Determination of the variability in elemental composition of asbestos fibres by analytical transmission electron microscopy

An investigation was carried out to assess the variability in the elemental composition of asbestos fibres as determined using an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) attached to an analytical transmission electron microscope. UICC reference standards of chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite asbestos were analysed at five locations along the length of each fibre to observe within-and between-fibre variability. A total of 355 analyses were carried out on 71 fibres. No statistically-significant differences were found among the results obtained at the various locations along each fibre.