ASTM D7521-13
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determination of Asbestos in Soil
Standard Test Method for Determination of Asbestos in Soil
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This analysis method is used for the testing of soil samples for asbestos. The emphasis is on detection and analysis of sieved particles for asbestos in the soil. Debris identifiable as bulk building material that is readily separable from the soil is to be analyzed and reported separately.
5.2 The coarse fraction of the sample (>2 to
5.3 This test method does not describe procedures or techniques required to evaluate the safety or habitability of buildings or outdoor areas potentially contaminated with asbestos-containing materials or compliance with federal, state, or local regulations or statutes. It is the investigator's responsibility to make these determinations.
5.4 Whereas this test method produces results that may be used for evaluation of sites contaminated by construction, mine, and manufacturing wastes; deposits of natural occurrences of asbestos; and other sources of interest to the investigator, the application of the results to such evaluations and the conclusions drawn there from, including any assessment of risk or liability, is beyond the scope of this test method and is the responsibility of the investigator.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure to: (1) identify asbestos in soil, (2) provide an estimate of the concentration of asbestos in the sampled soil (dried), and (3) optionally to provide a concentration of asbestos reported as the number of asbestos structures per gram of sample.
1.2 In this test method, results are produced that may be used for evaluation of sites contaminated by construction, mine and manufacturing wastes, deposits of natural occurrences of asbestos (NOA), and other sources of interest to the investigator.
1.3 This test method describes the gravimetric, sieve, and other laboratory procedures for preparing the soil for analysis as well as the identification and quantification of any asbestos detected. Pieces of collected soil and material embedded therein that pass through a 19-mm sieve will become part of the sample that is analyzed and for which results are reported.
1.3.1 Asbestos is identified and quantified by polarized light microscopy (PLM) techniques including analysis of morphology and optical properties. Optional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) identification and quantification of asbestos is based on morphology, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). Some information about fiber size may also be determined. The PLM and TEM methods use different definitions and size criteria for fibers and structures. Separate data sets may be produced.
1.4 This test method has an analytical sensitivity of 0.25 % by weight with optional procedures to allow for an analytical sensitivity of 0.1 % by weight.
1.5 This test method does not purport to address sampling strategies or variables associated with soil environments. Such considerations are the responsibility of the investigator collecting and submitting the sample. Appendix X2 covering elements of soil sampling and good field practices is attached.
1.6 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. Other units may be cited in the method for informational purposes only.
1.7 Hazards—Asbestos fibers are acknowledged carcinogens. Breathing asbestos fibers can result in disease of the lungs including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Precautions should be taken to avoid creating and breathing airborne asbestos particles when sampling and analyzing materials suspected of containing asbestos.
1.8 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 health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: D7521 − 13
StandardTest Method for
Determination of Asbestos in Soil
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7521; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.7 Hazards—Asbestos fibers are acknowledged carcino-
gens. Breathing asbestos fibers can result in disease of the
1.1 This test method covers a procedure to: (1) identify
lungs including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
asbestosinsoil,(2)provideanestimateoftheconcentrationof
Precautions should be taken to avoid creating and breathing
asbestos in the sampled soil (dried), and (3) optionally to
airborne asbestos particles when sampling and analyzing
provide a concentration of asbestos reported as the number of
materials suspected of containing asbestos.
asbestos structures per gram of sample.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.2 In this test method, results are produced that may be
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
usedforevaluationofsitescontaminatedbyconstruction,mine
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
and manufacturing wastes, deposits of natural occurrences of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
asbestos (NOA), and other sources of interest to the investiga-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tor.
1.3 This test method describes the gravimetric, sieve, and 2. Referenced Documents
other laboratory procedures for preparing the soil for analysis
2.1 ASTM Standards:
as well as the identification and quantification of any asbestos
C136Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse
detected. Pieces of collected soil and material embedded
Aggregates
thereinthatpassthrougha19-mmsievewillbecomepartofthe
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
sample that is analyzed and for which results are reported.
