NYS ELAP 198.8 Analysis of Surface Materials Containing Vermiculite

NY ELAP Method 198.8 incorporates a two‐step approach for the identification and quantitation of chrysotile and amphibole asbestos, including Libby amphiboles, in surfacing materials containing vermiculite.

• Gravimetric reduction including ashing to remove the organic materials and dilute acid treatment to remove gypsum and cement from the surfacing material.
  • The residue is then examined by PLM for the presence of chrysotile, which is quantified by 400 point count.
  • If the concentration of chrysotile is found to exceed 1%, the material is considered asbestos containing material (ACM) and the sample does not need to proceed to Segment II.
  • If chrysotile is either not detected, or is found at a concentration of 1% or less, then the analysis is continued to determine the concentration of amphibole asbestos.
• Heavy liquid centrifugation is used to separate particles with densities exceeding 2.75 g/cc from the majority of the less dense matrix components. This results in a centrifugate that contains any amphibole that was present in the original sample.
  • The concentration of the amphibole is then determined by PLM and quantified using 400 point count.
  • The total asbestos content is obtained by adding the concentration of asbestos in step one (chrysotile) with the asbestos quantified in step two (amphibole).