ASTM D7201-06

Standard Practice for Sampling and Counting Airborne Fibers, Including Asbestos Fibers, in the Workplace, by Phase Contrast Microscopy (with and Option of Transmission Electron Microscopy)

SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes the determination of the concentration of fibers, expressed as the number of such fibers per millilitre of air, using phase contrast microscopy and optionally transmission electron microscopy to evaluate particulate material collected on a membrane filter in the breathing zone of an individual or by area sampling in a specific location. This practice is based on the core procedures provided in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard ISO 8672 (1), the National Institute for Occupational and Health (NIOSH) Manual of Analytical Methods, NIOSH 7400 (2), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Method ID 160 (3). This practice indicates the important points where these methods differ, and provides information regarding the differences, which will allow the user to select the most appropriate procedure for a particular application. However, selecting portions of procedures from different published methods generally requires a user to report that they have used a modification to a method rather than claim they have used the method as written.
1.2 The practice is used for routine determination of an index of occupational exposure to airborne fibers in workplaces. Workplaces are considered those places where workers are exposed to airborne fibers including asbestos. Additional information on sampling strategies, sample collection (including calibration) and use of sample results for asbestos abatement projects is provided in a standard Practice for Air Monitoring for Management of Asbestos-Containing Materials (WK 8951) currently being considered by ASTM subcommittee E06.24. A further practice has been approved for the specific purpose of sampling and counting airborne fibers in mines and quarries (Practice D 7200), although the practice herein may also be used for this purpose. The current practice may be used as a means of monitoring occupational exposure to asbestos fibers when asbestos fibers are known a priori to be present in the airborne dust. The practice gives an index of airborne fiber concentration. This practice may be used in conjunction with electron microscopy (See Appendix X1) for assistance in identification of fibers. This practice may be used for other materials such as fibrous glass, or man-made mineral fibers by using alternate counting rules (see Annex A4).
1.3 This practice specifies the equipment and procedures for sampling the atmosphere in the breathing zone of an individual and for determining the number of fibers accumulated on a filter membrane during the course of an appropriately-selected sampling period. The practice may also be used to sample the atmosphere in a specific location or room of a building (area sampling), where this may be helpful in assessing exposure to workers handling fiber-containing products.
1.4 The ideal working range of this test practice extends from 100 fibers/mm² to 1300 fibers/mm² of filter area. For a 1000-L air sample, this corresponds to a concentration range from approximately 0.04 to 0.5 fiber/mL (or fiber/cm³). Lower and higher ranges of fiber concentration can be measured by reducing or increasing the volume of air collected. However, when this practice is applied to sampling the presence of other, non-asbestos dust, the level of total suspended particulate may impose an upper limit to the volume of air that can be sampled if the filters produced are to be of appropriate fiber loading for fiber counting.
1.5 Users should determine their own limit of detection using the procedure in Practice D 6620. For Reference the NIOSH 7400 method gives the limit of detection as 7 fibers/mm² of filter area. For a 1000 L air sample, this corresponds to a limit of detection of 0.0027 fiber/mL (or fiber/cm³). For OSHA method ID 160 the limit of detection is given as 5.5 fibers/mm² of filter area. For a 1000 L air sample, this corresponds to a limit of detection of 0.0022 fiber/mL (or fiber/cm³)...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2006
• ICS: 13.040.30 - Workplace atmospheres
• Technical Committee: D22 - Air Quality
• Drafting Committee: D22.04 - Workplace Air Quality

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D7201-06(2011) - Standard Practice for Sampling and Counting Airborne Fibers, Including Asbestos Fibers, in the Workplace, by Phase Contrast Microscopy (with an Option of Transmission Electron Microscopy)
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D7712-18 - Standard Terminology for Sampling and Analysis of Asbestos
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2006

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D7201 – 06
Standard Practice for
Sampling and Counting Airborne Fibers, Including Asbestos
Fibers, in the Workplace, by Phase Contrast Microscopy
1
(with an Option of Transmission Electron Microscopy)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7201; 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 herein may also be used for this purpose. The current practice
2
may be used as a means of monitoring occupational exposure
1.1 This practice describes the determination of the con-
toasbestosfiberswhenasbestosfibersareknown a prioritobe
centration of fibers, expressed as the number of such fibers per
present in the airborne dust. The practice gives an index of
millilitreofair,usingphasecontrastmicroscopyandoptionally
airborne fiber concentration. This practice may be used in
transmission electron microscopy to evaluate particulate mate-
conjunction with electron microscopy (See Appendix X1) for
rial collected on a membrane filter in the breathing zone of an
assistance in identification of fibers.This practice may be used
individual or by area sampling in a specific location. This
for other materials such as fibrous glass, or man-made mineral
practice is based on the core procedures provided in the
fibers by using alternate counting rules (see Annex A4).
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard
3
1.3 Thispracticespecifiestheequipmentandproceduresfor
ISO8672 (1) , the National Institute for Occupational and
samplingtheatmosphereinthebreathingzoneofanindividual
Health (NIOSH) Manual ofAnalytical Methods, NIOSH7400
and for determining the number of fibers accumulated on a
(2), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
filter membrane during the course of an appropriately-selected
(OSHA) Method ID160 (3).This practice indicates the impor-
sampling period. The practice may also be used to sample the
tant points where these methods differ, and provides informa-
atmosphere in a specific location or room of a building (area
tion regarding the differences, which will allow the user to
sampling), where this may be helpful in assessing exposure to
select the most appropriate procedure for a particular applica-
workers handling fiber-containing products.
tion. However, selecting portions of procedures from different
1.4 The ideal working range of this test practice extends
published methods generally requires a user to report that they
2 2
from 100 fibers/mm to 1300 fibers/mm of filter area. For a
have used a modification to a method rather than claim they
1000-L air sample, this corresponds to a concentration range
have used the method as written.
3
from approximately 0.04 to 0.5 fiber/mL(or fiber/cm ). Lower
1.2 The practice is used for routine determination of an
and higher ranges of fiber concentration can be measured by
index of occupational exposure to airborne fibers in work-
reducing or increasing the volume of air collected. However,
places. Workplaces are considered those places where workers
whenthispracticeisappliedtosamplingthepresenceofother,
are exposed to airborne fibers including asbestos. Additional
non-asbestos dust, the level of total suspended particulate may
information on sampling strategies, sample collection (includ-
impose an upper limit to the volume of air that can be sampled
ing calibration) and use of sample results for asbestos abate-
if the filters produced are to be of appropriate fiber loading for
ment projects is provided in a standard Practice for Air
fiber counting.
Monitoring for Management ofAsbestos-Containing Materials
1.5 Users should determine their own limit of detection
(WK 8951) currently being considered by ASTM subcommit-
using the procedure in Practice D6620. For Reference the
tee E06.24. A further practice has been approved for the
NIOSH7400 method gives the limit of detection as 7 fibers/
specific purpose of sampling and counting airborne fibers in
2
mm offilterarea.Fora1000Lairsample,thiscorrespondsto
mines and quarries (Practice D7200), although the practice
3
a limit of detection of 0.0027 fiber/mL (or fiber/cm ). For
OSHA method ID160 the limit of detection is given as 5.5
1
2
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD22onAirQuality
fibers/mm of filter area. For a 1000 L air sample, this
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD22.04onWorkplaceAtmospheres.
corresponds to a limit of detection of 0.0022 fiber/mL (or
Current edition approved June 1, 2006. Published July 2006. DOI: 10.1520/
3
fiber/cm ).
D7201-06.
2
This test method is based on NIOSH7400, OSHA Method ID160, and
1.6 If this practice yields a fiber concentration that doe
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