asbestosinspection
What does this asbestos testing result mean?
Background: My wife and I are looking to buy a house built in the 1950s. The seller disclosed that they have had an asbestos abatement done and health certifications issued. This is the documentation they gave on the asbestos testing. I'm still waiting for the health certification.
You took 3 samples and sent them in. #1 and #2 contain no asbestos. The third sample does indeed contain Chrystoile, or white asbestos. From Wikipedia
Chrysotile or white asbestos is the most commonly encountered form of asbestos,accounting for approximately 95% of the asbestos in the United States.
Of that layer within the third sample where it was positively detected, it is about 8% asbestos (visually estimated) and 92% non-fibrous components (difference of 100% - 8%) that the lab did not further analyze. In the third sample, there were 3 layers and the layer containing asbestos made up 90% of that sample.
No, it is plaster with animal hairs in it, probably pig or cow hair.
To determine if there are asbestos fibers inside the plaster, break it apart and examine with magnifying glass. Asbestos is a fine white fiber. It looks like this:
The fibers on the right are asbestos, those on the left are animal hairs. Asbestos fibers will be colorless, very fine and clumped together, like in the photograph. Animal hairs tend to be by themselves and have color. Notice that an animal fiber will be rounded, but asbestos tends to be stiff like a corn stalk with crinkles or breaks in it.
Best Answer
It appears to be an on-site analysis of "fibers" in the air after remediation. Often we require a remediation company to test the air after they have abated the asbestos to certify that they have removed all the asbestos and the air is now "clean" and suitable for inhabitants.
This is certifying the "fiber count" in the air. There should be a certification that they removed 100% of the asbestos, (chrysotile).
If you see a report that says they tested a sample and it has more than 1% Chrysotile, then that is asbestos.
I'd call the testing agency and ask for a "complete" copy of the file.