Identification of Asbestos-Type Materials in Suspended Solids,

摘要

Objectives were to: (1) develop a method for the determination of asbestos in water using density gradient zonal centrifugation and scanning electron microscopy;and, (2) apply this technique to environmental samples collected in Tennessee. Evaluation of the technique included the use of clay minerals,quartz,and several asbestos minerals in a density gradient having a density range of 2.0to 2.9 g/cc. Environmental samples (water) were collected upstream and downstream from known deposits of asbestos,entering and leaving water treatment plants,and upstream and downstream from major industrial areas. The data show that: (1) asbestiform particles can be separated from most of the masking materials found in natural waters by density gradient zonal centrifugation, (2) chrysotile and amphibole type asbestos can be separated from each other by density gradient zonal centrifugation, (3) asbestos was found in water downstream from known deposits of asbestos,and (4) asbestiform particles which were probably introduced from man-made sources were found in the effluent of a sewage treatment plant.