Materials Identification (MID)

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