Amphibole asbestos soil contamination in the U.S.A.: A matter of definition

Thompson, Brittani D.; Gunter, Mickey E.; Wilson, Michael

doi:10.2138/am.2011.3777

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In USA, high occurrence of actinolite and chrysotile has been monitored (EPA, 2009;Thompson et al, 2011;Buck et al, 2013). Thompson et al, 2011 discussed the geographic distribution of amphiboles in the USA, using the mineralogical data from selected sand and/or silt fraction of soils from the USDA-NRCS National Cooperative Soil Survey database, which shows the presence of amphiboles in all states except for Rhode Island.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence of asbestos in soils: state of the art

2020

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In the last decades, it has been widely demonstrated the risk to human health related to asbestos fibres exposure. Many studies have mainly focused on the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of ophiolites (i.e., serpentinite and metabasite rocks) since they are the main lithotypes associated with Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA). Nevertheless, derivative soil from these rocks inherits the mineralogical and geochemical composition of bed rock and may contain hazardous fibres, thus making its examination necessary as well. This paper provides a summary of asbestos-containing soils investigation worldwide with the purpose of providing an overview of the data obtained so far. To this aim, the most relevant available literature, testifying the presence of fibrous minerals in soils have been considered. This allowed the global territory mapping in order to depict the distribution of natural asbestos in soils worldwide.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence of asbestos in soils: state of the art

2020

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“…First, one needs to consider interpretation of soil analyses. Thompson et al (2011) Figure 1 of Thompson et al [2001].) They also report that in 41 states, 10% or more of the soils contain amphiboles, and, overall, 13% of soil pedons contain amphibole.…”

Section: Erosion Of Naturally Occurring Asbestos (Noa) Amphibole Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodologies for Determining the Sources, Characteristics, Distribution, and Abundance of Asbestiform and Nonasbestiform Amphibole and Serpentine in Ambient Air and Water

Wylie

Candela

2015

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B

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Anthropogenic and nonanthropogenic (erosion) processes contribute to the continuing presence of asbestos and nonasbestos elongated mineral particles (EMP) of amphibole and serpentine in air and water of urban, rural, and remote environments. The anthropogenic processes include disturbance and deterioration of asbestos-containing materials, mining of amphibole- and serpentine-bearing rock, and disturbance of soils containing amphibole and serpentine. Atmospheric dispersal processes can transport EMP on a global scale. There are many methods of establishing the abundance of EMP in air and water. EMP include cleavage fragments, fibers, asbestos, and other asbestiform minerals, and the methods employed do not critically distinguish among them. The results of most of the protocols are expressed in the common unit of fibers per square centimeter; however, seven different definitions for the term "fiber" are employed and the results are not comparable. The phase-contrast optical method used for occupational monitoring cannot identify particles being measured, and none of the methods distinguish amphibole asbestos from other EMP of amphibole. Measured ambient concentrations of airborne EMP are low, and variance may be high, even for similar environments, yielding data of questionable value for risk assessment. Calculations based on the abundance of amphibole-bearing rock and estimates of asbestos in the conterminous United States suggest that amphibole may be found in 6-10% of the land area; nonanthropogenic erosional processes might produce on the order of 400,000 tons or more of amphibole per year, and approximately 50 g asbestos/km(2)/yr; and the order of magnitude of the likelihood of encountering rock bearing any type of asbestos is approximately 0.0001.

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“…At all the sites the size particles is 100 µm for semi-rectangular, semi-triangular and the shape characterized by straw or bundle clustered together, organic fiber and fiber glass also detected. According to the research studies conducted in America in Vermont and Washington D.C. by Thompson et al [23], there were determining the amphibole mineral from the soil content whereby their shows SEM photographs and EDS data of amphibole particles actinolite from Vermont; ferro-actinolite from Washington D.C; amphibole (either grunerite or gedrite) from southern Illinois; and tremolite from eastern Washington state.…”

Section: Restriction Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Settleable Dust and Surface Dust Samples from the Old and Abandoned Asbestos Mine Dumps in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

MG¹,

Sj²

2017

J Pollut Eff Cont

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Old and abandoned (D&O) mine dumps refer to the asbestos mine dumps which were operated when environmental management was not regulated in the country and owners of mining rights could no longer be traced. These mine dumps are not being maintained or rehabilitated and the associated impacts are not being mitigated and managed.The aim of this research is to monitor, measure and characterize settleable dust and surface dust samples collected around local communities in the vicinity of old and abandoned asbestos mine dumps. The local standard method for collection and analysis of settleable dust (the South Africa National Dust Control Regulations 827 of 2013) was used in this research. Surface dust samples were collected using standard method in January, April and July 2016. Settleable dust samples were collected from January 2016 to July 2016 around five sampling sites in Limpopo Province. The samples were prepared for analyses.The settleable dust rates are below the residential limit of 600 mg/m 2 /day. The analytical measurements confirm the presence of silicates, minerals, amphibole and serpentine asbestos minerals. SEM-EDS results tested positive for amphibole and serpentine asbestos minerals. The continued presence of amphibole and serpentine asbestos mineral in Limpopo Province is cause of concern.

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Amphibole asbestos soil contamination in the U.S.A.: A matter of definition

Cited by 16 publications

References 14 publications

Occurrence of asbestos in soils: state of the art

Occurrence of asbestos in soils: state of the art

Methodologies for Determining the Sources, Characteristics, Distribution, and Abundance of Asbestiform and Nonasbestiform Amphibole and Serpentine in Ambient Air and Water

Characterization of Settleable Dust and Surface Dust Samples from the Old and Abandoned Asbestos Mine Dumps in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

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