D3670Guide for Determination of Precision and Bias of
1.3.1 Asbestosisidentifiedandquantifiedbypolarizedlight
Methods of Committee D22
microscopy (PLM) techniques including analysis of morphol-
D6281Test Method forAirborneAsbestos Concentration in
ogy and optical properties. Optional transmission electron
Ambient and Indoor Atmospheres as Determined by
microscopy(TEM)identificationandquantificationofasbestos
TransmissionElectronMicroscopyDirectTransfer(TEM)
is based on morphology, selected area electron diffraction
D6620Practice for Asbestos Detection Limit Based on
(SAED), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). Some
Counts
informationaboutfibersizemayalsobedetermined.ThePLM
E11Specification forWovenWireTest Sieve Cloth andTest
andTEMmethodsuse different definitions and size criteriafor
Sieves
fibers and structures. Separate data sets may be produced.
2.2 EPA Standards:
1.4 This test method has an analytical sensitivity of 0.25 %
EPA 600/R-93/116Method for the Determination of Asbes-
by weight with optional procedures to allow for an analytical tos in Bulk Building Materials
sensitivity of 0.1 % by weight.
2.3 ISO Standards:
ISO 10312:1995Ambient Air -Determination of Asbestos
1.5 This test method does not purport to address sampling
Fibers–DirectTransferTransmissionElectronMicroscopy
strategies or variables associated with soil environments. Such
Method (1st Ed. 1995-05-01)
considerationsaretheresponsibilityoftheinvestigatorcollect-
ISO 17025General requirements for the competence of
ing and submitting the sample. Appendix X2 covering ele-
testing and calibration laboratories
ments of soil sampling and good field practices is attached.
1.6 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
as the standard. Other units may be cited in the method for
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
informational purposes only.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
1 3
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Available from United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ariel
Quality and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.07 on Sampling and Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004, http://
Analysis of Asbestos. www.epa.gov.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2013. Published January 2013. DOI: 10.1520/ Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
D7521-13 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D7521 − 13
TABLE 1 Asbestos
ISO/DIS 22262-1Bulk materials—Part 1: Sampling and
qualitative determination of asbestos in commercial bulk Asbestos Chemical Abstract Service No.
Chrysotile 12001-29-5
materials
Crocidolite 12001-28-4
Amosite 12172-73-5
Anthophyllite asbestos 77536-67-5
3. Terminology
Tremolite asbestos 77536-68-6
3.1 Definitions: Actinolite asbestos 77536-66-4
Asbestos 1332-21-4
3.1.1 asbestiform, n—type of fibrous habit in which the
fibers are separable into thinner fibers and ultimately into 3.1.8.1 Discussion—The term fibrous is used in a general
mineralogical way to describe aggregates of grains that crys-
fibrils.
tallize in a needle-like habit and appear to be composed of
3.1.1.1 Discussion—This habit accounts for greater flexibil-
fibers.Thetermfibroushasamuchmoregeneralmeaningthan
ity and higher tensile strength than other habits of the same
asbestos.While it is correct that all asbestos minerals can have
mineral. For more information on asbestiform mineralogy, see
5 6 a fibrous habit, not all minerals having fibrous habits are
Steel and Wylie and Zussman.
asbestos.
3.1.2 asbestos, n—a collective term that describes a group
3.1.9 free fibers, n—during sample collection, these are
of naturally occurring, inorganic, highly-fibrous, silicate min-
fibers that are not associated with discrete pieces of building
erals that are easily separated into long, thin, flexible, strong
material or debris in the soil.
fibers when crushed or processed.
