Asbestos Air Sampling and Material Testing: The need for better technology.

The need for better technology to determine the presence of asbestos fibers in the air and in materials was brought home recently in the 2020 study entitled “Asbestos-containing materials in abandoned residential dwellings in Detroit” by a team of authors led by Dr. Alfred Franzblau at the University of Michigan. The most important findings of the study, in my opinion, are:

1. 95% of those abandoned houses tested positive for the presence of asbestos-containing materials; and
2. The rapid removal of those abandoned houses as part of urban renewal and to protect the neighborhood “is complicated by the possible presence of asbestos.”

Determining whether asbestos fibers are in the air isn’t complicated, but it takes time and money. Determining whether asbestos fibers are within a specific dwelling component requires either testing or locating a label saying as such on the product. Both significantly increase the cost and time for demolition projects.

This issue is especially important if Dr. Franzblau’s recommendation to obtain and assess asbestos emissions during demolition is to be accepted. Imagine, real time readings on asbestos fibers in the air during a demolition.

As technology improves and conceptual technologies are further developed into applications, getting real time air sampling during the demolition of an abandoned house, or any other items being destroyed, would be a significant advancement to reduce costs, improve safety, and protect the environment.

Let me know what you think either by leaving a comment or by dropping me a line at TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thank you. Marty