Journal
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Volume 308, Issue -, Pages 321-327Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.01.056
Keywords
Natural occurrence of asbestos (NOA); Waterborne asbestos; Chrysotile; Ultramafic soil; Personal exposure
Categories
Funding
- Progetti di ricerca sanitaria finalizzata of the Regione Piemonte, Italy [36529/DB2001]
- Compagnia di San Paolo, Torino, Italy
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The natural occurrence of asbestos (NOA) in rural areas is a serious concern for human health and the dispersion route of asbestos in the proximity of natural asbestos-rich settings has been marginally evaluated so far. NOA may affect air, but also water and soil quality. In rural areas population may be exposed to asbestos with a largely unknown impact on human health. This work investigates the potential exposure of a farmer cultivating a field nearby the largest former asbestos mine of Western Europe (Balangero, Italy). The concentration of waterborne asbestos in the stream used to water the field was measured (ca. 2 x 10(5) fibers per liter, ff/L) and the cultivated ultramafic topsoil characterized, evidencing a remarkable occurrence of chrysotile. The worker's personal exposure and the environmental fiber dispersion during a simulated agricultural activity (tillage) were quantified in two independent trials. During the trials, the worker was exposed to average concentrations of 16 and 26 ff/L, with a peak of 40 ff/L. These data inform about the possible exposure of an agricultural worker to asbestos concentration higher than the accepted threshold of 2 ff/L. The release of asbestos fibers into the environment was negligible (0-2 ff/L). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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