3.1.9.1 Discussion—Freefibersmayormaynotbevisibleto
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Included in the definition are the as-
the unaided eye. Their source (for example, weathered
bestiform varieties of serpentine (chrysotile); riebeckite (cro-
asbestos-cement products) may or may not be present in the
cidolite); grunerite (grunerite asbestos [Amosite]); anthophyl-
soil in an amount sufficient to collect a bulk sample, if at all.
lite(anthophylliteasbestos);tremolite(tremoliteasbestos);and
3.1.10 matrix, n—structure in which one or more fibers, or
actinolite (actinolite asbestos).The amphibole mineral compo-
fiber bundles that are touching, are attached to or partially
sitions are defined according to the nomenclature of the
concealedbyasingleparticleorconnectedgroupofnonfibrous
International Mineralogical Association.
particles.
3.1.2.2 Discussion—The mineral fibers described in this
3.1.10.1 Discussion—The exposed fiber shall meet the fiber
definition are listed below. This method is also applicable to
definition (see fiber (TEM)).
other mineral fibers of interest not listed in Table 1.
3.1.11 point count, n—quantitative regimen with definitions
3.1.3 aspect ratio, n—ratioofthelengthofafibrousparticle that can be found under EPA 600 R-93/116. A technique used
to determine the relative projected areas occupied by separate
to its average width.
componentsinamicroscopeslidepreparationofasample.For
3.1.4 bundle, n—structure composed of two or more fibers
asbestos analysis, this technique is used to determine the
in a parallel arrangement with the fibers closer than one fiber
relative concentrations of asbestos minerals to non-asbestos
diameter to each other.
sample components.
3.1.5 cluster, n—structure with fibers in a random arrange-
3.1.12 soil, n—for this test method, soil is considered
ment such that all fibers are intermixed and no single fiber is
material of variable particle size and composition generally
isolated from the group; groupings of fibers shall have more
less than 19 mm in size.
than two points touching.
3.1.12.1 Discussion—Examples may include loosely con-
solidatedsediments,buildingmaterials,andotheraccumulated
3.1.6 fiber (transmission electron microscopy, TEM),
materialsatthesurface.Othermaterialslargerthan19mmmay
n—structure having a minimum length of 0.5 um, an aspect
also be submitted at the collector’s discretion as separate bulk
ratio of 5:1 or greater, and substantially parallel sides.
samples.
3.1.7 fibril, n—single fiber that cannot be separated into
3.1.13 structures (TEM), n—term that is used to categorize
smaller components without losing its fibrous properties or
allthetypesofasbestosparticleswhicharerecordedduringthe
appearance.
analysis (such as fibers, bundles, clusters, and matrices).
3.1.8 fibrous (polarized light microscopy, PLM), adj—
3.1.14 visual area estimate, VAE, n—quantitative estimate
mineral composed of parallel, radiating, or interlaced aggre-
of the amount of asbestos present most readily obtained by
gates of fibers from which the fibers may or may not be
visual comparison of the bulk sample and slide preparations to
separable, that is, the crystalline aggregate may be referred to
otherslidepreparationsandbulksampleswithknownamounts
asfibrousevenifitisnotcomposedofseparablefibersbuthas
of asbestos present in them.
that distinct appearance.
3.1.14.1 Discussion—Given that soils are typically
heterogeneous,sievingthesoilhelpstoachievesimilarparticle
size and facilitates subsequent VAE on the three sieved
E.SteelandA.Wylie,“MineralogicalCharacteristicsofAsbestos,”inGeology fractions.
of Asbestos Deposits, P. H. Riordon, Ed., SME-AIME, 1981, pp. 93–101.
3.2 Descriptions for TEM Analysis Using Test Method
J. Zussman, “The Mineralogy of Asbestos,” in Asbestos: Properties, Applica-
tions and Hazards, John Wiley and Sons, 1979, pp. 45–67. D6281
D7521 − 13
3.2.1 asbestos fiber or bundle longer than 5 µm, n—any 4. Summary of Test Method
asbestos fiber or any width, bundle, or such fibers that has a
4.1 The sample is dried and sieved with sieves arranged
length exceeding 5 µm.
fromtoptobottom:19mm,2mm,106µm,andcollectionpan.
