ASBESTOS AIR SAMPLING ON NATURALLY OCCURRING ASBESTOS PROJECTS

Air sampling analytical methods and techniques for evaluating asbestos on projects involving NOA has been in the developing stages for the past 8-10 years and has resulted in recommendations and guidelines by various regulatory agencies. Analysis of airborne asbestos on NOA projects does not follow analytical methods used on traditional asbestos abatement projects which reference the EPA AHERA Method with TEM analysis.

This presentation will discuss the EPA Superfund asbestos sampling method and analysis used at the World Trade Center and Libby, Montana that was applied to a school site in El Dorado County, California involving remediation of NOA. Results of this unique study will provide a review of the problems and costs associated with this sampling and analytical method.

In addition, results of air sampling for asbestos from two other NOA construction projects in California will be presented following a different analytical method for comparison. One project involved excavation for a new school site in El Dorado County and the second project involved excavation for a large single family development in western Sacramento County.