Airborne Asbestos Fiber Concentration in Buildings: Surveys Carried Out in Latium (Central Italy)
In Italy, use and production of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were banned in 1992, however, the risk of exposure to asbestos still exists, because most ACMs are located in industrial and public buildings. A total of 111 Italian buildings with friable and non-friable ACMs were sur...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/2/233 |
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| author | Maria R. Bruno Antonella Campopiano Angelo Olori Federica Angelosanto Francesco Sinopoli Annapaola Cannizzaro |
| author_facet | Maria R. Bruno Antonella Campopiano Angelo Olori Federica Angelosanto Francesco Sinopoli Annapaola Cannizzaro |
| author_sort | Maria R. Bruno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Italy, use and production of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were banned in 1992, however, the risk of exposure to asbestos still exists, because most ACMs are located in industrial and public buildings. A total of 111 Italian buildings with friable and non-friable ACMs were surveyed; 500 air samples were collected in the areas where contamination might have occurred. Airborne asbestos fiber concentration calculated from air samples was averaged for each building. Statistical analysis of the data showed no significant differences between the mean concentration measured in buildings with friable and non-friable ACMs (<i>p</i> = 0.258). The concentration values were below 2 f/L, the value stated by Italian regulation to ensure that the area is safe to reoccupy after asbestos removal. Samples of settled dust were also collected. The presence of asbestos fibers in the dust showed the occurrence of a release of asbestos from the material. Although the airborne asbestos fiber concentrations measured were low, current Italian regulation requires an asbestos management program. The Public Institution to which the authors of this work belong encourages asbestos removal as the preferred abatement method, in line with the asbestos-free future approach proposed by the European Commission. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:22:30Z |
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| id | doaj.art-b5e81c5cc1f04a7db46b76755f06e2d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:22:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5e81c5cc1f04a7db46b76755f06e2d02023-11-16T22:18:42ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-02-0113223310.3390/min13020233Airborne Asbestos Fiber Concentration in Buildings: Surveys Carried Out in Latium (Central Italy)Maria R. Bruno0Antonella Campopiano1Angelo Olori2Federica Angelosanto3Francesco Sinopoli4Annapaola Cannizzaro5Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), 88046 Lamezia Terme, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), 88046 Lamezia Terme, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, ItalyIn Italy, use and production of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were banned in 1992, however, the risk of exposure to asbestos still exists, because most ACMs are located in industrial and public buildings. A total of 111 Italian buildings with friable and non-friable ACMs were surveyed; 500 air samples were collected in the areas where contamination might have occurred. Airborne asbestos fiber concentration calculated from air samples was averaged for each building. Statistical analysis of the data showed no significant differences between the mean concentration measured in buildings with friable and non-friable ACMs (<i>p</i> = 0.258). The concentration values were below 2 f/L, the value stated by Italian regulation to ensure that the area is safe to reoccupy after asbestos removal. Samples of settled dust were also collected. The presence of asbestos fibers in the dust showed the occurrence of a release of asbestos from the material. Although the airborne asbestos fiber concentrations measured were low, current Italian regulation requires an asbestos management program. The Public Institution to which the authors of this work belong encourages asbestos removal as the preferred abatement method, in line with the asbestos-free future approach proposed by the European Commission.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/2/233asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)non-friable ACMsfriable ACMsSEM-EDS analysisbuildingspublic offices |
| spellingShingle | Maria R. Bruno Antonella Campopiano Angelo Olori Federica Angelosanto Francesco Sinopoli Annapaola Cannizzaro Airborne Asbestos Fiber Concentration in Buildings: Surveys Carried Out in Latium (Central Italy) Minerals asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) non-friable ACMs friable ACMs SEM-EDS analysis buildings public offices |
| title | Airborne Asbestos Fiber Concentration in Buildings: Surveys Carried Out in Latium (Central Italy) |
| title_full | Airborne Asbestos Fiber Concentration in Buildings: Surveys Carried Out in Latium (Central Italy) |
| title_fullStr | Airborne Asbestos Fiber Concentration in Buildings: Surveys Carried Out in Latium (Central Italy) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Airborne Asbestos Fiber Concentration in Buildings: Surveys Carried Out in Latium (Central Italy) |
| title_short | Airborne Asbestos Fiber Concentration in Buildings: Surveys Carried Out in Latium (Central Italy) |
| title_sort | airborne asbestos fiber concentration in buildings surveys carried out in latium central italy |
| topic | asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) non-friable ACMs friable ACMs SEM-EDS analysis buildings public offices |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/2/233 |
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