Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy has been performed on isolated samples of six types of asbestos—Chrysotile, Crocidolite, Amosite, Anthophyllite, Actinolite, and Tremolite—with analysis of optical emission in the visible region of the spectrum. The principal elements of Mg, Fe, Si, Na, and Ca have all been identified. By examining peak intensity ratios of these elements it is possible to identify the type of asbestos under examination solely from internal examination of the sample spectra. LIBS offers some significant advantages of speed of analysis and removal of subjectivity with potential for on-site rapid analysis. 1. Introduction Asbestos has been widely used, particularly in the construction industry, because of its strength, flexibility, and resistance to chemical and thermal breakdown. It is now known that inhalation of high levels of asbestos can lead to increased risk of asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma [1]. Asbestos is considered a hazard to health and its use is positively discouraged. Nevertheless some 15,000 tons were used in the USA in 1999, and it is still in widespread use around the world. Several well-established methods are currently available for identifying asbestos; these are transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and polarised light microscopy (PLM). Of these techniques PLM is the most widely used for reasons of cost and speed. The current method of assessing asbestos involves surveying a building for potential materials containing asbestos, taking several small samples and then sending them to a laboratory for analysis. Suspect fibres are manually extracted from the sample and examined using PLM. An assessment of the nature of the fibre is made according to fibre morphology, refractive index, and birefringence. This technique is usually sufficient to determine that the fibre is asbestos and identify its type. However, the process can be time consuming, labour intensive and relies on a potentially subjective assessment of what type of asbestos the fibre is likely to be (influencing the choice of refractive index matching fluid). Certain other fibres such as polyethylene, spider’s web, and several other organic materials can sometimes be mistaken for asbestos using this process unless great care and experience are used in the assessment. If, after completing the above process, the assessment is still not clear SEM can be used and the fibre’s elemental composition can be determined. The ratio of the elements calcium, sodium, iron, and magnesium is a confirmation of the specific type
References
[1]
R. A. Lemen, J. M. Dement, and J. K. Wagoner, “Epidemiology of asbestos-related diseases,” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 34, pp. 1–11, 1980.
[2]
Z. Ulanowski, Z. Wang, P. H. Kaye, and I. K. Ludlow, “Respirable asbestos detection using light scattering and magnetic alignment,” Journal of Aerosol Science, vol. 29, supplement 1, pp. 13–14, 1998.
[3]
E. Hirst, P. H. Kaye, and J. A. Hoskins, “Potential for recognition of airborne asbestos fibres from spatial laser scattering profiles,” Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 39, no. 5, pp. 623–632, 1995.
[4]
C. Rinaudo, E. Belluso, and D. Gastaldi, “Assessment of the use of Raman spectroscopy for the determination of amphibole asbestos,” Mineralogical Magazine, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 455–465, 2004.
[5]
C. Viti, “Serpentine minerals discrimination by thermal analysis,” American Mineralogist, vol. 95, no. 4, pp. 631–638, 2010.
[6]
A. W. Miziolek, V. Palleschi, and I. Schechter, Eds., Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Fundamentals and Applications, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2006.
[7]
D. A. Cremers and L. J. Radziemski, Handbook of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, USA, 2006.
[8]
J. P. Singh and S. N. Thakur, Eds., Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2007.
[9]
C. Pasquini, J. Cortex, L. M. C. Silva, and F. B. Gonzago, “Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy,” Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 473–712, 2007.
[10]
K. Song, Y. Lee, and J. Sneddon, “Applications of laser-induced breakdown spectrometry,” Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 183–235, 1997.
[11]
D. W. Hahn and N. Omenetto, “Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), part II: review of instrumental and methodological approaches to material analysis and applications to different fields,” Applied Spectroscopy, vol. 66, no. 4, pp. 347–419, 2012.
[12]
A. I. Whitehouse, J. Young, I. M. Botheroyd, S. Lawson, C. P. Evans, and J. Wright, “Remote material analysis of nuclear power station steam generator tubes by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy,” Spectrochimica Acta B, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 821–830, 2001.
[13]
R. Noll, H. Bette, A. Brysch et al., “Laser-induced breakdown spectrometry—applications for production control and quality assurance in the steel industry,” Spectrochimica Acta B, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 637–649, 2001.
[14]
J. M. Anzano, I. B. Gornushkin, B. W. Smith, and J. D. Winefordner, “Laser-induced plasma spectroscopy for plastic identification,” Polymer Engineering and Science, vol. 40, no. 11, pp. 2423–2429, 2000.
[15]
K. Melessanaki, M. Mateo, S. C. Ferrence, P. Betancourt, and D. Anglos, “The application of LIBS for the analysis of archaeological ceramic and metal artifacts,” Applied Surface Science, vol. 197-198, pp. 156–163, 2002.
[16]
R. Fantoni, L. Caneve, F. Colao, L. Fornarini, V. Lazic, and V. Spizzichino, “Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The process, applications to artwork and environment,” in Advances in Spectroscopy for Lasers and Sensing, B. Di Bartolo and O. Forte, Eds., pp. 225–229, Springer, New York, NY, USA, 2006.
[17]
N. Leone, G. D'Arthur, P. Adam, and J. Amouroux, “Detection of bacterial deposits and bioaerosols by time-resolved laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (TRELIBS),” High Temperature Material Processes, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 1–22, 2004.
[18]
R. T. Wainner, R. S. Harmon, A. W. Miziolek, K. L. McNesby, and P. D. French, “Analysis of environmental lead contamination: comparison of LIBS field and laboratory instruments,” Spectrochimica Acta B, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 777–793, 2001.
[19]
L. Caneve, F. Colao, F. Fabbri, R. Fantoni, V. Spizzichino, and J. Striber, “Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis of asbestos,” Spectrochimica Acta B, vol. 60, no. 7-8, pp. 1115–1120, 2005.
[20]
Y. Godwal, M.T. Taschuk, S. L. Lui, Y. Y. Tsui, and R. Fedosejevs, “Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for microanalysis,” in Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on the Frontiers of Plasma Physics and Technology (PC/5099) S1-5, 2007.
[21]
M. T. Taschuk, I. V. Cravetchi, Y. Y. Tsui, and R. Fedosejevs, “Micro-LIBS,” in Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, J. P. Singh and N. Thakur, Eds., chapter 8, Elsevier, New York, NY, USA, 2007.
