Asbestos Case Study on Air Reading of Railroad Cars and Trucks: Methodology

A combination of respirable area air samples and direct reading monitors determined asbestos dust emissions from a controlled and an uncontrolled loading spout. Several of the air samples collected were analyzed for respirable dust and respirable free silica.

Real-time measurements were taken near each spout using a hand-held aerosol monitor (HAM) connected to a data logger (Rustrak® Ranger). The response of the HAM, a light scattering device, is dependent on the optical characteristics of the dust monitored. It was used to measure respirable dust concentrations.

Because the HAM cannot be calibrated to differentiate between crystalline silica and other dusts, dust levels were reported as relative levels (rather than absolute levels) and were only used to compare similar operations. When sampling was completed, the data logger was downloaded to a portable computer (Compaq® Portable III) for analysis.