Materials Identification (MID):
MID is used in cases where the material in
question is not a typical indoor contaminant: drums
of liquid or solids dumped on sites, unusual
growths or build-ups of material on surfaces, in
water, etc. If the sampling is to be performed away
from the typical indoor home or office environment
then Materials Identification is the test to request.
During analysis the sample is routinely subjected to
optical and electron microscopy, XRD, X-ray
Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), Thermo-
Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), DSC and Fourier
Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). In
addition, Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
(GC/MS) and a host of chemistry tests may also be
employed to identify the components within the
sample.
Examples of MID’s include:
-
Chemicals dumped on property
-
Formation of material on walls, floors, in pipes and drums
-
Material leaching from under floors or tanks
-
Contaminants within potable water, oil and other liquids
-
Unusual dust formation in industrial settings or manufacturing processes