The sieve fractions are designated coarse fraction (<19 to >2
3.2.2 asbestos structure larger than 5 µm, n—any fiber,
mm), medium fraction (<2 mm to >106 µm), and fine fraction
bundle, cluster, or matrix for which the largest dimension
(<106 µm). Weights for each fraction are measured and
exceeds 5 µm; does not necessarily contain asbestos fibers or
recorded. During analysis, the >19-mm fraction may be ana-
bundles longer than 5 µm.
lyzed using stereomicroscopy and polarized light microscopy
3.2.3 compact matrix (Type C), n—structure consisting of a
(PLM) and reported separately but are not considered part of
particle or linked group of particles in which fibers or bundles
this method. The results are not included in the final result of
can be seen either within the structure or projecting from it,
the other three sieves fractions. Any building material debris
such that the dimensions of individual fibers and bundles
collected from the field along with the soil sample may also be
cannot be unambiguously determined.
analyzedandreportedseparately.Thecoarse,medium,andfine
fractionsareallanalyzedbystereomicroscopyandPLMvisual
3.2.4 disperse matrix (Type D), n—structure consisting of a
area estimation (VAE). Initial results for the PLM analyses are
particle or linked group of particles with overlapping or
expressed in calibrated visual area estimated percent and
attached fibers or bundles in which at least one of the
results for the fine fraction using point count values if below
individual fibers or bundles can be separately identified and its
detection limit (see also 11.4.2-11.4.4). In addition, if PLM
dimensions measured.
results indicate none detected, then the fine fraction of the
3.2.4.1 Discussion—In practice, matrices can occur in
sample may be analyzed for asbestos using transmission
which the characteristics of both types of matrix occur in the
electron microscopy (TEM) drop mount as outlined in 11.6.1.
same structure. When this occurs, the structure should be
If the TEM drop mount is negative or a quantitative result is
assigned as a disperse matrix, and then a logical procedure
desired, then it is recommended that the sample be gravimetri-
should be followed by recording structure components accord-
cally reduced and visually estimated by TEM to derive a
ing to the counting criteria.
quantitative result expressed as an estimated weight percent.
3.2.5 fibers that extend outside the field of view, n—during
4.2 Optional TEM Analysis by Test Method D6281—
scanningofagridopening,countfibersthatextendoutsidethe
Additional analysis of the fine fraction may be performed to
field of view systematically so as to avoid double counting.
provide size data and concentration of asbestos reported as the
3.2.5.1 Discussion—In general, a rule should be established
number of asbestos structures per gram of sample.
so that fibers extending outside the field of view in only two
4.3 The nominal quantity of soil sieved and analyzed is a
quadrants are counted. Measure the length of each of these
3 3
250-cm sample.Alargeramount(nomorethan500cm )may
fibers by moving the specimen to locate the other end of the
be required for different types of soil or other reasons deter-
fiber and then return to the original field of view before
mined by the laboratory and investigator. Any amount greater
continuing to scan the specimen. Fibers without terminations
than 500 cm will be discarded. The remainder of the sieved
within the field of view shall not be counted.
samplesmaybereservedforrepeatadditionaltestingorquality
assurance testing. The laboratory shall assume that the inves-
3.2.6 other-structure-counting criteria, n—Test Method
tigator has ensured that the entire sample submitted is suffi-
D6281 structure-counting criteria may be used for TEM and
ciently homogeneous for his purposes.
PCM equivalent analysis of structures in the fine fraction.
3.2.7 phase contrast microscope (PCM) equivalent fiber,
5. Significance and Use
n—any particle with parallel or stepped sides with an aspect
5.1 This analysis method is used for the testing of soil
ratio of 3:1 or greater, longer than 5 µm that has a diameter
samples for asbestos. The emphasis is on detection and
between 0.2 and 3.0 µm (according to Test Method D6281).
analysis of sieved particles for asbestos in the soil. Debris
3.2.7.1 Discussion—For chrysotile,
...
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