Author(s)

K. A. Renton & E. A. Garton

Abstract

Abstract Inhaling asbcstos fibers may cause asbestosis, cancer of the lungs or pleural niesotheliotna. Air 5arnples in asbestos rool'ed houses in historically disadvantaged suburbs of Sowcto near Jolianneshurg. were taken to assess the asbestos in air concentralions to determine possible health risks. T~vo methods to determine asbcstos concentrations were used: the Asbestos internatioilal Association recommended tecl~nical method 2 (AIA liTM 2) using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and AIA RThl 1 for phase contrast microscopy (PCM). The number of ficlds ro be co~mted for the AIA KTM 2 method was investigatcd. We foiind that the number of fields to be counted could not be reduced. Several countable asbestos fibers were found attached to particles indicating that the fibers may have originated from the asbcstos cement roofs. We found the average asbestos levels in 14 houses to be 0. I fibers per liter. This result is below the limit of quantification and is therefore a quaiitative finding. No

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