What is an Asbestos Microscope?

Thanks to today’s technology, we can observe the minute details of anything. This includes asbestos, a known material that can cause cancer. By using the asbestos microscope, we are able to analyze what goes on inside the material by analyzing its bulk. With the phase-polar illumination as well as the central-stop dispersion of the Asbestos Microscope, we are able to analyze asbestos.

If you are to analyze asbestos using an asbestos microscope, here are some terms you would have to know:

1. Amphibole – this is a family of minerals that includes crystals forming thin and long units that have double chain silicate and thin ribbons in between. The minerals found in asbestos are included in this particle. Examples are cummintonite-grunerite, anthopyllite asbestos, cricidolite, actinolite asbestos, tremolite asbestos and chrysotile – to name a few.


2. Central Stop Dispersion Staining - this is a kind of technique in dark field microscopy which allows the particle to be projected through a refracted particle. This excludes the traveling distance the unrefracted particle did. This is often done with the objective of arranging the cells with the aperture that is equal to the microscope’s focal plane.


3. Differential Counting - this is a term that is coined to the practice of the extraction of specific kind of fibers from the asbestos count because they aren’t asbestos.


4. Phase contrast – this is the contrast that is obtained from the microscope because of the scattered light on the small particles. It interferes with the light and enhances the visibility of the minute particles, as well as particles that have a contrast that is low and intrinsic.


5. Phase-polar analysis – by using polarized light in the contrast microscope, the asbestos can also be analyzed. The same sized fibers are visible through the filter analysis despite its minute size. It is also inferred that the analysis sometimes reflect large bundles present.


6. Serpentine – this is a mineral family that consists of mineral with a composition of magnesium as the layer over the silicon layer. The minerals are crucial in the analysis of asbestos because lizardite, chrysotile and antigorite are all included in the family.

The History of Asbestos and Asbestos Microscopy For over 10 years, the application of asbestos microscopy has been used in order to determine what is inside this mineral. The analysis has been carried out through the usage of a polarized microscope that specializes in the procedure. This is the asbestos microscope. Bright field microscope is also used from time to time.

Identifying asbestos is a process that continues because of the introduction of new minerals that share the same characteristics with it every year. Asbestos is then identified during the on-going process.

Going back in our history books, it has been recorded that asbestos was first used in Finland around the 2500 BC. The needed materials were placed in mud and was used to build wooden huts. It was also used to strengthen their pottery. However, it was only 200 years ago that the health aspects were discovered.

Pliny the Younger reported on the health of the slaves who were working in the mines filled with asbestos particles. According to him, their health was poor and was probably intoxicated from asbestos. This was not really proven.

In 1898, it was brought to the public’s attention that asbestos was toxic. Asbestos cases appeared in literature during the new century. Cancer was said to be the effect of the elements in the 1930s and was linked to mesothelioma in 1965.

Because of these health hazards, the public was concerned for the safety of the workers in coal mines. Analysis were applied in order to determine asbestos content – and to discover how much was too much.

Therefore, asbestos microscopy requires the user to be knowledgeable on asbestos. Attempts have been made by scientists who are professionals in other fields but were nothing compared to those who studied what asbestos was. A scientist conducting asbestos microscopy must be aware which ones are the fibrous portions and which ones are the non-fibrous portions. He also has to know the detection limit in its minimum level when analyzing the asbestos.

Whenever electron microscopy is an application of asbestos analysis, fibers are discovered to be present even though these are too minute to be seen with the aid of a light microscope. There are two kinds of electron microscope that can be used for the analysis of asbestos for this very reason – the TEM or the Transmission Electron Microscope and the SEM or the Scanning Electron Microscope.

The discovery that microscope can be used to analyze asbestos further is a giant leap for man. It allows mankind to be saved from the harmful side effects of asbestos.