Presenting:

Asbestos in Settled Dust - Is it a Valid Method in a Consultant's Toolbox?

In New York State, and indirectly in NYC, under NYS Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Industrial Code Rule 56, dust and debris are listed as suspect miscellaneous asbestos containing materials (ACM). So, for NYS, building surveys are required for all demolitions, renovations, remodels, or repairs regardless of construction date. Otherwise, the building or structure must be assumed to contain asbestos.  So, if debris and dust that is visually assessed by the inspector shall be treated and handled as ACM and shall be assumed ACM, until bulk sampling is done.  In NYC, “any” dust/debris shall be sampled as suspect ACM. “Dust and debris are listed as suspect miscellaneous asbestos containing materials (ACM).

Different methods that have been used for collecting debris and dust samples are “scooping/scraping”, adhesive tape; and predominantly, the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard D5755–Micro-vacuum Sampling and Indirect Analysis of Dust by Transmission

Electron Microscopy for Asbestos Structure Number Concentrations and ASTM standard D6480-Standard Test Method for Wipe Sampling of Surfaces, Indirect Preparation, and Analysis for Asbestos Structure Number Concentration by Transmission Electron Microscopy. Note that despite widespread use of the ASTM recommended method of analysis including sampling and assessment for Post 9/11 Catastrophe, some still use it even though in NYS, the analysis method is NOT permitted. In the NYSDOH ELAP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) number 8, all bulk samples collected must be analyzed by ELAP approved methodology at an ELAP accredited laboratory.” ASTM D5755 and D6480 analysis methods are not approved ELAP methods of analysis. The method of analysis that shall be used, especially if you want transmission electron microscope analysis, is NYSDOH ELAP method 198.4. Thus, in NYS, ONLY ELAP 198.4 is legally accepted as

the analytical method for analysis and reporting of dust samples. It is important to remember at present, a single direct relationship between asbestos sampled from a surface and potential human exposure does not exist.