Identification of Asbestos Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A Viable Alternative to the Conventional Approach?

Table 1

Asbestos type and composition.

Type	Chemical formula	Element count
		Mg	Fe	Si	O	H	Na	Ca
Chrysotile (white asbestos)	[Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4]	3	0	2	9	4	0	0
Amosite (brown asbestos)	[(Fe,Mg)7Si8O22(OH)2]	0	5	8	24	2	2	0
Crocidolite (blue asbestos)	[Na2Fe2(FeMg)3Si8O22(OH)2]	0	7	8	24	2	0	0
Anthophyllite	[(Mg)7Si8O22(OH)2]	1–7	6–0	8	24	2	0	0
Tremolite	[Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2]	5	0	8	24	2	0	2
Actinolite	[Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2]	0–4	5–1	8	24	2	0	2