originally For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D6281 – 15. DOI: contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
10.1520/D6281-23. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
2
This test method was adapted from International Standard ISO 10312 “Air the ASTM website.
4
quality—Determination of asbestos fibres—Direct transfer transmission electron Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
microscopy method.” 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr H
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6281 − 15 D6281 − 23
Standard Test Method for
Airborne Asbestos Concentration in Ambient and Indoor
Atmospheres as Determined by Transmission Electron
1
Microscopy Direct Transfer (TEM)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6281; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
2
1.1 This test method is an analytical procedure using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the determination of the
concentration of asbestos structures in ambient atmospheres and includes measurement of the dimension of structures and of the
asbestos fibers found in the structures from which aspect ratios are calculated.
1.1.1 This test method allows determination of the type(s) of asbestos fibers present.
1.1.2 This test method cannot always discriminate between individual fibers of the asbestos and non-asbestos analogues of the
same amphibole mineral.
1.2 This test method is suitable for determination of asbestos in both ambient (outdoor) and building atmospheres.
1.2.1 This test method is defined for polycarbonate capillary-pore filters or cellulose ester (either mixed esters of cellulose or
cellulose nitrate) filters through which a known volume of air has been drawn and for blank filters.
2
1.3 The upper range of concentrations that can be determined by this test method is 7000 s/mm . The air concentration represented
by this value is a function of the volume of air sampled.
1.3.1 There is no lower limit to the dimensions of asbestos fibers that can be detected. In practice, microscopists vary in their
ability to detect very small asbestos fibers. Therefore, a minimum length of 0.5 μm has been defined as the shortest fiber to be
incorporated in the reported results.
1.4 The direct analytical method cannot be used if the general particulate matter loading of the sample collection filter as analyzed
exceeds approximately 10 % coverage of the collection filter by particulate matter.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and healthsafety, health, and environmental practices and determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.07 on Sampling and Analysis
of AsbestosSampling, Analysis, Management of Asbestos, and Other Microscopic Particles.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2015Sept. 1, 2023. Published January 2016September 2023. Originally approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 20092015
as D6281 – 09.D6281 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/D6281-16.10.1520/D6281-23.
2
This test method was adapted from International Standard ISO 10312 “Air quality—Determination of asbestos fibres—Direct transfer transmission electron microscopy
method.”
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6281 − 23
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
D1357 Practice for Planning the Sampling of the Ambient Atmosphere
D4483 Practice for Evaluating Precision for Test Method Standards in the Rubber and Carbon Black Manufacturing Industries
D6620 Practice for Asbestos Detection Limit Based on Counts
D7712 Terminology for Sampling and Analysis of Asbestos
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
4
2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 10312 Ambient air - Determination of asbestos fibres - Direct-transfer transmission electron microscopy method
3. Terminol
...
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