Sampling method
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers asbestos as hazardous material and can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining of the lung, chest and the abdomen and heart) and asbestosis (a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs). A great care must be taken when handling asbestos and asbestos containing material. The following steps should be taken for safe handling of potentially bulk sample that may contain asbestos.
Wear a single use NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved respirator, wear disposable gloves, and protective clothing.
Turn off A/C or heating systems in the area to minimize the spread of any released fibers. Seal off the area as much as possible, making sure children and pets are not allowed in.
Place a plastic sheet on the floor below the area where the sample is to be taken.
Use a small clean and dry “zip-lock” bag to take the sample.
Before taking the sample, wet the area to be sampled with a fine mist of water containing a few drops of detergent (this will minimize the release of asbestos fibers).
Using a clean knife cut out a small piece of material about 2 square inches including any paint, protective coating, and all the layers of the sample and put in it the zip-lock bag.
Tightly close the sample bag and wipe the exterior with a damp paper towel to remove any material which may have adhered to the bag during sampling.
For pipe/boiler/duct insulation, patch the location from which the sample was taken by carefully applying an adhesive aluminum foil tape.
Mist with water and carefully fold up the plastic sheet. Clean the work area using a damp paper towel or disposable cloth, not a vacuum cleaner, and seal the asbestos waste, gloves, mask and cloth in a plastic bag. Check with your local municipality on how to dispose of asbestos-containing waste. Wash clothing separately and shower after completing the work.
Fill out a Chain of Custody. Label the sample bags identifying the structure, the date the sample was taken, the specific location of the sample in the room or structure, and name of the person who took the sample.
Enclose all samples in a large zip-lock bag along with sample numbers.
Deliver the sample by hand to a NVLAP (National Voluntary Laboratory Accredited Program) laboratory for asbestos analysis.
If you are shipping the sample, use courier and send the sample to a NVLAP accredited laboratory for asbestos analysis.