Assessment of Naturally Occurring Asbestos in the Area of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy)
Over the last few years, the risk to human health related to asbestos fiber exposure has been widely demonstrated by many studies. Serpentinites are the main rocks associated with naturally occurring asbestos (NOA). In order to investigate the presence of NOA, a mineralogical study was conducted on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Fibers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/7/5/45 |
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| author | Andrea Bloise Claudia Ricchiuti Eugenia Giorno Ilaria Fuoco Patrizia Zumpano Domenico Miriello Carmine Apollaro Alessandra Crispini Rosanna De Rosa Rosalda Punturo |
| author_facet | Andrea Bloise Claudia Ricchiuti Eugenia Giorno Ilaria Fuoco Patrizia Zumpano Domenico Miriello Carmine Apollaro Alessandra Crispini Rosanna De Rosa Rosalda Punturo |
| author_sort | Andrea Bloise |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Over the last few years, the risk to human health related to asbestos fiber exposure has been widely demonstrated by many studies. Serpentinites are the main rocks associated with naturally occurring asbestos (NOA). In order to investigate the presence of NOA, a mineralogical study was conducted on eleven serpentinite samples collected nearby the village of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy). Various analytical techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) were used to determine the occurrence of asbestos minerals and to make morphological observations. Results pointed out that all of the samples contain asbestos minerals (e.g., tremolite, actinolite and chrysotile). Moreover, it was observed that both natural processes and human activity may disturb NOA-bearing outcrops and provoke the formation of potentially inhalable airborne dust causing the release of asbestos fibers into the environment, thereby increasing the risk to human health. For this reason, our study aims to highlight the requirement of a natural asbestos survey and periodic update in the area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:58:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5c46d6c6fb1421e93a199b40e78609b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6439 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:58:20Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fibers |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5c46d6c6fb1421e93a199b40e78609b2022-12-22T02:57:12ZengMDPI AGFibers2079-64392019-05-01754510.3390/fib7050045fib7050045Assessment of Naturally Occurring Asbestos in the Area of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy)Andrea Bloise0Claudia Ricchiuti1Eugenia Giorno2Ilaria Fuoco3Patrizia Zumpano4Domenico Miriello5Carmine Apollaro6Alessandra Crispini7Rosanna De Rosa8Rosalda Punturo9Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Corso Italia, 55, 95129 Catania CT, ItalyMAT-InLAB-Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende-Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036 Rende, ItalyMAT-InLAB-Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende-Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Corso Italia, 55, 95129 Catania CT, ItalyOver the last few years, the risk to human health related to asbestos fiber exposure has been widely demonstrated by many studies. Serpentinites are the main rocks associated with naturally occurring asbestos (NOA). In order to investigate the presence of NOA, a mineralogical study was conducted on eleven serpentinite samples collected nearby the village of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy). Various analytical techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) were used to determine the occurrence of asbestos minerals and to make morphological observations. Results pointed out that all of the samples contain asbestos minerals (e.g., tremolite, actinolite and chrysotile). Moreover, it was observed that both natural processes and human activity may disturb NOA-bearing outcrops and provoke the formation of potentially inhalable airborne dust causing the release of asbestos fibers into the environment, thereby increasing the risk to human health. For this reason, our study aims to highlight the requirement of a natural asbestos survey and periodic update in the area.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/7/5/45naturally occurring asbestosserpentinitespolymorphshealth hazard |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Bloise Claudia Ricchiuti Eugenia Giorno Ilaria Fuoco Patrizia Zumpano Domenico Miriello Carmine Apollaro Alessandra Crispini Rosanna De Rosa Rosalda Punturo Assessment of Naturally Occurring Asbestos in the Area of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy) Fibers naturally occurring asbestos serpentinites polymorphs health hazard |
| title | Assessment of Naturally Occurring Asbestos in the Area of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy) |
| title_full | Assessment of Naturally Occurring Asbestos in the Area of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy) |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Naturally Occurring Asbestos in the Area of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Naturally Occurring Asbestos in the Area of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy) |
| title_short | Assessment of Naturally Occurring Asbestos in the Area of Episcopia (Lucania, Southern Italy) |
| title_sort | assessment of naturally occurring asbestos in the area of episcopia lucania southern italy |
| topic | naturally occurring asbestos serpentinites polymorphs health hazard |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/7/5/45 |
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