title: Development of a testing method for asbestos fibers in treated materials of asbestos containing wastes by transmission electron microscopy.
abstract: Appropriate treatment of asbestos-containing wastes is a significant problem. In Japan, the inertization of asbestos-containing wastes based on new treatment processes approved by the Minister of the Environment is promoted. A highly sensitive method for testing asbestos fibers in inertized materials is required so that these processes can be approved. We developed a method in which fibers from milled treated materials are extracted in water by shaking, and are counted and identified by transmission electron microscopy. Evaluation of this method by using asbestos standards and simulated slag samples confirmed that the quantitation limits are a few million fibers per gram and a few μg/g in a sample of 50mg per filter. We used this method to assay asbestos fibers in slag samples produced by high-temperature melting of asbestos-containing wastes. Fiber concentrations were below the quantitation limit in all samples, and total fiber concentrations were determined as 47-170×10(-6) f/g. Because the evaluation of treated materials by TEM is difficult owing to the limited amount of sample observable, this testing method should be used in conjunction with bulk analytical methods for sure evaluation of treated materials.
authors.affiliation: Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan. Electronic address: tyama@nies.go.jp.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kida
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Fukuoka Womens University, 1-1-1 Kasumigaoka, Higashiku, Fukuoka 813-8529, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noma
authors.affiliation: Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terazono
authors.affiliation: Environmental Preservation Research Center, Kyoto University, Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D007564:Japan; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D001194:Asbestos
keywords: Asbestos; Asbestos-containing wastes; Transmission electron microscopy